The High School has launched a new educational project, the “Starostas School”. More than 600 participants from 242 communities from all regions of Ukraine have expressed a desire to improve their professional competencies and expertise necessary for the effective functioning of communities, the performance of official duties in wartime and work in the de-occupied territories.
The project is being implemented jointly with the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Hromadas (communities) and with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.

Nataliia Aliushyna, Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, Yelyzaveta Zhukovska, Coordinator of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme’s Training Laboratory, Oleksandr Korinnyi, Head of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Hromadas, and Yuliia Lykhach, Director of the High School of Public Governance, congratulated the students on the start of the training.
The functioning of the mayor institute is relevant for Ukraine, as it is important for the development of decentralisation of power, provision of quality services to the population and enhancement of local self-government.

During the war, local self-government showed its resilience, courage, strength and readiness for change. Starostas are local leaders who contribute to community development and increase its competitiveness. Community representatives at the local level are responsible for addressing issues that directly affect people’s lives. This makes the local authorities more accessible to citizens and increases their credibility.

At the same time, local self-government requires updated approaches, constructive cooperation with citizens, and exchange of experience with other communities.

Over the course of six training days, the participants will have the opportunity to gain comprehensive knowledge of the legislative support for their activities; ASC functioning and access to social services; communication between local authorities and citizens; implementation of advanced ECO technologies and energy development of communities; public safety and emergency response.

The first day of the training started fruitfully. The participants discussed the legislative regulation of starostas activities and powers with the speakers Maryna Hrai, State Expert on Strategic Development of Human Resources Management of the General Department of Human Resources Management in the Civil Service and Local Self-Government of the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service, and Natalia Shamrai, Head of the All-Ukrainian Association of ASCs, Director of the ASC of the Kyiv City Council (Kyiv City State Administration).

The training will last for two weeks. As a result, participants will receive a certificate of 2 ECTS credits.

The launch of the School of Starostas will become a unique platform for combining theoretical knowledge, sharing experience between communities and best practices and solutions for the effective performance of local duties.

In 2024, a new online course and manual for starostas are also planned for the High Starostas to improve the professional competencies of local self-government bodies.