On April 9, the Higher School of Public Governance launched the training of the School of Strategy Training 6.0, an educational initiative for Category “A” civil servants aimed at developing strategic thinking and strengthening the quality of managerial decision-making within the Senior Civil Service.
The program was opened by the Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, Nataliia Aliushyna, the Director of the Higher School of Public Governance, Yuliia Lykhach, and the Head of the GESI Planning Direction of the “Recovery for All” (RFA) project, Mariia Plaksenko.
In her opening remarks, Nataliia Aliushyna emphasized that in the context of war, recovery, and ongoing reforms, strategic thinking becomes a critical managerial competency.
“We operate in a reality where decisions must be made quickly and often without complete information. In such conditions, it is easy to lose sight of the direction we are moving in. That is why the School of Strategists provides an opportunity to step away from operational routine, see the bigger picture, and make decisions with an understanding of their consequences,” she noted.
Yuliia Lykhach highlighted that the School of Strategy Training has moved beyond an educational experiment and has become a systemic tool for the development of the civil service.
“The dynamics of enrollment demonstrate a steady demand among senior civil service managers: in 2023, 42 participants took part in the program; in 2024, there were already two groups (over 50 participants); in 2025, more than 60 participants. Each year, the number of applicants continues to grow. This indicates one simple fact: today, the state needs people who think strategically,” the Director stressed.
At the same time, Mariia Plaksenko emphasized the practical component of the program and its relevance in the context of recovery: “This is not only about strategic planning tools, but about the ability to shape decisions that work in a real environment—under conditions of recovery, change, and high uncertainty.”
A total of 40 Category “A” civil servants are participating in the training, representing the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, central executive authorities, regulatory bodies, and other key institutions directly involved in public policy-making.
The training will take place throughout April in a blended format and will cover the full cycle of public policy development—from problem analysis and needs assessment to the formulation of alternative solutions, selection of optimal options, and evaluation of their effectiveness.
In particular, the program includes:
• working with real policy sectors;
• conducting SWOT analysis;
• building problem trees;
• developing policy options and selecting optimal solutions;
• applying the Results-Based Management (RBM) approach.
The structure of the training consists of several key modules, including sectoral strategy development, public policy design, citizen-centered approaches and customer experience in public policy, human-centered HR management, as well as security strategy.
Special attention is given to group work and practical assignments, enabling participants to immediately apply strategic planning tools within their respective areas of responsibility.
School of Strategy Training 6.0 will run until April 29 and will conclude with presentations of participants’ strategic projects and the awarding of certificates.
The program is implemented by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service in cooperation with the Higher School of Public Governance, with the support of the “Recovery for All” project, and is aimed at shaping a modern managerial mindset among Category “A” civil servants and developing their practical strategic planning skills.
