About the Program
The Next Visionaries Program equips young people with the knowledge and skills to drive European integration, sustainable development, and post-war reconstruction in Ukraine. The project was initiated by the ERSTE Foundation in 2024 as a response to the needs of Ukraine's integration into Europe and the changes affecting Ukraine's geopolitical landscape. Join a community of change-makers and visionaries!
8 months /// 45+ lectures /// 15+ international lecturers /// a study tour to Vienna /// development of projects to enhance personal CV and career /// opportunity for further internships in partner organizations
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
Age: 21–25 years old /// Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher /// English Proficiency: B2 level or higher /// Career Focus: dedicated to European integration in different spheres and post-war reconstruction of Ukraine
Project insights from our team
“During the program, you will gain the skills and frameworks necessary to overcome obstacles, advance your vision, and make a meaningful impact. Centered around three content pillars, this program is uniquely designed to develop the capacities of the next generation of leaders. ERSTE Foundation is proud to contribute to building a community of individuals committed to fostering positive change in Ukraine.”
Yana Barinova, Program Director, European policies and Ukraine в ERSTE Foundation
“Sometimes, it seems wrong to think about the future during the war. Yet paradoxically, this is exactly the time to think about the future, imagine it, construct it, and work on it. Ukraine today is a place of immense suffering and courage, but it is also a place of thinking. Sometimes, it is in the darkness that you see things with remarkable clarity.”
Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, writer, analytics director at Internews Ukraine, Editor-in-Chief at UkraineWorld, lecturer at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and president of PEN Ukraine.
“We all need visionaries, people with broad horizons and open-minded people. People who are rooted in Ukrainian identity but open to global trends and opportunities.”
Andriy Kulakov, Program Director of NGO Internews Ukraine.
“The greatest wealth of the country is its people. Investing in human capital today is an effective strategy for the economic recovery and future development of Ukraine.”
Oleksandra Demianenko, Candidate of Political Sciences, Associate Professor, Manager of the Next Visionaries Program.
“In Ukraine, there's a growing necessity to transition from mere geopolitical aspirations of being 'a country with a European future' to a nuanced comprehension of the European Union. This course is dedicated to addressing this challenge.”
Roman Kobets, Candidate of Philosophy, Advisor to the Head of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC).
“The uniqueness of our program lies in recognizing the distinction, interconnectedness, and essential need for nurturing both individual leaders and the ongoing evolution of leadership development itself.”
Nataliia Kryvda, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
The Uniqueness of the program
Certification
After successfully completing the program, you will receive a certificate (180 hours, 6 ECTS credits).
Community
You will meet leading Ukrainian and international experts, including diplomats, scholars, economists, civil society leaders, and entrepreneurs, and become part of a strong community of change-makers.
Practicality
With mentors' support, you will develop projects that contribute to European integration and Ukraine‘s development.
Speakers
European Integration and Public Policy module
Roman Kobets
Curator
Ukraine
Candidate of Philosophy, Research Fellow, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine (2019—2020) and Advisor to the Head of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC)
Judith Kohlenberger
Austria
Senior Researcher on forced migration, a researcher at the Institute for Social Policy, Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) & Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip); an associate policy fellow at Hertie School at the Jacques Delors Centre in Berlin (Germany)
Veronica Anghel
Italy
Assistant Professor at the Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute, where she co-leads the ‘EU Enlargement Hub’
Sergiy Sydorenko
Ukraine
Journalist and international expert. Co-founder and editor of the European Pravda
Tetyana Komarova
Ukraine
Doctor of Juridical Sciences (Dr. hab), Professor, and Head of the Department of European Union Law at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University; holds the Jean Monnet Chair in ‘Advanced Studies on EU Values and Law: Ukrainian Context‘
John Hulsey
USA
Professor of Political Science at James Madison University, USA
Claudia Wiesner
Germany
Professor of Political Science at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, a member of the board of directors of the “Point Alpha Research Institute”, Germany, and adjunct Professor in Political Science at Jyväskylä University, Finland
Leadership and Values module
Natalia Kryvda
Curator
Ukraine
Doctor of Philosophy, a Professor at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, and the Academic Director of the Edinburgh Business School
Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Ukraine
Director of the Frontier Institute, a lecturer at the Ukrainian Catholic University, and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Public Broadcasting Company
Nataliya Rumyantseva
Great Britain
Subject Leader at the University of Bath Spa, UK
Oksana Dovgopolova
Ukraine
Dr. Habil. in Philosophy of History, co-founder and curator of Past / Future / Art memory culture platform
Jana Degrott
Luxembourg
Founder and CEO of Real Impact Hub, Co-Founder of Be Human Europe and Lead Soulfully, and Local Councilor in Steinsel (Luxembourg)
Innovations, Current and Future Challenges module
Daniel Beers
USA
Associate Professor, Department of Justice Studies, James Madison University (USA)
Graham Symon
Great Britain
Interim Director of the Centre for Research in Employment and Work (CREW) at the University of Greenwich, London
Borja Lasheras
Belgium
Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
Nadia Paleari
Italy
Sustainability Strategist and Climate Policy Advisor. European Climate Pact Ambassador
Thomas Berger
Germany
EU liaison officer at Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the director of mobility programs and online academy at Institute inter.research e.V. (Germany)
Mathias Frey
Austria
Head of Platform Architecture at Erste Bank
Hanna Shelest
Ukraine
Security Studies Program Director at the Foreign Policy Council‘s Ukrainian Prism and the editor-in-chief of the UA: Ukraine Analytica journal
Cinzia Alcidi
Belgium
Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, where she is also head of the Economic Policy Unit and the Jobs and Skills Unit
Marie Ringler
Austria
Member of Ashoka's Global Leadership Group, Vice-President of European Forum Alpbach
Next Visionaries will help you
DEEPEN KNOWLEDGE OF VALUES AND LEADERSHIP (Module I)
You will explore the values, trends, challenges that modern leaders face as well as learn about tools for effective leadership. You will also create a personal
development strategy essential for successful career and professional growth and learn about modern leadership practices.
PERFECT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EUROPEAN
INTEGRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY (Module II)
You will analyze the structure and activities of key EU institutions and internal European processes. This will help you to get a better understanding of
the principles of policy formation at the national and European levels, including the EU’s enlargement and the accession of new member countries.
UNDERSTAND HOW INNOVATIONS DRIVE CHANGES (Module III)
You will learn about global governance, current geoeconomic and geopolitical trends, digitalization, artificial intelligence in the government sector, innovative financial technologies, and more.
Program duration
The program runs from October 2025 to May 2026, featuring 8 lectures per month, and includes online learning, two offline events in Ukraine, a study tour to Vienna, and group work on final projects.
Terms of participation
Candidates are required to fill out the online registration form.
The selection process includes short interviews with shortlisted candidates and will be completed by August 18, 2025.
Gallery
.jpg)
The Next Visionaries program kicked off in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, from October 3 to 5, 2024. These three days were filled with dynamic learning, meaningful new connections, deep insights, and an inspiring energy boost to launch a transformative learning journey.
Videos
Project initiated and
supported by
Partner
Implemented by
Media Partner
FAQ 
What language is used for teaching?
The course uses Ukrainian and English.
How long does the course take?
There are 8 classes each month, each lasting 1.5 hours. The course runs from October 2025 to May 2026.
What is the format of the course?
80% of the meetings are online, and 20% are offline.
Who are the lecturers?
Natalia Kryvda and Roman Kobets are the program curators responsible for 50% of the learning. The remaining sessions feature lectures and workshops by over 15 guest speakers from Ukraine, the EU, and the USA.
How many participants will the program have?
The course will have 30 participants.
Is the program free?
Yes, the entire program is free. The organizers also cover all event expenses, including accommodation, travel, and meals.
How will the selection process be conducted, and what are the criteria for taking part?
The program has a competitive selection process that starts with reviewing applications and is followed by short interviews with selected participants. The final results will be emailed to participants no later than August 18, 2025.
The committee will assess candidates' education, English language proficiency, and professional/volunteer experience. Motivation, expectations from the program, and the candidates' potential to contributing towards development and integration efforts in Ukraine are also important.
Who is funding the project?
The project is initiated and funded by the ERSTE Foundation (Austria). The implementing partner in Ukraine is the NGO Internews Ukraine. It is supported by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
Roman Kobets
Curator
Ukraine
Judith Kohlenberger
Austria
Veronica Anghel
Italy
Sergiy Sydorenko
Ukraine
Tetyana Komarova
Ukraine
John Hulsey
USA
Claudia Wiesner
Germany
Leadership and Values module
Natalia Kryvda
Curator
Ukraine
Doctor of Philosophy, a Professor at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, and the Academic Director of the Edinburgh Business School
Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Ukraine
Director of the Frontier Institute, a lecturer at the Ukrainian Catholic University, and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Public Broadcasting Company
Nataliya Rumyantseva
Great Britain
Subject Leader at the University of Bath Spa, UK
Oksana Dovgopolova
Ukraine
Dr. Habil. in Philosophy of History, co-founder and curator of Past / Future / Art memory culture platform
Jana Degrott
Luxembourg
Founder and CEO of Real Impact Hub, Co-Founder of Be Human Europe and Lead Soulfully, and Local Councilor in Steinsel (Luxembourg)
Innovations, Current and Future Challenges module
Daniel Beers
USA
Associate Professor, Department of Justice Studies, James Madison University (USA)
Graham Symon
Great Britain
Interim Director of the Centre for Research in Employment and Work (CREW) at the University of Greenwich, London
Borja Lasheras
Belgium
Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
Nadia Paleari
Italy
Sustainability Strategist and Climate Policy Advisor. European Climate Pact Ambassador
Thomas Berger
Germany
EU liaison officer at Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the director of mobility programs and online academy at Institute inter.research e.V. (Germany)
Mathias Frey
Austria
Head of Platform Architecture at Erste Bank
Hanna Shelest
Ukraine
Security Studies Program Director at the Foreign Policy Council‘s Ukrainian Prism and the editor-in-chief of the UA: Ukraine Analytica journal
Cinzia Alcidi
Belgium
Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, where she is also head of the Economic Policy Unit and the Jobs and Skills Unit
Marie Ringler
Austria
Member of Ashoka's Global Leadership Group, Vice-President of European Forum Alpbach
Next Visionaries will help you
DEEPEN KNOWLEDGE OF VALUES AND LEADERSHIP (Module I)
You will explore the values, trends, challenges that modern leaders face as well as learn about tools for effective leadership. You will also create a personal
development strategy essential for successful career and professional growth and learn about modern leadership practices.
PERFECT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EUROPEAN
INTEGRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY (Module II)
You will analyze the structure and activities of key EU institutions and internal European processes. This will help you to get a better understanding of
the principles of policy formation at the national and European levels, including the EU’s enlargement and the accession of new member countries.
UNDERSTAND HOW INNOVATIONS DRIVE CHANGES (Module III)
You will learn about global governance, current geoeconomic and geopolitical trends, digitalization, artificial intelligence in the government sector, innovative financial technologies, and more.
Program duration
The program runs from October 2025 to May 2026, featuring 8 lectures per month, and includes online learning, two offline events in Ukraine, a study tour to Vienna, and group work on final projects.
Terms of participation
Candidates are required to fill out the online registration form.
The selection process includes short interviews with shortlisted candidates and will be completed by August 18, 2025.
Gallery
The Next Visionaries program kicked off in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, from October 3 to 5, 2024. These three days were filled with dynamic learning, meaningful new connections, deep insights, and an inspiring energy boost to launch a transformative learning journey.
Videos
Project initiated and
supported by
Partner
Implemented by
Media Partner
FAQ
What language is used for teaching?
The course uses Ukrainian and English.
How long does the course take?
There are 8 classes each month, each lasting 1.5 hours. The course runs from October 2025 to May 2026.
What is the format of the course?
80% of the meetings are online, and 20% are offline.
Who are the lecturers?
Natalia Kryvda and Roman Kobets are the program curators responsible for 50% of the learning. The remaining sessions feature lectures and workshops by over 15 guest speakers from Ukraine, the EU, and the USA.
How many participants will the program have?
The course will have 30 participants.
Is the program free?
Yes, the entire program is free. The organizers also cover all event expenses, including accommodation, travel, and meals.
How will the selection process be conducted, and what are the criteria for taking part?
The program has a competitive selection process that starts with reviewing applications and is followed by short interviews with selected participants. The final results will be emailed to participants no later than August 18, 2025.
The committee will assess candidates' education, English language proficiency, and professional/volunteer experience. Motivation, expectations from the program, and the candidates' potential to contributing towards development and integration efforts in Ukraine are also important.
Who is funding the project?
The project is initiated and funded by the ERSTE Foundation (Austria). The implementing partner in Ukraine is the NGO Internews Ukraine. It is supported by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
Natalia Kryvda
Curator
Ukraine
Yevhen Hlibovytskyi
Ukraine
Nataliya Rumyantseva
Great Britain
Oksana Dovgopolova
Ukraine
Jana Degrott
Luxembourg
Innovations, Current and Future Challenges module
Daniel Beers
USA
Associate Professor, Department of Justice Studies, James Madison University (USA)
Graham Symon
Great Britain
Interim Director of the Centre for Research in Employment and Work (CREW) at the University of Greenwich, London
Borja Lasheras
Belgium
Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
Nadia Paleari
Italy
Sustainability Strategist and Climate Policy Advisor. European Climate Pact Ambassador
Thomas Berger
Germany
EU liaison officer at Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the director of mobility programs and online academy at Institute inter.research e.V. (Germany)
Mathias Frey
Austria
Head of Platform Architecture at Erste Bank
Hanna Shelest
Ukraine
Security Studies Program Director at the Foreign Policy Council‘s Ukrainian Prism and the editor-in-chief of the UA: Ukraine Analytica journal
Cinzia Alcidi
Belgium
Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels, where she is also head of the Economic Policy Unit and the Jobs and Skills Unit
Marie Ringler
Austria
Member of Ashoka's Global Leadership Group, Vice-President of European Forum Alpbach
Next Visionaries will help you
DEEPEN KNOWLEDGE OF VALUES AND LEADERSHIP (Module I)
You will explore the values, trends, challenges that modern leaders face as well as learn about tools for effective leadership. You will also create a personal
development strategy essential for successful career and professional growth and learn about modern leadership practices.
PERFECT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EUROPEAN
INTEGRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY (Module II)
You will analyze the structure and activities of key EU institutions and internal European processes. This will help you to get a better understanding of
the principles of policy formation at the national and European levels, including the EU’s enlargement and the accession of new member countries.
UNDERSTAND HOW INNOVATIONS DRIVE CHANGES (Module III)
You will learn about global governance, current geoeconomic and geopolitical trends, digitalization, artificial intelligence in the government sector, innovative financial technologies, and more.
Program duration
The program runs from October 2025 to May 2026, featuring 8 lectures per month, and includes online learning, two offline events in Ukraine, a study tour to Vienna, and group work on final projects.
Terms of participation
Candidates are required to fill out the online registration form.
The selection process includes short interviews with shortlisted candidates and will be completed by August 18, 2025.
Gallery
The Next Visionaries program kicked off in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, from October 3 to 5, 2024. These three days were filled with dynamic learning, meaningful new connections, deep insights, and an inspiring energy boost to launch a transformative learning journey.
Videos
Project initiated and
supported by
Partner
Implemented by
Media Partner
FAQ
What language is used for teaching?
The course uses Ukrainian and English.
How long does the course take?
There are 8 classes each month, each lasting 1.5 hours. The course runs from October 2025 to May 2026.
What is the format of the course?
80% of the meetings are online, and 20% are offline.
Who are the lecturers?
Natalia Kryvda and Roman Kobets are the program curators responsible for 50% of the learning. The remaining sessions feature lectures and workshops by over 15 guest speakers from Ukraine, the EU, and the USA.
How many participants will the program have?
The course will have 30 participants.
Is the program free?
Yes, the entire program is free. The organizers also cover all event expenses, including accommodation, travel, and meals.
How will the selection process be conducted, and what are the criteria for taking part?
The program has a competitive selection process that starts with reviewing applications and is followed by short interviews with selected participants. The final results will be emailed to participants no later than August 18, 2025.
The committee will assess candidates' education, English language proficiency, and professional/volunteer experience. Motivation, expectations from the program, and the candidates' potential to contributing towards development and integration efforts in Ukraine are also important.
Who is funding the project?
The project is initiated and funded by the ERSTE Foundation (Austria). The implementing partner in Ukraine is the NGO Internews Ukraine. It is supported by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
Daniel Beers
USA
Graham Symon
Great Britain
Borja Lasheras
Belgium
Nadia Paleari
Italy
Thomas Berger
Germany
Mathias Frey
Austria
Hanna Shelest
Ukraine
Cinzia Alcidi
Belgium
Marie Ringler
Austria
Next Visionaries will help you
DEEPEN KNOWLEDGE OF VALUES AND LEADERSHIP (Module I)
You will explore the values, trends, challenges that modern leaders face as well as learn about tools for effective leadership. You will also create a personal development strategy essential for successful career and professional growth and learn about modern leadership practices.
PERFECT YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY (Module II)
You will analyze the structure and activities of key EU institutions and internal European processes. This will help you to get a better understanding of the principles of policy formation at the national and European levels, including the EU’s enlargement and the accession of new member countries.
UNDERSTAND HOW INNOVATIONS DRIVE CHANGES (Module III)
You will learn about global governance, current geoeconomic and geopolitical trends, digitalization, artificial intelligence in the government sector, innovative financial technologies, and more.
Program duration
The program runs from October 2025 to May 2026, featuring 8 lectures per month, and includes online learning, two offline events in Ukraine, a study tour to Vienna, and group work on final projects.
Terms of participation
Candidates are required to fill out the online registration form.
The selection process includes short interviews with shortlisted candidates and will be completed by August 18, 2025.
Gallery
The Next Visionaries program kicked off in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, from October 3 to 5, 2024. These three days were filled with dynamic learning, meaningful new connections, deep insights, and an inspiring energy boost to launch a transformative learning journey.
Videos
Project initiated and
supported by
Partner
Implemented by
Media Partner
FAQ
What language is used for teaching?
The course uses Ukrainian and English.
How long does the course take?
There are 8 classes each month, each lasting 1.5 hours. The course runs from October 2025 to May 2026.
What is the format of the course?
80% of the meetings are online, and 20% are offline.
Who are the lecturers?
Natalia Kryvda and Roman Kobets are the program curators responsible for 50% of the learning. The remaining sessions feature lectures and workshops by over 15 guest speakers from Ukraine, the EU, and the USA.
How many participants will the program have?
The course will have 30 participants.
Is the program free?
Yes, the entire program is free. The organizers also cover all event expenses, including accommodation, travel, and meals.
How will the selection process be conducted, and what are the criteria for taking part?
The program has a competitive selection process that starts with reviewing applications and is followed by short interviews with selected participants. The final results will be emailed to participants no later than August 18, 2025.
The committee will assess candidates' education, English language proficiency, and professional/volunteer experience. Motivation, expectations from the program, and the candidates' potential to contributing towards development and integration efforts in Ukraine are also important.
Who is funding the project?
The project is initiated and funded by the ERSTE Foundation (Austria). The implementing partner in Ukraine is the NGO Internews Ukraine. It is supported by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
.jpg)
The Next Visionaries program kicked off in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, from October 3 to 5, 2024. These three days were filled with dynamic learning, meaningful new connections, deep insights, and an inspiring energy boost to launch a transformative learning journey.
Videos
supported by
Media Partner
What language is used for teaching? The course uses Ukrainian and English.
How long does the course take? There are 8 classes each month, each lasting 1.5 hours. The course runs from October 2025 to May 2026.
What is the format of the course? 80% of the meetings are online, and 20% are offline.
Who are the lecturers? Natalia Kryvda and Roman Kobets are the program curators responsible for 50% of the learning. The remaining sessions feature lectures and workshops by over 15 guest speakers from Ukraine, the EU, and the USA.
How many participants will the program have? The course will have 30 participants.
Is the program free? Yes, the entire program is free. The organizers also cover all event expenses, including accommodation, travel, and meals.
How will the selection process be conducted, and what are the criteria for taking part?
The program has a competitive selection process that starts with reviewing applications and is followed by short interviews with selected participants. The final results will be emailed to participants no later than August 18, 2025.
The committee will assess candidates' education, English language proficiency, and professional/volunteer experience. Motivation, expectations from the program, and the candidates' potential to contributing towards development and integration efforts in Ukraine are also important.
Who is funding the project? The project is initiated and funded by the ERSTE Foundation (Austria). The implementing partner in Ukraine is the NGO Internews Ukraine. It is supported by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.