On September 14th, the opening of the specialized training program “Anti-Corruption Interdisciplinary Studios” took place in the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
This is the first anti-corruption interdisciplinary training program in Ukraine designed to provide a comprehensive knowledge in the field of preventing and combating corruption. The program is so unique because the course provides the familiarization of students with legal aspects of preventing corruption as well as political, economic, social, and psychological aspects of this negative phenomenon.
Program participants will have a unique opportunity to learn on how to use the anti-corruption tools effectively. The main teaching method provides for interactive learning in the form of lecture vs discussion, group work, simulation, case-study, etc. The program contains many innovative elements including the teaching method as well as the invitation of subject matter experts by the course lecturers in order to ensure the most practical training content. This approach was borrowed from our American colleagues. Another interesting feature of this program is that its participants could be represented with students as well as university graduates, those who completed the ACREC short-term educational programs, and young experts that are professionally involved in the fight against corruption.
The President of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Andrii Meleshevych in his welcoming speech underlined that the main purpose of the program is the development of academic approach to the anti-corruption activities in Ukraine. “We create this program together. The experience of many of you here today is so invaluable for this program.”, told Andrii Meleshevych, addressing the course participants.
The Executive director of the ACREC, Oksana Nesterenko told about the future plans of the Center and the importance of practical implementation of the course material.
According to the Executive Director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, Daria Kaleniuk, “Ukraine is a case study for developed countries as they learn how to behave in a situation where there is no political will to fight corruption. Ukraine has become a site for the development of applied anti-corruption solutions.” Daria Kaleniuk mentioned the importance of anti-corruption education for our country and, in the longer term, for the global community as a whole.
The Executive director of Transparency International Ukraine Yaroslav Yurchyshyn told about the role of the university in verifying the anti-corruption program, “We have opted for Kyiv-Mohyla Academy as it likes to experiment with what becomes a general rule”.
The Head of Master’s Programme in “Political Sciences” in Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Marharyta Chabanna welcomed program participants. Being the coordinator of the Program on “Anti-Corruption Interdisciplinary Studios”, she focused her attention on organizational issues of anti-corruption education studios.
The Head of Development at the ACREC, Oksana Hus joined the event and wished success to the program participants.
The latter expressed their expectations of studying and told about the professional experience that made them search for anti-corruption education. Many of them already work in public associations, government agencies, and private law firms, where they face corruption challenges. Participants are hopeful of using the acquired knowledge to understand the corruption risks at the development of draft laws as well as to effectively implement the desired changes within the society, to avoid corruption in the private sector, etc.
The certified education program is a joint project of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the Interdisciplinary Scientific and the Anti-Corruption Research and Education Center, which is implemented with the support of the Open Society Foundations.
ACREC — was established in 2015 under the joint decisions of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, Transparency International Ukraine, and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. According to the President of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Andrii Meleshevych, the activity of the Center follows two major objectives: the introduction of the interdisciplinary MA program in the field of anti-corruption activity and the establishment of communications between the scientists dealing with the problem of corruption. Some of our immediate prospects include the introduction of short-term and long-term interdisciplinary programs designed to offer the practical training of experts in the field of administration, public, political and legal activities.
