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On October 22, the first Alumni Forum was held at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University – a large-scale meeting of the university community, which brought together graduates of different years, business representatives, educators, cultural and artistic figures, athletes, scientists and the university community. The event was an opportunity to return to their alma mater, renew old ties, share professional experience, and launch new initiatives to advance the university and the region.
The forum has become not only a meeting of people united by their student years and shared history, but also a platform for professional dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and the formation of partnerships. Its main idea is to bring graduates of different generations together into a community that stays connected with the university, shares experiences, supports young people’s professional development, and participates in important educational, cultural, and social projects.
The rector of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Valentyna Yakubiv, addressed the participants and emphasised the importance of maintaining a strong connection between the university and its graduates. She noted that the graduates’ professional achievements, their active civic position and contribution to the development of various spheres of public life are a matter of pride for the university community. The rector said the Forum is a platform for open dialogue, sharing experiences, building new partnerships, and launching joint initiatives. After all, the university community does not end with receiving a diploma – it continues to unite people who maintain common values, support their native university and are ready to work together for its development and the future of Ukraine.
The Forum program began with parallel panel discussions in three areas — “Business”, “Education” and “Art, Culture, Sports”. The conversations were joined by university graduates who today work in various professional fields, hold leadership positions, implement their own projects, and make a significant contribution to the development of the Carpathian region and Ukraine.
Participants shared professional stories, discussed challenges facing their fields, talked about decision-making experiences, the role of education in shaping a successful career, and opportunities for cooperation between the university and professional communities.
Panel discussion “Business”: experience, solutions and partnership opportunities
The Business panel discussion served as a platform for discussing entrepreneurship, management, company development, and the interaction between business and the educational environment. Participants had the opportunity to hear practical stories from people who work in different sectors of the economy, manage enterprises and organisations, and make decisions every day in a changing market.
The following joined the discussion:
- Oleg Datsko — Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prykarpatenergotrade LLC;
- Dmytro Romanyuk — member of the board of the Ivano-Frankivsk Business Association, entrepreneur;
- Olga Bregin — Director of the auditing company “VECTOR AUDIT”;
- Margarita Boyko — General Director of the Nadiya Hotel and Restaurant Complex;
- Liliana Pengrin — General Director of Vygodsky Timber Combine, Deputy Director of Uniplyt LLC;
- Oksana Salei Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Phytosanitary Testing Laboratory of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection.
The discussion gave us a chance to consider entrepreneurial activity through real experience, professional responsibility, and the search for effective solutions. A key part of the dialogue was connecting business representatives with the university to build partnerships, professionalise students, and create new opportunities for practical training of future specialists.
Panel discussion “Education”: shaping the future of Ukrainian education
The educational direction brought together representatives of government bodies, the university community, school education, and professional associations. The focus was on the development of the educational environment, pedagogical skills, the teacher’s role in society, and the current challenges facing Ukrainian education.
The speakers of the panel discussion were:
- Ihor Mandar — Deputy Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration;
- Ihor Tsependa — Chairman of the Academic Council of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University;
- Natalia Neshpir — teacher at the Mykola Sabat Scientific Lyceum, Honoured Teacher of Ukraine;
- Lesya Pavlyuk — teacher at Lyceum No. 7, winner of the national award Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2024;
- Andriy Demyanchuk — Acting Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, Chairman of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Organisation of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers;
- Lesya Nadvirnianska is the deputy head of the Association of Certified Pedagogical Workers of Ukraine in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Participants shared their vision of modern educational transformations, discussed the challenges facing educators, and the importance of teacher professional development. A separate dimension of the conversation was the connection between the university training of future educators and the practical experience of those who are already shaping the educational environment today.
The meeting was an opportunity to reflect on the university’s role in training a new generation of specialists who not only possess solid knowledge but are also ready to respond to social challenges, implement change, and develop Ukrainian education.
Panel discussion “Art, Culture, Sports”: an inspiring experience
The third direction brought together representatives of the artistic, cultural, media and sports communities. Participants spoke about the importance of culture to society, the role of art in preserving national identity, the potential of modern media, and the importance of popularising Ukrainian cultural heritage.
They shared their experience:
- Volodymyr Rudnytskyi — Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Philharmonic named after Ira Malanyuk;
- Alla Pass is a television journalist, TSN correspondent on the 1+1 TV channel;
- Olesya Pasichnyak is an Honoured Artist of Ukraine, an actress of the Ivan Franko Drama Theatre;
- Valeriy Tverdokhlib — artist, head of the restoration department of the Ivano-Frankivsk Museum of Local Lore;
- Bohdan Tomenchuk – Ukrainian poet, educator;
- Ihor Debenko is the general director of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional television station “Halychyna”.
The conversation demonstrated the versatility of the university graduates’ professional paths and their role in cultural and social life. The speakers’ experiences provided an opportunity to exchange views on creativity, professional self-realisation, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the responsibility of professionals to society.
All three panel discussions were united by a common idea: university education is the foundation on which a subsequent professional path is built, and the connection between graduates and their alma mater can serve as the basis for new partnerships, joint projects, and opportunities for future generations of students.
The Forum was concluded with a gala evening in the university assembly hall, which united the participants in a warm atmosphere of meetings, memories, gratitude, and pride for their native alma mater. Among the honoured guests of the Forum was Olga Budnyk, Advisor-Employer to the President of Ukraine on the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Support of Education, Science and Sports.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation by the Stefanyk Alumni Association, which brings together graduates from different years and professions, strengthens ties with the university, and creates opportunities for interaction, mentoring, and joint projects.
A key part of the program was a solemn celebration of graduates’ professional achievements and their contributions to society and the university. Their stories are examples of how knowledge gained in university classrooms becomes the basis for professional development, personal achievements, and socially significant causes.
Another initiative presented during the gala evening was the launch of “The Stefanyk Chronicle: A History We Create Together.” Its goal is to preserve the memories, stories, photos, and wishes of graduates, forming a living memory of the university and the people who created and continue to create its history.
The evening also featured a proposal for an alum charity fund and an initiative to provide named scholarships for talented students. These projects are designed to expand opportunities to support young people, encourage academic and creative achievements, and strengthen interaction among different generations of the university community.
A special place in the program was occupied by the networking event “Connecting Generations – The Power of Community.” It allowed participants to maintain their existing relationships, renew old contacts, exchange professional ideas, and discuss potential directions for future cooperation.
Talented university graduates created the festive atmosphere of the gala evening. The guests were entertained by the dance ensemble “Dyvotsvit”, Natalia Onyshchuk, Yuriy Gresko, Diana Bihun and the band “BUDMO”. Artistic performances became a bright addition to the meeting, emphasising the creative potential of the university community and its contribution to the cultural life of the Carpathian region.
A partnership that unites
The first Alumni Forum would not have been possible without our partners and sponsors, who joined the initiative and supported efforts to unite the university community.
Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University expresses its sincere gratitude for the partnership and support:
- FG “Helios”;
- Uniplyt;
- “OttoHans”;
- NADIYA Hotel & Restaurants;
- Veles Mall;
- Lemker;
- Trade Union Committee of Students and Postgraduate Students of the KNUVS
The joint participation of the university, alums, and partners demonstrates the importance of interaction among education, business, culture, and civil society. Thanks to these connections, new ideas emerge, opportunities expand for young people, and the groundwork is laid for initiatives important to the university and the region.
The First Alumni Forum of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University was an important step towards forming an active community that values a common history, supports each other’s professional achievements, and works together on the future.
After all, university is not just years of study, lectures, and diplomas. It’s people, meetings, values, and connections that last a lifetime. And no matter how much time has passed since graduation, your alma mater always remains a place you want to return to.
The forum started a new tradition — a tradition of meeting, supporting each other, sharing experiences, and creating a common history of Carpathian University.
