The Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) has launched the Veterans Career Boost program. Initiated by the university’s Institute for Professional Development, the program was created in collaboration with Boosters and Genesis for Ukraine. It is supported by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, and Veteran Hub. The initiative is designed to help veterans choose a professional path, acquire practical competencies, and prepare to transition back into the civilian workforce.
Veterans in the UCU Career Boost program
The first stage of training began in Lviv, Ukraine where participants met with their team they will work for the next three months. Over three intensive days, veterans worked alongside instructors on topics in psychology, financial literacy, and leadership, gaining knowledge and practical tools for their continued development.
Twenty-five veterans from across Ukraine joined the initiative. Each participant brings their own unique experience regarding military service, the return to civilian life, and the search for new professional opportunities.
“We called this course a ‘reboot’ so that veterans could reflect on their experiences and the skills they gained during the war, try to ‘translate’ them into civilian language, and understand where they can go next,” says Roksolyana Voronovska, head of the UCU Institute for Professional Development.
Among the participants is Ihor (last name withheld for personal security reasons -ed.), who took part in the defense of Mariupol. He was taken prisoner on April 15, 2022, and finally returned home last year. Currently, Ihor is navigating emotional and physical recovery while simultaneously seeking to rediscover himself in civilian life and determine his future career path.
“What I like most is the instructors’ expertise and the way they present information. I try to relate everything I learn here to my own experience, and I am confident it will help me in the next steps of my life,” Ihor says regarding the first few days of training.
Fellow veteran Tetyana (last name withheld for personal security reasons -ed.), also shared her impressions of the program’s launch: “Every day of the course is interesting in its own way. I really liked working in teams. Because we are just starting to get to know one another, this format helps us learn more about our colleagues and identify areas where we need to deepen our own knowledge.”
Participants in the Veterans Career Boost program
The training will consist of 13 thematic modules covering the development of personal and professional skills, career navigation, and modern tools for professional growth. Alongside UCU instructors, representatives of the Boosters team, and guest experts, participants will work on their individual professional trajectories and learn how to deliberately map out their future educational and career steps.
“To maximize the program’s effectiveness, we bring in veterans, active military personnel, psychologists, and professionals with extensive practical teaching experience who can fully guide and support our participants,” noted Voronovska.
Eduard, another participant, said he expects the course to act as a true reboot and provide a roadmap for his future.
“After four and a half years in the military during a full-scale invasion, you kind of lose touch with how the current labor market works, how to evaluate yourself, and how to identify your strengths. I am hoping this program will help me determine a specific action plan—what to do now that I have returned to civilian life,” says Eduard (last name withheld for personal security reasons -ed.).
Participants in the Veterans Career Boost program
Next, participants will undergo two months of intensive online training, culminating in a second in-person session in Lviv at the end of the program. According to the course organizers, upon completing the training, the most motivated veterans will have the opportunity to continue their professional development through grant support from the initiative’s partners.
The UCU Institute for Professional Development offers a wide range of certificate programs for adults, which can be completed both online and in person. Learn more about available programs and lifelong learning opportunities at the provided link.
Text: Khrystyna Kobak
Photo: Maria Urban
