The Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), the IT product company Boosters, and the Genesis for Ukraine Charitable Foundation are launching the Veterans Career Boost program for veterans returning to civilian life and seeking a new career path. The initiative is designed to help participants determine their professional futures, gain new knowledge and skills, adapt their military experience to the civilian environment, and prepare for employment.
Entrepreneurship program for veterans. Photo is illustrative.
The program will run from August to November 2026, combining two in-person modules in Lviv with a series of online classes. Participants will be taught by UCU lecturers, top executives from Boosters, and guest experts from various industries.
“Educating veterans is an important strategic priority for UCU. This is not the first program we have implemented for the veteran community, nor is it our first joint initiative with Genesis for Ukraine. When developing this program, we relied on various studies of the veteran community, in-depth interviews, and our own experience to create the most practical and useful educational product possible,” said Roksoliana Voronovska, head of the UCU Institute for Professional Development.
She emphasized the importance of building a large, robust veteran community around UCU: “We truly hope that the experience of staying and studying at UCU will help veterans build new networks of communication and mutual support.”
Mykhailo Galyan, founder and CEO of Boosters, added that access to knowledge and new opportunities can be life-changing.
“This is why it is important for us to support veterans who are entering a new professional stage today. We are infinitely grateful to them for what they have done for Ukraine, and we want to help them further realize their potential through education, the development of new skills, and support as they navigate career changes. This is our way of expressing respect, gratitude, and support,” Galyan emphasized.
The training program comprises 13 thematic modules dedicated to developing personal and professional competencies. Topics include leadership, emotional adaptability, financial and digital literacy, AI tools for the workplace, personal branding, and career navigation. No prior specialized education or work experience in a specific field is required to participate.
According to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Ukrainian Veterans Fund, and robota.ua, half of all veterans require support with retraining, and nearly 65% do not return to their previous workplaces after completing their service. This reality creates a strong demand for new educational and career-oriented projects.
“That is why such initiatives are extremely important. They help participants not only to gain new knowledge and skills but also to see their own potential in new areas, find like-minded people, and confidently plan the next stage of their professional development,” noted Oleg Olyva, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Fund.
In addition to training, participants will receive further opportunities for development. These include 10 educational vouchers worth $500 each for continued education, individual career consultations with the Boosters Talent Acquisition team, free access to educational programs at the UCU Business School, resume reviews, and recommendations for optimizing their LinkedIn profiles.
“Today, according to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, more than 2 million people in Ukraine hold the status of combat veterans. Therefore, the reintegration of veterans is one of the key challenges for the country and a priority area of work for the Genesis for Ukraine Foundation. Our experience shows that quality support is not just about financial assistance; it is also about providing access to education, networking, and practical tools. That is why, alongside our partners, we have created a program that will help participants navigate their return to civilian life more confidently and connect with like-minded individuals,” said Anastasia Kladova, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Genesis and Head of Genesis for Ukraine.
Participation in the program involves a competitive selection process that will admit 25 veterans with official combat veteran status. Applications are open through July 31, 2026. The selection results will be announced on August 17, and the training will commence on August 26 with the first in-person module in Lviv.
