The National University of Water Management and Nature Resources Use deepens cooperation with the Smart People Business School and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.

DuringFebruary 3-5, 2026as part of their annual practice, students majoring in Finance, Management, Business, Entrepreneurship and Trade, and International Economics at the Educational and Scientific Institute of Economics and Management of NUVHP communicate with graduates and partners of the business school Smart People, managers of the companies 'Dubok', 'Furniture Warehouse', 'Verallia Ukraine', 'Carbonis' and 'Molokiya'. They discuss the relevant skills for building a successful career in Ukrainian and international companies.

The event was another step in developing partnership relations between the university, business, and international organizations to strengthen the practical component of training for higher education students in economic specialties.

As part of the event, over150 students of the ESIMhad the opportunity to directly communicate with managers and representatives of leading companies from Rivne and Ternopil regions. They discussed modern business models, the specifics of organizing management processes, the current challenges of Ukrainian business in wartime and post-war recovery, as well as the competencies demanded in today's labor market.

Over the three days, representatives from the following companies joined the meetings with students:

• DUBOKandFurniture Warehouse(February 3);

• Verallia Ukraine(February 4);

• CarbonisandMolokiya(February 5).

Companies presented their own development experiences, approaches to personnel management, innovative solutions, and examples of implementing sustainable development principles in their activities.

"More than ten years ago, the Smart People business school team launched a student championship for solving business cases. Thanks to the championship, dozens of students have completed internships, interviews, and secured jobs in leading companies in the region. Today, the shortage of personnel is one of the greatest challenges businesses face on the path to recovery and development. The law on individual educational trajectories creates new opportunities for deeper collaboration between first-year students and employers. With the support of our initiative from UNDP in Ukraine and the government of Sweden, we are reviving the business case competition and involving leading companies in the region as Partners," said Taras Komarenko, senior lecturer at the Department of Finance and Economic Security of NUWGP, head of the Smart People business school.

The event is organized by the Smart People business school with the support of UNDP in Ukraine and the government of Sweden (through SIDA) as part of the project "Enhanced Partnership for Sustainable Recovery," aimed at developing human capital and strengthening interaction between education and business.

At the Institute of Economics and Management, we believe that such initiatives contribute to improving the quality of practical training for students, forming professional competencies, and developing sustainable partnerships, which are vital for Ukraine's economic recovery.