Current issues concerning the transformation of education, human capital development, and enhanced cooperation between educational institutions and businesses amid digital change and the dynamic evolution of the labour market were the key topics of the All-Ukrainian Round Table “Business and Education: Synergy for the Future”, held on 22 October 2026 at the State University of Trade and Economics (SUTE).

The event brought together 80 participants, including representatives of SUTE and other higher education institutions, businesses, civil society organisations, government institutions, students, and postgraduate students.

The participants were welcomed by Nataliia Prytulska, First Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at SUTE, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor. She emphasised the importance of active cooperation between the university and businesses, the development of partnership initiatives, and the involvement of employers in training future professionals. Such cooperation would help align educational programmes with the needs of the modern labour market, introduce innovative teaching approaches, and enhance graduates’ competitiveness.

The round table programme focused on three thematic areas reflecting the key challenges facing contemporary education and professional practice.

The first thematic session, “Education for the New Labour Market: Transforming Professions, Skills, and Professional Training Models,” focused on identifying innovative and adaptive approaches to learning and analysing current employer requirements.

Oksana Trubei, Head of the Educational and Research Centre for Business Simulation at SUTE, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor at the Department of Business Economics and Finance, addressed the topic “Bridging Education and Professional Reality: Innovative and Adaptive Learning Models and Methods.” Maryna Dzhulai, Chief Operating Officer of the HR agency UGEN, PhD in Management and a SUTE alumna, presented a paper entitled “What Professionals Are Modern Employers Looking For? Trends in Candidate Requirements”.

The second thematic session, “From Partnership to Co-Creation: Business and Education as an Ecosystem for Human Capital Development,” focused on the role of human capital in business development and Ukraine’s recovery, as well as opportunities to combine educational, entrepreneurial, and international experience.

Mariia Tepliuk, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor at the Department of Business Economics and Entrepreneurship, Head of the Young Scholars’ Scientific Society at Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, and Member of the Youth Council under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, delivered a presentation entitled “The Transcendence of Enterprise Development: Human Capital as a Response to Entropic Challenges.”

Tetiana Danyliuk, Deputy Chair of the Youth Council under the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine, Head of the International Relations Committee, and Co-founder and Managing Director of the London-based educational company Education 4U, presented the topic “Human Capital for Ukraine’s Recovery: How to Bring Education, Business, and International Experience Together.”

The third thematic session, “People and Technology: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, and a New Culture of Professional Practice,” explored the impact of artificial intelligence on the professional environment, the responsible use of digital technologies, and the transformation of management and marketing processes.
Valentyn Stoliarchuk, PhD in International Economic Relations, Founder and Director of Stoliarchuk R&D Ukraine LLC, presented a paper entitled “People and AI: Fostering a Culture of Responsible Artificial Intelligence Use through Business–Education Synergy.”

Bohdan Bratashchuk, Senior User Acquisition Manager at Brainstack and a postgraduate student at the Department of Business Economics and Finance at SUTE, delivered a presentation entitled “From Automation to Intelligent Management: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Digital Marketing and the Role of the Professional.”

The round table highlighted the importance of sustained dialogue between universities, employers, and representatives of government institutions. Discussions addressed the modernisation of educational approaches, human capital development, the alignment of professional competencies with labour market requirements, and the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

Summing up the meeting, the moderator, Hanna Blakyta, Professor and Head of the Department of Business Economics and Finance at SUTE, noted that the key priority for future cooperation should be a shift from exchanging experience to implementing joint educational and practical initiatives. Such initiatives would strengthen cooperation between the university and employers, improve the quality of professional training, and foster the development of competitive human capital in Ukraine.

SUTE remains open to cooperation with businesses and other partners to advance modern education, promote innovation, and train professionals capable of meeting the challenges of the future.