On 24 March 2026, a Youth Think Tank discussion took place at the University of Silesia in Katowice — “From Ukraine” — a mark of quality, professionalism, and resilience. Be an ambassador of change wherever you are,” as part of the project “SUCCESS | Socially innovative Ukrainian Centres in Central Europe: Empowerment and Social Support”.

The event created a space for Ukrainian youth in Poland to engage in meaningful dialogue on education, mobility, and the role of a “networked nation” in shaping Ukraine’s future.

The meeting brought together Ukrainian youth – students from across the Silesian voivodeship, offering them an opportunity to reflect on how studying and living abroad is not a “brain drain,” but rather a way to build strategic capital and contribute to their home country through knowledge, experience, and global connections.

Our participants had the opportunity to:

• Meet the distinguished delegation from Mariupol State University, where Acting Rector Tetiana Marena delivered an inspiring opening speech on how кризis can become a driver of innovation and development, emphasizing that a university is not defined by walls, but by people, values, and shared meaning.
• Discover the importance of global networking through the presentation of Iryna Sikorska, who highlighted international cooperation as a powerful springboard for future careers.
• Explore the role of education in rebuilding Ukraine with Svitlana Kalinina, who presented how academic expertise contributes to large-scale national recovery strategies.
• Gain inspiration from Iryna Gridina, who spoke about Ukrainian youth as “architects of change,” actively shaping their own future in a rapidly evolving world.

The discussion concluded with an engaging Q&A session, allowing students to directly interact with the speakers, share their perspectives, and ask important questions about their academic and professional paths.

After the formal part, participants continued conversations over coffee and refreshments, strengthening connections and building a supportive community of young Ukrainians abroad.

fot. Kacper Skalmierski

On 20–21 February 2026, representatives of the University of Silesia in Katowice took part in project activities and the international forum “Recovery of Ukraine: New Opportunities and Development Scenarios”, held at the Ukrainian Centre in Vilnius at Vytautas Magnus University.

On the eve of the conference, a meeting of the project team from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, implementing the SUCCESS project, took place. The meeting was devoted to discussing ongoing activities and plans for the coming months. Participants also viewed a photographic exhibition marking the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, portraying the realities of daily life during the conflict as well as the strength and determination of Ukrainian society.

The conference brought together representatives of academic communities, public institutions and international organisations. The programme included, among other elements, an opening panel with the participation of high-ranking guests, including the First Ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine, as well as expert discussions on the reconstruction of Ukraine and its integration with the European Union. Dr hab. Małgorzata Myśliwiec, Professor at the University of Silesia, took part in one of the expert panels.

During the event, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the University of Silesia in Katowice, Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, and the project partners. The memorandum emphasises the importance of continued support for Ukrainian Centres in Poland and Lithuania and their role in the process of Ukraine’s integration with the European Union.