Constructive discussion of changes to the educational program “Public Administration and Business Management” with stakeholders

On February 27, 2024, a meeting was held at the Department of Public Administration and Business Management of the Faculty of Finance and Business Management of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv to discuss changes to the educational and professional program of the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) level of higher education “Public Administration and Business Management”.
The event was initiated by the academic staff of the Department, who invited a wide range of stakeholders to a dialogue to assess the quality and discuss the educational components of the program for higher education students majoring in D4 “Public Administration and Management”, field of knowledge D “Business, Administration and Law”.

The main issue on the agenda was updating the educational programs of the first (bachelor’s), second (master’s) and third (educational and scientific) levels of higher education in order to implement the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1021 dated 30.08.2024. It provides for amendments to the list of fields of knowledge and specialties in which higher and professional higher education is provided.

In today’s context of public administration transformation, decentralization and development of territorial communities, the issue of quality training of public administration professionals is of particular relevance. An ongoing dialogue between higher education institutions and key stakeholders has become an integral part of ensuring that educational programs meet the real needs of the labor market and the requirements of society.
Such a dialogue is especially relevant in the context of martial law, when public servants face new challenges and training qualified personnel to rebuild the country becomes a strategic task. That is why involving representatives from different fields in the discussion allows us to take into account different experiences and perspectives.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Student Government of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, the Lviv Regional Youth Center, the Chief Specialist of the Western Interregional Department of the National Emergency Service of Ukraine, representatives of the Lviv Regional Military Administration and the business community.

Particular attention was drawn to the participation of representatives of the TWORY! Network, an association of youth spaces in Lviv that includes the MoloDvizhenCenter, Lviv Open Lab, Pixlab, Design Space, and Urban Camp. This network is also implementing the strategic initiative “Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025,” which added additional weight to the discussion in light of current trends in the city’s development.

Such events are critical to ensuring a student-centered approach to education and the formation of competitive professionals. Regular consultations with employers and other stakeholders allow the university to keep its educational programs relevant, monitor changes in professional standards and adapt the educational process accordingly.

During the meeting, the participants actively joined the public discussion on improving the educational program. Particular attention was paid to the inclusion of innovative components related to the digitalization of public administration, strategic planning of territorial development and crisis management. In addition, stakeholders took a direct part in discussing and approving the topics of qualification (master’s) theses for higher education students, focusing on their practical orientation and compliance with modern challenges.

The event was held in a constructive atmosphere, taking into account the wishes and suggestions of all stakeholders, which will improve the quality of training of future specialists in the field of public administration and business. Based on the results of the discussion, a list of recommendations for improving the educational and professional program will be formed, which will be submitted to the Academic Council of the Faculty.

The Department of Public Administration and Business Management expresses its sincere gratitude to all the participants of the meeting and invites to further fruitful cooperation to ensure high quality education and training of competitive specialists for the needs of the region and the country.
Suggestions and recommendations on the content of educational and professional programs, their educational components can be sent to the following e-mail addresses: hanna.komarnytska@lnu.edu.ua, olena.reshota@lnu.edu.ua, pamb.dep.financial@lnu.edu.ua.