On June 27, the Lviv Polytechnic National University (Lviv Polytechnic) officially opened a modern Research and Educational Center “Engineering and Robotics” with through a grant from the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA). This center aims to develop the skills of students of applied mechanics and mechanical engineering. 

At the opening, USAID ERA Deputy Chief of Party Kirsten Pfeiffer said,  

“This center will significantly enhance the university’s practical training and research capacity. It will ensure that students receive the highest level of education and hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. We welcome active cooperation between the university and businesses. The new equipment will help to conduct joint research projects.”

“Young leaders, technical specialists and future entrepreneurs are critical to Ukraine’s economic growth and sustainability,” she continued. “This partnership shows that, with support, Ukraine has the people and determination to lead its own recovery.”

Head of the Lviv Oblast State Administration Maksym Kozytskyi also confirmed the necessity and importance of training specialists in these areas. 

“It is important that this center can serve as an additional base for enterprises in Lviv Oblast engaged in milling and metalworking, as well as a basis for joint research between the university and business,” he said. 

With support from mentors, students will learn new technologies and methods of metal processing and analysis on a laser cutting machine, a bending machine, a vertical milling machine, a spectrometer, a pendulum copra and other equipment. 

Yurii Bobalo, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic explained, “Lviv Polytechnic trains high-class specialists, and the training process depends on three very important factors. The first factor is high-class lecturers. Second are motivated students who want to know and learn. The third factor is logistical support. We are always grateful when we receive from our American friends not only military and other aid, but also logistical support for educational institutions.” “. 

At the opening event, participants discussed the prospects of the university’s cooperation with state authorities and businesses on improving educational programs, conducting laboratory and practical classes, joint research and R&D. 

In addition, heads of five enterprises (PJSC “Kriukiv Carriage Building Plant”, PJSC “Lviv Locomotive Repair Plant”, Research and Mechanical Plant “Karpaty”, Plant “Polymer-Electron”, LLC “Kuka Ukraine”) signed a memorandum on cooperation and development of joint projects. 

“This is the third laboratory created with the assistance of the USAID ERA, and I am confident in the success of its work,” said Nazar Podolchak, the Head of Tech Startup School. “During the relatively short period of our cooperation, students began to develop practical skills and create and implement their own projects…during the holidays, they will work with mentors…In the future, the center will serve as another step towards the development and transformation of the metalworking sphere thanks to the students.”

Starting next semester, more than 200 students will use the equipment and  work with five mentors to develop their practical skills, ideas and projects in metalworking. 

“This equipment is modern and does not require physical strength,” said Alina Shavlei, a student of Applied Mechanics at Lviv Polytechnic National University. “Having learned how to operate it, now I can easily adapt to work at enterprises. I have always liked natural sciences, and I see prospects in such professions, which used to be purely male. I think that more and more girls will be interested in them.” . 

In addition to the lab and classes for students of Lviv Polytechnic, master classes and workshops will be open to students of other educational institutions. 

The educational center is located at: 1 Profesorska Street (14th educational building of Lviv Polytechnic) and 1 Ustiyanovicha St. (15th educational building of the Lviv Polytechnic University).

In May, with the assistance of USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA), Nibulon employees took the online training course LEAN Yellow Belt Basic from the Lean Institute in Ukraine. Nibulon requested this course within the framework of the project Workforce Development for Ukraine by the NGO International Foundation of Development.  

Nibulon’s 31 course participants obtained skills and tools to increase the value of their products and streamline the process efficiency in their respective departments. Many Nibulon departments were represented, including logistics, elevator operations, trade, IT, technical, agricultural production, and even the Nibulon’s Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Plant. 

The training consisted of seven classes and “homework”. At the end of the course, most participants left with ideas on how to improve the work processes in their various departments. Overall, 75% of participants recorded that the course met their expectations, and 25% even said that it exceeded expectations.  

Course Take-aways: 

• The training helped rethink work processes, reduce losses, and improve productivity.  

• The course improved employee skills development and practice enhancement.  

• The systematic approach to implementing new technologies such as automatization and modernizing software was highlighted, which ultimately minimizes paperwork.  

• The course promoted customer satisfaction by identifying customers’ needs and showed the benefits of being client orientated, which helps to increase value for customers, increase future business, and is good for corporate competitiveness. 

• Management processes and increased leadership skills were also core benefits. 

“Our sector is now experiencing a global reset of working processes. The main aim is to significantly increase the activity’s efficiency and reduce service costs. This will allow us to provide the best services within the sector at an affordable price. In the training, we learned how to identify, focus, and organize work to eliminate shortcomings in the production process that might lead to financial losses or costs over time. We would like to express our gratitude to partners and continue developing in this direction,” said Serhiy Taran, Director of the Transshipment Grain Terminal in Mykolaiv. 

The long-term impact of the training will be tangible in Nibulon’s increased level of efficiency and productivity, their investment in employee’s career development, the introduction of innovative approaches, paying closer attention to the customers’ needs, and applying a systematic approach.  

With support from the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA), renovation of the Leadership Development Center of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy (ULA) has kicked off. Fifty rooms in this 19th century building located in Lviv’s historical district will be renovated.  

USAID ERA has aready purchased 90% of the building materials to be used in the renovation,  which will be completed by the end of December. Students will be able to move in in early 2025. WNISEF and Horizon Capital funds, Lviv City Council, FEST Emotions Holding, and “Kormotekh” Company are also helping to finance the project. Contractor 7CI LLC will oversee the renovation, which was designed by Re+ Architectural Bureau with support from AVR Development Company. 

The Center will have two large conference halls, a cafe-shelter, rooms for students and mentors, and a dining room. A modern elevator will also be installed in the three-story building for students and guests of ULA with disabilities. As the building is more than 150 years old, the century-old wooden staircase, brick vault, ceiling and other structural elements will be preserved. Contractors have already installed new electrical wiring, and next week water and sewage networks will be replaced. 

“The work we are doing is an investment not just in the ceiling and stairs, but in our youth,” said Lyubomyr Shymkiv, ULA’s Head of partnership development and infrastructure.  “We plan to create a modern leadership center that will become a place of strength and implementation of projects for talented youth from all corners of Ukraine… We believe that such projects will help our youth get a quality education in Ukraine and plan for their future and our country.” 

 More than 1,300 students have graduated from ULA, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.