Round table within the framework of IIR Career Day Talks
A full hall of students with glowing eyes, active discussions even after the event was over, and, of course, a great shared love for the Institute and the University.
Thus, the first seed of the IIR Endownment Foundation's career marathon ‘IIR Career Day Talks’ dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the IIR and the 190th anniversary of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv was laid. IIR Career Day Talks includes speeches, roundtables, presentations and masterclasses from the IIR alumni and friends about professional success and is a combination of three important driving forces of the Institute: students, faculty and alumni.
‘Today, we are witnessing a harmonious and productive interaction of three elements: alumni, students and faculty of the Institute. We are grateful to the students for their interest, and to our graduates of the International Law Department for their involvement, motivation and dedication to the Institute and their profession,’ - said the Executive Director of the IIR Development Foundation Victoria Krykun.
The Roundtable has become a universal combination of representatives of various areas of the legal labour market, united by a common basis - the qualifications of international lawyers.
Yes, they were represented:
civil service – thanks to the involvement of Halyna Iordek, state expert of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine;
legal business – is represented by Oleg Kulyk, attorney at law, senior partner and co-founder of CygnaLex Law Firm, and Anatoliy Pashynskyy, PhD in International Law, attorney at law, partner and head of anti-corruption practice at Vasil Kisil & Partners Law Firm;
public sector – represented by Ilona Khmeliova, PhD, Secretary of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine and Head of International Advocacy at the East Europe Foundation, and Kateryna Rashevska, legal expert at the Regional Centre for Human Rights (RCHR), co-author of four submissions to the ICC on international crimes committed against Ukrainian children, PhD.
Thanks to the efforts of a small but inspired team of the IIR Endownment Fund, the roundtable brought together those alumni who can be called stars without a doubt - and to help form new stars among the students of the IIR.
A heated discussion between students and alumni focused on the issues that concern the younger generation today: ageism and how to respond to it, gender equality, how to start their professional career, how to look for an internship and a first job.
From the memorable quotes of the alumni speakers:
‘I recommend that you actively meet people, show yourself, write to the specialists you are interested in, and draw attention to yourself. If you want to achieve your goals, you need to be seen, because all the opportunities in your life are connected with your communication with other people,’ Halyna Iordek said.
‘University is not only about knowledge, but also about finding yourself and establishing deep friendships, not competition. It is very good when, in the process of searching, you learn about the experience of those who are a little older and have achieved something in professional, social or business life,’ said Oleg Kulyk.
‘They say that when the student is ready, the Teacher comes. At the start, try to find a mentor who can support you in the first steps of your professional career. It can be your teacher, a senior friend or colleague, or a supervisor at an internship. Don't hesitate to ask for help or advice - doors open to those who knock,’ Anatoliy Pashinsky stated.
‘International law opens up many career opportunities for you. Therefore, believe in yourself and do not be afraid to join various initiatives. Keep in mind two criteria. First, you must love what you do. Secondly, your work should be beneficial to Ukraine. And my main advice is this: value people. Because the IIR is really a network of talented professionals that helps you a lot in your life,’ Ilona Khmeliova emphasised.
‘The depth of knowledge provided by our Institute has allowed me to speak at the rostrums of the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council, so it is worthwhile to value this education. At the same time, gaining practical experience is no less important, because you will be more interesting to employers not just with an honours degree, but also with a little experience and understanding of the realities of your profession,’ said Kateryna Rashevska.
The fruitful roundtable discussion was moderated by Viktor Kalakura, Head of the Department of Private International Law of the Institute of International Relations, who drew the students' attention to the event: ‘These distinguished speakers, our graduates of the International Law speciality, are, first of all, my children, because I taught some of them and wrote scientific papers with them. It is extremely important to have an unbreakable bond between Teachers and Students, because it is of absolutely existential importance for the professional development of each of us.’
The roundtable with graduates of the International Law speciality was a truly remarkable event and, we are sure, provided plenty of inspiration and motivation for the future stars of international law - students of the IIR. At the same time, this is only the first event of the IIR Career Day Talks career marathon dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the IIR and the 190th anniversary of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
Announcements of the next events are coming soon!
Author: Halyna Iordek, member of the Board of the IIR Endownment Fund.
Photo: Teriokhina Anastasiia, 1st year Master's student of Diplomacy and International Cooperation