Students of the Institute of History, International Relations and Socio-Political Studies won the competition of the national programme to support talented youth Zavtra.UA

Recently, the winners of the competition of the Zavtra.UA national programme to support talented young people, which aims to help form and strengthen the new generation of the country's intellectual and business elite, were announced. Each year, the Foundation selects the most talented students in Ukraine and provides them with financial, expert and informational support. The scholarship holders also regularly attend lectures by world-renowned politicians, thinkers and public figures who visit Ukraine.

Three students of the Educational and Research Institute of International Relations have become Zavtra.UA scholarship holders - a community of scholarship holders, a nationwide youth support programme!

The three winners are as follows:

• Daryna Varenik, 3rd year student of International Economic Relations;
• Kateryna Strilets, 4th year student of the International Law programme;
• David Derevlyanyi, 4th year student of International Communications.

Daryna Varenyk, 3rd year student of International Economic Relations, took third place in the ranking among 54 other scholarship holders and 340+ applicants.

"I am extremely grateful to my supervisor, Associate Professor of the Department of World Economy and International Economic Relations at the Educational and Research Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Liudmyla Shvorak, for supporting my interest and passion for the topic of digital transformation. 

I am currently conducting a large study on the prospects for Ukraine's digitalisation in the context of reconstruction and recovery. I am grateful to the very interesting works and ideas of Dmytro Natalusa, Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, for inspiration on the topic - we will also use a human-centred approach in digitalisation!" Daryna recalls. 

Kateryna Strilets, a 4th year student of the International Law programme, took ninth place in the overall ranking. 

"The selection process was long and competitive, but now I am honoured to be among the 54 winners of the competition. In my research paper, I analysed the possibility of establishing a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The establishment of such a tribunal would help to establish justice and maintain international law and order. The tribunal will become a symbol of international support and solidarity with Ukraine in its struggle for independence. 

I am grateful to my supervisor, Olha Shpakovych, who supported me along the way and facilitated the research! I am looking forward to new opportunities within Zavtra UA and believe that they will contribute to the implementation of my practical ideas. I hope that the knowledge and support I have gained will help me implement projects that will have a positive impact on Ukrainian and international society," says Kateryna. 

David Derevlyanyi, a 4th year student of the International Communications programme, also became a scholarship holder. 

"I applied for the competition for the second time, last year the topic was related to student movements, and this year it was about the role of national minorities in Ukraine and their impact on the process of European integration.

I am concerned about this issue in the context of Ukraine's accession to the EU and possible attempts to block and manipulate the ethnic issue, which are also fuelled by Russian agents of influence. The work also included a SWOT analysis of Ukraine's relations with the Hungarian minority and Hungary, so I may continue to pursue this topic in the field of research, as I am interested in the impact of ethnic identification on contemporary politics and conflicts.

In general, I am very pleased to receive this award and grateful for the opportunities it provides. Of course, I would like to thank my supervisor, Associate Professor and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (Public Relations) Olena Dobrzhanska, for her help in the process," says David. 

We congratulate our students and wish them success and inspiration in the future!