A significant event took place at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas – the second graduation of students from the international Master’s program in double degrees “Information Technologies for Sustainable Energy Development”. This unique educational project is implemented in partnership with London South Bank University (United Kingdom) as part of the Twinning Ukraine initiative founded by the Cormack Consultancy Group.
The program offers students the opportunity to obtain a dual degree and combines two strategically important fields for Ukraine – energy and information technologies. It prepares professionals capable of working with modern digital solutions for the restoration and sustainable development of the country’s energy infrastructure. The coordinator of the Twinning initiative at IFNTUNG, an associate professor of the Department of Computer Systems and Networks Marian Slabinoha, shared with the audience the features of the training.
The participation of the director of the Twinning Ukraine initiative Oleksandr Smirnow gave special importance to the event. In his speech, he emphasized the symbolism of this graduation class:
– This program was initiated in 2022, during the period of the start of the full-scale invasion. At a time when Ukraine not only confronted challenges but also shaped its vision for the future. Today’s diplomas are confirmation that Ukrainian education, in partnership with British universities, is capable of meeting the highest international standards.
He also emphasized the strategic importance of the program for the country, particularly in creating opportunities for acquiring quality international education without the need to travel abroad as an important step in combating talent outflow.
The double degree programs are implemented by Cormack Consultancy Group with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine’s Fund for the Support of Education, Science and Sports, and Mosaik Education.
This educational project is the result of fruitful collaboration between Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas and London South Bank University, which ensures high academic standards and comprehensive support for students. It is through such partnerships that a new generation of professionals is being shaped – at the intersection of IT and energy – who are already applying their knowledge today and will play a key role in Ukraine’s recovery.
It is symbolic that among the program graduates are also representatives of the university’s top management. In particular, this time the academic gown was worn by the vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work Sergiy Zikratyi.He shared his own motivation:
– By education, I am a mechanical engineer. However, knowledge of information technology is a must-have for my current job responsibilities. In addition, the English-language educational program was a challenge that I wanted to take on.
The vice-chancellor of the London South Bank University Deborah Johnson sent warm greetings to the graduates. She emphasized that the university, one of the oldest and most renowned in Great Britain, has been training professionals and imparting knowledge to those who seek it for over 100 years. She highly praised the results of collaboration with IFNTUNG and commended the persistence of students who have successfully gone through this path.
The Rector of IFNTUNG Igor Chudyk emphasized that the second issue is the result of a great collaborative effort between the university and international partners. He mentioned the history of creating the program, thanked Oleksandr Smirnov for his support, and addressed his British colleagues:
— Together with you, we have turned hope into opportunities for our graduates. We are immensely grateful to you for this! The war has shown that energy is one of the key elements of resilience. And it is this educational program and these graduates that represent the future not only of Ukraine, but of the entire continent.
The second edition of the international double degree program is not just a culmination of learning, but also a powerful signal of the resilience of Ukrainian education, its openness to the world, and its ability to shape professionals who are already changing the country today. It is a story of partnership, trust, and a shared vision of the future, where knowledge becomes the foundation for renewal, and education is the engine of national resilience and development.