Creative exams have begun: veterans enroll at KNUBA

Creative exams have begun: veterans enroll at KNUBA

13 July , 2025

The admission campaign is in full swing at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA) – creative competitions for applicants began in early July. Among those taking exams this summer are Ukrainian defenders. In particular, veteran Vadym Honcharenko and several of his comrades have decided to enroll at KNUBA. They have chosen modern and sought-after specialties, such as architecture, industrial and civil engineering (ICE), physical education and sports (coaching), cybersecurity, as well as a field to which the university pays special attention – ecology and environmental protection technologies (EPT). According to the veterans, they understand the importance of higher education and retraining: new knowledge will help them join the great reconstruction of the country and find themselves in a peaceful life. Vadym Honcharenko, who uses a wheelchair, notes that continuing his education is both a challenge and an opportunity for him. For the university and the Ukrainian Veterans Cluster, this case highlights the relevance of accessibility issues: they are now jointly seeking funding to adapt the educational space to the needs of students with disabilities.

“The war will end sooner or later, but education and reconstruction will definitely continue. We need to prepare for this now,” said Natalia Goncharenko, head of the Ukrainian Veterans Cluster, quoting a well-known opinion about the inevitability of peace and development. As the leader of a veterans’ organization, she emphasizes the need to invest in veterans’ knowledge today. Natalia added that the admission campaign is ongoing, and those who wish to obtain a master’s degree on a budgetary basis still have a chance to submit their documents—the state and partners provide separate funding opportunities for veterans. Thanks to the efforts of the Veterans Cluster and KNUBA, with the support of business partners, a program of special scholarships for veterans and their families has already been launched. The first benefactor of this initiative was Axor Industry. At a recent event dedicated to the launch of the Re:Veterans Platform reintegration program, Axor’s Deputy Marketing Director Olena Krekina presented a program of cooperation between employers on internships and employment for veterans. As a stakeholder representative, Olena is preparing to teach at the university starting next academic year in order to directly share her experience with veteran students.

These innovations are being implemented in line with the state policy of supporting defenders. On July 11, KNUBA and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs signed a memorandum of cooperation that expands opportunities for training and professional adaptation for veterans in Ukraine. “For the university, the veteran program is a response to one of the main challenges facing the country. We help veterans gain a new profession and return to civilian life with relevant knowledge and skills,” said KNUBA Rector Oleksii Dniprov. According to Deputy Minister for Veterans Affairs Yulia Kirillova, combatants and their families can now obtain a master’s degree at KNUBA free of charge, as well as obtain another specialty based on a previously obtained diploma. In addition, veterans and their children can study at colleges affiliated with the university under a state program (CMU Resolution No. 432). For its part, the university provides the Ministry with expert support in creating a modern infrastructure for veterans. In particular, specialists from KNUBA and the Institute for the Reintegration of Veterans “Architecture of Resilience” are involved in developing the concept of “veteran spaces” — a network of multifunctional support centers for veterans and their families. It should be noted that KNUBA students who are children of veterans are already eligible for compensation for one year of study. All these steps are designed to ensure a smooth transition from military service to a successful civilian career for our defenders.

Veteran reintegration: employment and entrepreneurship after the war

The Ukrainian Veterans Cluster emphasizes that the most important result of all educational initiatives is a veteran (and their family) who is employed or a veteran entrepreneur who has started their own business. The goal is not only to obtain a diploma, but also to enable defenders to become economically independent and successful in peaceful life. Global experience confirms that the integration of veterans into the economy through education, work, or entrepreneurship gives a powerful impetus to the development of a country.

After World War I (United Kingdom): the government introduced a program to support higher education for former military personnel. Between 1919 and 1923, the Higher Education Scheme for Ex-Servicemen was in place, under which approximately 28,000 veterans in England and Wales received grants to study at universities. This was an unprecedented step that effectively doubled the number of students compared to pre-war times and laid the foundation for the post-war system of university grants.
After World War II (USA): the legendary GI Bill, a law on benefits for veterans, was passed. Thanks to this program, nearly half of the 16 million American veterans of World War II received education or vocational training at public expense. Such a large-scale investment project protected the country from post-war unemployment and laid the foundation for an economic boom. Many military graduates not only built successful careers, but also started their own businesses. According to estimates, 49.7% of US veterans after World War II became business owners or managers, and after the Korean War, about 40%. This created millions of jobs for veterans and their generation. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush noted that the GI Bill had changed the lives of millions by “replacing old barriers with pathways to opportunity.”
Post-war reconstruction (United Kingdom): Britain also focused on education and social support for demobilized soldiers. A system of state scholarships known as the Further Education and Training Scheme (FETS) was created to cover the costs of education for all former military personnel who wished to study. As a result, annual university enrolment in the country rose from ~50,000 (before the war) to 80,000 after the war. Veterans gained new professions – engineers, architects, teachers – and joined the reconstruction of the economy at all levels. This social elevator significantly increased mobility in society and enabled talented people, regardless of their background, to realize their potential after the war.
Israel – “Startup Nation”: compulsory military service in Israel became the foundation for the phenomenal rise of the country’s high-tech business. Today, Israel has the world’s highest number of startups per capita and record levels of venture capital. The culture of entrepreneurship and innovation there has been shaped in large part by veterans of the Israel Defense Forces. Former military personnel, particularly graduates of elite units such as Unit 8200, apply the leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills they acquired in the military to business. It is not only Unit 8200 – veterans from various specialties are founding companies in cybersecurity, programming, and engineering. Veteran startups have become the driving force behind what Israel calls the “startup nation.” According to Israeli investors, military service teaches young people responsibility, perseverance, and creativity—the very qualities that entrepreneurs need. As a result, the state gains a powerful layer of educated business leaders, hardened by their military experience. Global examples show that by investing in veterans’ education today, society gains not only socially protected heroes, but also new professionals, managers, and innovators who are capable of developing the economy.

“Veterans are not only a force that protects, but also a force that builds,” emphasizes Axor, a company that supports veteran initiatives. The main task is to help defenders realize their potential in peaceful life. In Ukraine, this philosophy is already being implemented through retraining programs, partnerships with businesses, and support for entrepreneurship among former military personnel. After all, every veteran who finds employment or starts a successful business is not only a personal victory for the soldier, but also a contribution to the sustainable development and recovery of the country.

creative exams, KNUBA, VETERANS