The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) plans to invest $10 million in the internal renovation of the Golf Club in Obolon, Kyiv, which it recently acquired for $18 million, so that the campus created on its premises meets the requirements of leading world universities, KSE President Timofey Milovanov said.
“About $10 million will go toward internal renovation, not external. Everything there needs to be demolished, and laboratories, amphitheaters, and makerspaces need to be built. … Filling the campus itself with high-quality, modern educational facilities, such as those found in top universities, will cost $10 million,” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
According to Milovanov, KSE sent a team to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to see what a makerspace is.
“This is where students have access to all modern robots, lasers, machine tools with software control — everything they need to make a prototype if they have an idea. All the equipment must be there, from projectors to lecture halls, and there must be access to software that costs money even for universities,” explained the KSE president.
He added that there are plans to open these makerspaces for students from other universities as well.
Milovanov recalled that the first KSE building in Kyiv, located at 3 Shpaka Street, cost $2.5 million, with another $2.5 million spent on renovations: shelter, sleeping capsules, library shelves, AI cameras that allow hybrid lectures, a security system, fire safety, modern ventilation, batteries, and generators in case of blackouts.
Some of this is already in place at the Golf Club, but it was designed for a small number of people, not the several thousand students who will be working here, added the KSE president. Among other things, he pointed to the building’s well-insulated basements, which can be used as shelters for all students and teachers.
He emphasized that he was very pleased with the purchase because the Golf Club was built to a very high standard, so the price of the deal was very attractive considering the location—$18 million for 14,500 square meters of space plus 5 hectares of land on lease.
“Even if you don’t count the land and the location near the Dnieper, that’s $1,200 per square meter! (…) But now there are no buyers. If people have $20 million, they will buy a hotel in Indonesia, not invest in Ukraine. I think this is simply a factor of the war, and we are very lucky—without the war, it would have been many times more expensive,” Milovanov believes.
According to him, in theory, the first students could use the renovated building as early as January next year, although in practice it may take longer, partly because of the existing tenants, with whom KSE would like to resolve the issue without any disputes.
“But there are two buildings at the Golf Club. One of them is empty—there are no tenants. So we are already starting demolition this week, and it may be ready sooner. That is where we will build makerspaces, amphitheaters, and other significant renovations,” said the KSE president.
He emphasized that the university will maintain the land’s sporting purpose, as stipulated in the lease agreement.
“We will do everything completely according to the law, so we will leave the golf course. Some good businessmen are already writing to us about how this can be improved. So maybe there is something in this direction,” Milovanov said.
At the same time, he said that in the future, KSE would like to expand the purpose of the land plot so that it fully corresponds to the university, so it will submit all the documents to the Kyiv City Council.
“I think it will take 5-7 years. But we have no other way, because we are an American company. Although local developers tell me: Timofey, why are you doing this? Do what you have to do, and you’ll figure it out later. But we don’t do that, we are an American company. We don’t know how to decide things like that,” he emphasized.
KSE is a private university and research center founded in 1996. It operates as a non-profit organization registered in the United States. Since 2022, KSE donors have contributed more than $150 million to humanitarian, defense, and educational projects, including the development of university infrastructure.
GOLF CLUB, INVESTMENT, KYIV SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, RECONSTRUCTION
On August 12, the next stage of the women’s golf competition Open Ladies Golf Tour took place at the Superior GC. For many participants, this tournament was first.
Every women’s tournament in Kharkiv is a real holiday for every lady. After all, it is here all the golfers are given a lot of attention and flowers are given.
“Women’s golf is a miracle because when more than 50 charming, sporty ladies in symbolic red and white colors come out on the golf course, ut is breathtaking beauty. The most beautiful women are in Ukraine and we, together with the Superior GC, are doing everything to make more and more ladies discover golf,” – said Vice-president of the Federation and GC Superior Yuriy Sapronov.
This time there were many women among the participants who are just starting their way in golf. In the 2021 season, the Ukrainian Golf Federation joined forces with Superior, Kozyn, Edem and Golfstream to bring women’s golf to a new level of development. Thanks to the creation of women’s golf schools in golf clubs in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv, ladies from different parts of Ukraine were able to discover this sport, and after regular training have already begun to participate in competitions.
“This year, the Ukrainian Golf Federation focused on the active development of women’s golf. More than 100 beginners have already joined our women’s golf schools, which operate every week in different locations and in different cities. After active training, women start playing in tournaments and do not have time to notice how this sport becomes a lifestyle. We thank the golf clubs Superior, Kozyn, Golfstream and Edem, which make a lot of efforts in the formation of women’s golf in our country,” – said Vice-president of the Ukrainian Golf Federation Olena Rudik.
Open Ladies Golf Tour results:
Taking into account the handicap in the Stableford Net nomination, the leaders were: Gavrenkova Tetyana (in the handicap group 0-36), 2nd place – Tereshchuk Alyona, 3rd place – Bolotova Natalia.
Lavrenchuk Maryna won in the group 36.1-54.0, 2nd place – Bogdarenko Victoria, 3rd place – Hasanova-Lebedeva Anastasia.
Best Junior – Kagan Veronica
Best Gross – Gavrenkova Tetyana
Longest drive
Women – Maria Pedenko
Nearest to the pin
Women – Natalia Bolotova
The Ukrainian Golf Federation would like to thank all the partners who joined the Open Ladies Golf Tour: Superior Golf Club, host of the Superior Resort and Spa hotel complex, Porsche car brand, Forte Village and Palazzo Fiuggi hotels, Cornelia De Luxe, CosmosGolf, brand TaylorMade golf equipment, Premier Palace Wellness Club, Grill do Brazil restaurant, exclusive gifts from ZAPASHNA, Roberto Bravo, Beauty ua, Iris by Primerose, OTP Bank and MasterCard.
The Open Ladies Golf Tour Final will take place soon on September 4 at Kozyn GC.
