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
The prices of sale and purchase of agricultural land in May 2024 significantly increased compared to the previous months and are now the highest for the entire existence of the land market: the weighted average price per hectare in May was 45.0 thousand UAH, which is 8.2% higher than in April 2024, and 5.6% higher than in March this year, according to a study by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), which is conducted on behalf of the USAID program.
According to analysts, the price of land with the intended purpose “for commercial agricultural production” was even higher and reached UAH 46.2 thousand.
“The above prices are based on the official prices registered in the Register of Property Rights during sale and purchase transactions. Market prices for land can be much higher, because most of all transactions are concluded at a price that does not differ from the normative-monetary valuation (the minimum price established by law for former sub-moratorial lands) by more than 2%,” the KSE clarified.
At the same time, experts believe that a slight decrease in prices in April 2024 and an increase in the cost of agricultural land in May this year is unlikely to be a long-term trend.
Since the beginning of 2024, average land prices remain significantly higher than in previous periods. Consequently, it can be stated that the opening of the land market for legal entities in January 2024 has led to structural changes in the market conditions, and as a consequence has led to an increase in the value of agricultural land, according to the KSE study “Land of Indestructibility”.
Farmak pharmaceutical company, within the framework of a strategic partnership with the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), will allocate $ 500,000 for the development of KSE.
According to a press release from the pharmaceutical company, in particular, the funds will be used to equip a new campus, as well as to strengthen existing and launch new educational areas, including training bachelors.
“By supporting such projects, we are contributing to the achievement of the Global Sustainable Development Goals, one of the tasks of which is to improve the quality of higher education and ensure its close connection with science,” Executive Director of Farmak Volodymyr Kostiuk said.
The press release notes that Farmak supports not only KSE, but also other educational initiatives, including the Minor Academy of Sciences, publishes books about Ukrainian scientists. The company’s own scientific potential (150 scientists, 42 candidates of sciences, five doctors of sciences and an innovative R&D complex) allows providing a high level of academic expertise.
“The decision of Farmak company testifies that Ukrainian business is entering a new level of corporate social responsibility, and this should become an example for others. Thanks to the support of companies such as Farmak, we are preparing the ground for a strong and innovative Ukrainian economy,” President of KSE Tymofiy Mylovanov said.
Farmak is the leader of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market, produces medicines in all 14 therapeutic groups. Annually it introduces to the market about 20 new complex component modern drugs. Currently, there are about 100 drugs in development. It exports products to more than 25 countries around the world.
Farmak pharmaceutical company, within the framework of a strategic partnership with the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), will allocate $ 500,000 for the development of KSE.
According to a press release from the pharmaceutical company, in particular, the funds will be used to equip a new campus, as well as to strengthen existing and launch new educational areas, including training bachelors.
“By supporting such projects, we are contributing to the achievement of the Global Sustainable Development Goals, one of the tasks of which is to improve the quality of higher education and ensure its close connection with science,” Executive Director of Farmak Volodymyr Kostiuk said.
The press release notes that Farmak supports not only KSE, but also other educational initiatives, including the Minor Academy of Sciences, publishes books about Ukrainian scientists. The company’s own scientific potential (150 scientists, 42 candidates of sciences, five doctors of sciences and an innovative R&D complex) allows providing a high level of academic expertise.
“The decision of Farmak company testifies that Ukrainian business is entering a new level of corporate social responsibility, and this should become an example for others. Thanks to the support of companies such as Farmak, we are preparing the ground for a strong and innovative Ukrainian economy,” President of KSE Tymofiy Mylovanov said.
Farmak is the leader of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market, produces medicines in all 14 therapeutic groups. Annually it introduces to the market about 20 new complex component modern drugs. Currently, there are about 100 drugs in development. It exports products to more than 25 countries around the world.
