“It’s not the system that is outdated, but the approach”: experts from Kharkiv IT Cluster and NIX on the development of IT education in Ukraine
IT ClusterWhat to discuss at the panel discussion during the opening of the “University Cup”?
The final competition of the University Cup starts on March 22. While participant registration and the selection of the best of the best are still underway, let’s talk about the key topics discussed at the event’s opening.
The University Cup is a programming competition for high school students and university students from all over Ukraine. This year, the event is supported by the IT team NIX, a long-time member of Kharkiv IT Cluster and the general partner of the competition.
The goal is to unite talented young people, motivate them to develop in IT, and showcase opportunities for professional growth in this field right here in Ukraine.
The University Cup also provides a chance to apply theoretical knowledge in practice and receive feedback from industry professionals. Among them were representatives from NIX, including Oleksii Rubel, Head of Technical Education at the NIX Corporate Training Center, who took part in the panel discussion.
The speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration between businesses, universities, and local authorities. According to Oleksii Rubel, open discussions and the creation of opportunities for young people to work in IT are essential for any transformation in technical education.
Oleksii Rubel, Head of Technical Education at the NIX Corporate Training Center:
“It’s not just the education system that is outdated, but the approach to it. In today’s fast-paced IT sector, you can’t just create a single four-year curriculum and leave it at that. Flexibility is essential, not only in the skills acquired but also in the process of training future specialists. In my opinion, the best way to achieve this is through the introduction of dual education in universities — through real, project-based cooperation with IT businesses. If necessary, we should also involve resources from local authorities. From our experience, such successful collaborations already exist, and we are actively working on them with universities in Kharkiv and Poltava.
As practitioners, we understand what beginners in IT need to know today, what the global industry demands, and what will be in demand in the coming years. All of this can be reflected in student training programs. We can experiment with formats — launching student projects, technical laboratories, or specialized courses within university departments, where experienced IT specialists act as mentors. This creates growth opportunities and becomes a win-win solution for universities, students, and employers alike”
According to the speaker, dual education is not just about enhancing practical training for beginners — it is about changing the educational paradigm, defining the level of IT specialists being trained and the tasks they will be prepared for.
Oleksii Rubel:
“Today, companies need not just programmers but versatile software engineers capable of solving high-level challenges. This is not just about introducing project-based learning but about a complete educational shift. We need to train specialists who, upon graduation, have relevant skills and can flexibly adapt to industry demands. From our collaboration with universities, we see that educators also support this approach.
By supporting events like the University Cup, we are fostering the development of future top-tier software engineers. Therefore, we call on IT businesses and educators to coordinate efforts in this direction to revitalize and strengthen IT education in Kharkiv.”
Olha Shapoval, Executive Director of Kharkiv IT Cluster:
“For Kharkiv IT Cluster, education has been a key focus of cooperation among cluster members and partners for the past 10 years. We operate on regional, national, and international levels and have built an extensive network of educational partners. Among them are key stakeholders—national agencies, leading educational institutions in Ukraine, and relevant ministries.
The Kharkiv IT Cluster ecosystem includes 50+ universities across 16 regions of Ukraine, with over 480 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs under supervision. For Kharkiv IT Cluster members—from niche to large IT businesses—this is an opportunity to engage with 42,000+ students through a single touchpoint and systematically enhance the quality of tech education in Ukraine.”
The speaker emphasized that Kharkiv plays a crucial role in shaping the future professionals of the IT industry.
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