Officials will use business language

Ukrainians get more and more accustomed to the European practice of continuous, lifelong education. And this is when the well-known Business School MIM-Kyiv comes in handy. The school has an established domestic and international reputation. It allows people with higher education and undergraduates (engineers, bachelors, specialists, and masters) follow an international MBA program, gain up-to-date knowledge and skills in business and management, and as a result, become candidates for top positions in private organizations and state institutions.

A special individual MBA program for employees of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine was one of the most important latest introductions at MIM-Kyiv. It allows the Agency middle and higher managers receive a MBA degree in business management. A formal launching ceremony took place the other day. And it was easy to spot the freshmen among all the guests present at the opening ceremony (those were excited, smiling, and, as it seemed to The Day, happy people). Their teachers were present too (in fact, studying according to this program began last December), as well as other MIM-Kyiv faculty who put in a lot of effort to make the MBA curriculum relevant to the needs of the Agency and meet all international standards. The curriculum includes all core courses of a standard MBA program, as well as specialized ones that are relevant to energy efficiency. Besides professors, classes will be given by leading experts of the branch.

This program is also interesting because it demonstrates real cooperation between Ukraine and the European community in solving our country’s complex energy problems. During his speech at the ceremony, head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski said: “The European Union always supports the tradition of being Ukraine’s good partner, participates in developing cooperation with it, and shares its know-how in education.” He explained why the EU invested in the second education of those who had a considerable professional experience. According to him, energy industry and energy efficiency are global matters, and everyone faces the same problems as Ukraine.

“It is about the transfer of energy from one country to another, about responsibility and duties while performing it,” said Tombinski. “And we also need to take care of such common problem as pollution that is created by the energy sector. We all will be doomed to the same fate if we don’t ensure the protection of the global environment. It is common knowledge that energy is one of the biggest sources of pollution and threat to nature on our planet. We must use energy in effective, sustainable, and economically smart ways. And only highly educated people are capable of doing that. Ukraine has all the means and motives to be one of the key players in this. It has such rich resources and so much room for improvement! Mark Twain said once that the best room is the room for improvement. Ukraine has the most room for improvement, especially in energy production and efficiency sectors. If Ukraine finds means for this, it will have a great impact on the economic and financial situation in the country. Energy has to be produced and used in ways that would agree with the needs of economic growth, the growth of the nation’s prosperity and that of its citizens.”

According to Tombinski, “an energy revolution is taking place in many countries now,” and “all the past data are now doubtful. Firstly, because of the opportunity to use energy better, and secondly, thanks to access to new sources of energy.” Tombinski thinks that “this program has to help you use the potential of the country better. And the European Union is here to help you.”

The Day talked to other participants of the event. “Ukraine became the member of the Energy Community in 2011,” said deputy head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving Serhii Dubovyk. “We undertook the task of fulfilling European directions and developing two national action plans on energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy. And we need experts, because all these documents are based on European standards. The process of adaptation and harmonization of legislation with the EU will go smoother when we have experts of such level.”

What tools will future MIM-Kyiv graduates have in order to fulfill the tasks that were set for the country? Dubovyk said that all the projects, aimed at energy efficiency and energy saving are going to work in Ukraine if business receives some preferences, among them the “green tariff,” tax incentives, especially, in the import of energy-saving equipment, and sometimes even direct budget funding through credit rate reductions. “We will also strive to cooperate with business more actively within the framework of the law on state and private cooperation,” told Dubovyk to The Day.

And will graduates be able to create business plans for specific projects? Iryna Tykhomyrova, president of the MIM-Kyiv, joins the conversation and answers The Day’s question right away: “A business plan is something that bachelor’s degree holders could do. And MIM-Kyiv graduates will create investment projects, assess them, thus taking great responsibility upon themselves. They will negotiate with investors, and carry out improvements in Ukrainian legislation according to their requirements and European standards. On the one hand, these people will have an understanding of the state’s needs, and on the other – of what people need. While being state officials, they will have a perfect understanding of business.”

The Day asked Tykhomyrova an off-topic question. When answering it, the MIM-Kyiv president said that her educational institution has some experience in preparation of high-skilled experts not only from Ukraine. “We are ready to take in European students as well,” she said. “Our scientific and methodical potentials allow doing this without any limitations.”