Kharkiv Polytechnic hosted the grand opening of an offline StartUP school for pupils of the school and college students in Ukraine. The goal of the project is to unite young people under martial law, inspire them to create their own startups, and develop their entrepreneurial skills in a community of like-minded people. During two months 50 school participants will have a unique opportunity to develop their innovative ideas, learn to work in teams, create their own startups under the guidance of experienced NTU of «KhPI» mentors, and gain knowledge and experience at workshops from leading Ukrainian and international experts and startups. The school’s program includes intensive teamwork, pitching ideas to the jury, and the opportunity to get valuable advice from leading experts. The event, which was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kharkiv city authorities, and banking institutions, was opened on November 9, 2024, in offline and online formats. In total, the event was attended by over a hundred people.
The opening of the StartUP school, which took place in the bomb shelter of the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», brought together more than a hundred people: schoolchildren participating in the project, their parents, teachers, mentors from Kharkiv Polytechnic, and representatives of the Kharkiv city authorities. Among them were fifty schoolchildren and college students who expressed a desire to develop innovative ideas, create and implement their own projects in various fields under the supervision of specialists. The team of mentors of Kharkiv Polytechnic was represented by 16 specialists – the most experienced teachers and researchers of the university.
Professor Yevgen Sokol, Rector of NTU «KhPI», greeted the participants of the school. «Today is a great day for all of us! Under the patronage of Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov, a StartUP school is opening at NTU «KhPI», where you will be able to communicate live and work together on interesting projects. In this synergistic field, you have a unique opportunity to create a real innovative breakthrough. Today, creativity and innovation are valued all over the world. Studying at the StartUP school is a real chance for our youth to express themselves, present their ideas and implement them», said Yevgen Sokol. According to the rector of NTU«KhPI», schoolchildren and students should not be afraid to express their thoughts, because experienced international speakers of the school will support all ideas in every way and help young people generate them. He gave an example of the successful implementation of the startup Elomia, an artificial intelligence application for providing psychological assistance developed by students of Kharkiv Polytechnic. As a reminder t the project won first place in the final of a startup competition in China.
The start of training at the StartUP School was announced by Iryna Krasovska, Acting Head of the Expert Group of the Directorate for Innovation and Science-Real Sector Relations of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. She greeted the participants of the event, which took place in unbreakable Kharkiv. «It’s nice to see how intensively you are developing in the innovation direction. We will direct all our attention to the implementation of your ideas and startups, which will have a positive impact on our economy in the future. I am very proud of you, our creative youth, and wish you inspiration, strength and never give up!» Olga Demenko, Director of the Kharkiv City Council’s Education Department, noted that all the school participants are real heroes, as they study, communicate, develop and plan their future despite the war. “I am confident in your future, because you will study at the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», which is one of the most powerful higher education institutions in Ukraine. Kharkiv Polytechnic takes leading positions in the national and world educational rankings,» said Olga Demenko.
Oleksandr Vlasenko, Director of the Department for Family, Youth and Sports of the Kharkiv City Council, and Tetiana Poltavska, Head of the North-Eastern Regional Center of the First Ukrainian International Bank, also wished the schoolchildren and students success.
From the very beginning, the school participants will be organized into teams with a mentor to help them develop their startups. This will become a platform for young people to create projects aimed at developing technology and rebuilding the country. For two months, the school participants will have interesting excursions around the university campus, interactive relay races with the Blazepod sports device, and more, and at the end of the program they will receive prizes and certificates.
More photos are available on the Facebook page of the NTU «KhPI» Press Service at the link.
Note:
Classes at the offline StartUp school are designed for 2 months, started in November, and will be held at the NTU «KhPI» on weekends. Among the speakers are representatives of leading companies: VUSO Insurance Company, FUIB Bank, Kharkiv IT Cluster, Epicenter, YEP Accelerator, Ukrainian IP Office, and leading lecturers of NTU «KhPI». They will share their experience and provide valuable advice to help participants successfully create and implement startups and gain unique knowledge in business and technology. The winning teams will receive valuable prizes from the partners of the startup school: FUIB bank and VUSO insurance company. The StartUp School is supported by Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov and the Department of Family, Youth and Sports of the Kharkiv City Council.