On 16 April 2018, the Ternopil National Economic University hosted the solemn opening of the first session of the unique educational project "Public Administration in the Field of Youth Policy" on training specialists working with the youth.

The opening event was attended by Stepan Barna, head of the Ternopil Oblast State Administration, Andriy Krysovatyi, rector of the Ternopil National Economic University, Serhiy Nadal, Ternopil City Mayor, and Maksym Cherkashyn, head of the NGO "Educational and Analytical Centre for Hromada Development".

"Many people ask themselves: What is the youth policy in the village? The villages have already forgotten what a cultural sphere is. Most of sports infrastructure facilities are neglected, not to mention the development of youth policy. But our main task and the main task of the decentralisation reform is the development of youth policy in the village," said Stepan Barna, head of the Ternopil Oblast State Administration.

Therefore, the main objective of the project is to provide the management and employees of the structural units responsible for implementing youth policy in the hromadas, as well as youth activists, with comprehensive knowledge and skills that will help them to work effectively with the youth of their hromadas in the form of an advanced training programme. The educational programme is designed in such a way that 50% of subjects are taught in accordance with the classical, academic method, and 50% as trainings and meetings with famous people.

The first training session will last from 16 to 19 April, and will include consideration of the following topics:

• establishment of effective communication with stakeholders;
• social psychology;
• work with vulnerable groups of young people on partnership terms;
• sociology of youth (social juvenology);
• subcultures and peculiarities of cooperation with their representatives;
• ethics and etiquette;
• strategy and tactics of forming manager’s image;
• career planning.

The project is organised by the NGO "Educational and Analytical Centre for Hromada Development" in cooperation with the Ternopil National Economic University, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Family, Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism, with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.

It should be noted that the participants of the training include both the representatives of the public sector and employees of local self-government bodies. Such a combination will allow mutual understanding and learn how to effectively cooperate with the authorities and the public.

The full version is available in Ukrainian – please click HERE