HUMAN CAPITAL IS UKRAINE'S MAIN STRATEGIC RESOURCE

DECLARATION

OF THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM “EDUCATION, SCIENCE, INNOVATION:HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE POST-WAR REVIVAL OF UKRAINE”

Kyiv, December 11–12, 2025

PREAMBLE

We, the participants of the International Forum, express sincere gratitude to the Ukrainian Peace Council and Mykhailo Drahomanov Ukrainian State University for initiating this gathering.

We affirm that under the conditions of Russia’s war against Ukraine, especially during the full-scale aggression and the forthcoming post-war recovery, human capital becomes Ukraine’s principal strategic resource. Overcoming the immense damage across socio-economic, humanitarian, and scientific-technological spheres requires unprecedented consolidation of national and international efforts. A decisive role in this process belongs to educators and scientists whose work shapes the intellectual and innovative foundations of Ukraine’s revival.

The purpose of the Forum is to consolidate the efforts of the educational, scientific, and expert communities toward building an innovative, resilient, and competitive model of national development based on advanced technologies, including digital solutions and artificial intelligence.

The Forum is guided by the principles of the Incheon Declaration “Education 2030”, the “Recovery Plan of Ukraine: Education and Science as the Foundation of Human Capital Development”, the resolutions of the International Association of Universities, and other international frameworks affirming education and science as the backbone of human-centered and innovation-driven development.

CORE VALUES AND PRIORITIES

1. Ensuring universal access to high-quality, modern, and human-centered education at all levels, aligned with post-war reconstruction challenges and the needs of the digital and innovation economy. Education must integrate digital technologies, artificial intelligence tools, personalized learning, educational analytics, and hybrid formats to develop 21st century skills.
2. Building socio-economic development strategies based on high-quality scientific research, with priority support for fundamental and applied studies, advanced training of researchers, sustainable funding, and international scientific cooperation. Special emphasis is placed on artificial intelligence research as a cross-cutting strategic domain for defense, healthcare, energy, ecology, economic forecasting, and public administration.
3. Promoting innovation-driven recovery of Ukraine by accelerating the implementation of advanced technologies. Artificial intelligence is recognized as a core driver of technological modernization in industry, education, science, healthcare, agriculture, public administration, and the social sector, in full compliance with ethical, legal, and security standards.

IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS

The outlined priorities shall be achieved through:

- modernization of educational and research institutions, restoration of physical infrastructure, development of digital and AI-based environments, and guaranteed safety of learning and research activities;
- integration of scientific results into educational programs via STEM/STEAM, interdisciplinary curricula, and AI-oriented fields of study;
- reintegration of Ukrainian scholars, students, and highly qualified specialists displaced abroad through digital collaboration mechanisms;
- comprehensive psychosocial support and resilience-building programs for participants in education and science;
- policies to ensure social cohesion and tolerance in post-war recovery;
- deeper integration of Ukraine into the European and global education, research, and innovation ecosystems.

FINAL APPEAL

The participants of the Forum call upon public authorities, local governments, civil society, business, and international partners to consolidate resources and joint actions to form the human capital capable of ensuring a secure, resilient, and high-tech future for Ukraine.

Kyiv, December 12, 2025

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RECOMMENDATIONS 

OF THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM “EDUCATION, SCIENCE, INNOVATION: HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE POST-WAR REVIVAL OF UKRAINE”

Kyiv, Ukraine
December 11–12, 2025

The participants of the International Forum “Education, Science, Innovation: Human Capital in the Post-War Revival of Ukraine”, realizing their historical responsibility for shaping a new development model of the Ukrainian state in the post-war period, affirm that:

- human capital is the key strategic resource for national recovery, economic modernization, strengthening national security, and ensuring sustainable peace;
- education, science, innovation, and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, are becoming decisive factors of global competitiveness, social resilience, and economic growth.

Based on plenary sessions, panel discussions, and expert deliberations, the participants of the Forum ADOPT this Declaration and define the following agreed priorities for action:

In the Field of Education

Ukraine requires a systemic modernization of higher and vocational education with a priority on the development of critical thinking, digital competencies, interdisciplinary approaches, practice-oriented and project-based learning.

The education system must actively integrate modern digital technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, for personalized learning, distance and hybrid education, educational analytics, and quality management.

Key priorities include the development of dual education, partnerships between educational institutions and business, international academic mobility, and the restoration of educational facilities destroyed by the war.

The state shall ensure decent working conditions and social protection for teachers and academic staff, as well as the development of psychological support, rehabilitation, and social reintegration systems for war veterans, internally displaced persons, and youth.

In the Field of Science

Post-war transformation of Ukraine is impossible without systemic support for fundamental and applied research, the development of modern scientific infrastructure, and the renewal of the training system for scientific personnel.

Priority tasks include the involvement of youth in research, the development of postgraduate and doctoral education, and the active participation of Ukrainian scientists in international research and grant programs.

Special attention must be given to the development of artificial intelligence research as a strategic interdisciplinary field for defense, healthcare, energy, ecology, economic forecasting, public administration, and post-war reconstruction.

Ukrainian science must be fully integrated into the European and global scientific space based on openness, academic integrity, and international cooperation.

In the Field of Innovation

Post-war recovery of Ukraine must be based on an innovation-driven economic model that ensures the transformation of scientific knowledge into technological solutions and competitive products.

It is necessary to stimulate R&D development, the creation of incubators, accelerators, technology parks, university startup ecosystems, and industrial laboratories.

Artificial intelligence is recognized as one of the key drivers of Ukraine’s innovative development. Its implementation must be ensured in industry, energy, defense, healthcare, agriculture, logistics, public administration, and the social sphere in compliance with ethical, legal, and security standards.

Ukraine shall consistently integrate into international innovation programs and technological alliances, including Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and global artificial intelligence platforms.

Final Provisions

The participants of the Forum call upon public authorities, educational and scientific institutions, business, international partners, and civil society to consolidate efforts in shaping a modern development model of Ukraine in which human capital, knowledge, innovation, and artificial intelligence constitute the foundation of sustainable peace, security, and a high-tech future of the state.

Kyiv, December 12, 2025