On 15 April 2026, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, together with the Ukrainian Science Diaspora initiative, held a presentation of the Institute of International Science Ambassadors, a new instrument for developing international scientific cooperation, advancing science diplomacy, and strengthening the international presence of Ukrainian science.
Representatives of 164 higher education institutions and research organizations from Ukraine and abroad joined the event. The meeting served as a platform to present a new approach to systematic interaction between Ukrainian institutions and researchers working in the international academic environment.
The event was moderated by the co-founders of the Ukrainian Science Diaspora initiative, Yevheniia Polishchuk and Igor Lyman.
Following the remarks by Denys Kurbatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Vasyl Melnychuk, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland, also emphasized the importance of the Institute of Science Ambassadors.
Viktoriia Hurochkina, Chair of the Board of the Ukrainian Science Diaspora in Poland Foundation, in her presentation outlined the prerequisites for the creation of the Institute of International Science Ambassadors and its mission in the context of the development of Ukrainian science. She emphasized the challenges that Ukrainian science is currently facing, in particular due to the war, the outflow of personnel, and the destruction of infrastructure, as well as new opportunities associated with the growth of international support, integration into the European Research Area, and the activation of the network of the Ukrainian scientific diaspora. The presentation also presented the history of the formation of this initiative, its purpose, main functions, and significance for the promotion of Ukrainian science in the world.
Serhii Hlotov, consultant to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, focused on the legal and organizational foundations of the Science Ambassador institution. In particular, he addressed the status of a science ambassador as a person engaged by an organization on a voluntary basis, the scope of activity within a defined mandate, as well as the tasks, framework for interaction with the institution, reporting principles, integrity requirements, conflict-of-interest safeguards, communication rules, and compliance issues. These approaches are formalized in the Model Regulation on the Science Ambassador of a Higher Education Institution or Research Organization, approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine No. 568 of 3 April 2026 (https://mon.gov.ua/npa/pro-zatverdzhennia-prymirnoho-polozhennia-pro-naukovoho-ambasadora-zakladu-vyshchoi-osvity-naukovoi-ustanovy).
An important part of the presentation was the Q&A session, in which Denys Kurbatov and Serhii Hlotov played a key role.
It was emphasized that the Institute of International Science Ambassadors is intended to contribute to increasing the international visibility and reputation of Ukrainian science, developing international scientific, scientific-technical, and innovation cooperation, attracting external funding, integrating Ukrainian institutions into international networks and programmes, and fostering broader engagement of representatives of the scientific diaspora. In a broader sense, this initiative marks a shift from the fragmented international presence of Ukrainian researchers toward a more systematic and institutionally organized model of cooperation.
The introduction of the Institute of International Science Ambassadors opens new opportunities for Ukrainian higher education institutions and research organizations to build sustainable international partnerships, participate in consortia, advance science diplomacy, and strengthen the presence of Ukrainian science in the global academic space. For the ambassadors themselves, this instrument offers an honorary official status, institutional recognition, the possibility of official or dual affiliation, broader access to international networks, programmes, and grant opportunities, as well as organizational and communication support.
Матеріали зустрічі:
- Serhii Hlotov’s presentation, “Ambassadors of Ukrainian Science”(https://sstlu-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/ukrdiaspora_nauka_gov_ua/IQAdNAHr37kfRaqzkihTL8M4AfaqjCbZiju5Rkj9_4BMnTg?e=fRSvTl )
- Viktoriia Hurochkina’s presentation, “The Institute of International Science Ambassadors of Ukraine: Presentation and Mission of the Institute in the Context of the Development of Ukrainian Science” (https://sstlu-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/ukrdiaspora_nauka_gov_ua/IQA_-YUEWa-JSbQ8yI6cfRdhAYPzD2qgKY-9hFmAqEYVHFQ?e=VhRYjH)
- Video recording of the meeting