Uzhhorod University is represented in three strategic areas of the "Map of Talent Hubs of Ukraine"
On 14 October 2026, a presentation was held of the initiative "Map of Talent Hubs of Ukraine: from Potential to an Ecosystem of the Best Opportunities", aimed at forming a network of leading university centres of education, science and innovation, developing human capital and creating new opportunities for the professional fulfilment of talented young people in Ukraine.
The initiative was presented by Olena Kovalska, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and Olha Budnyk, Adviser and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the President of Ukraine's Fund for the Support of Education, Science and Sports.
The event was attended by the Director of the Department of Education, Youth, Culture and Sports of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration, Mariana Marusynets, and representatives of the leadership of Uzhhorod University: Acting Rector Volodymyr Smolanka, Acting Vice-Rector for Research Ivan Myroniuk, Acting Vice-Rector for Research and Pedagogical Work Ihor Korol, as well as representatives of the Faculty of Physics, the Faculty of Information Technologies, the Educational and Research Institute of Chemistry and Ecology, the Faculty of Mathematics and Digital Technologies, and the Research Department of the University.
Talent hubs are university ecosystems that bring together the strongest educational, scientific and innovative capabilities of higher education institutions. Such centres should provide young people not only with the opportunity to obtain a quality education, but also with access to modern laboratories, leading research teams, international programmes, innovative projects, startups, internships and future employment.
The presented network covers 21 higher education institutions, 58 talent hubs and 65 specialities. It is structured into eight strategic clusters that unite 25 areas of talent hubs. The strategic clusters include healthcare and biotechnology, strategic technologies, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, energy and green recovery, agrotechnologies and environmental sustainability, high-tech industry, innovative economy, as well as the humanities and social sciences.
Particular attention during the presentation was paid to the methodology for forming the Map of Talent Hubs, which provides for two stages of assessment of higher education institutions.
The first stage - preliminary selection.
Structural units of higher education institutions that meet at least two of the three criteria are admitted to further assessment:
- K1 - the presence of representatives of talented young people who belong to the community of the President of Ukraine's Fund and study at the higher education institution;
- K2 - the presence of educational programmes with exemplary accreditation by the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance or international accreditation;
- K3 - the presence of category "A" based on the results of the state attestation of scientific activity.
The second stage - comprehensive assessment.
For higher education institutions that have passed the preliminary selection, an assessment is carried out according to nine criteria:
1. The presence of scholarship holders of the President of Ukraine's Fund who study at the higher education institution.
2. Exemplary accreditation of educational programmes by the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance or international accreditation.
3. Category "A" based on the results of the state attestation of scientific activity.
4. The university's representation in international subject rankings.
5. The presence of agreements with business on the employment of graduates.
6. The presence of joint educational and research laboratories with business.
7. Implementation of double diploma programmes with foreign universities.
8. A developed sports infrastructure of the higher education institution.
9. A developed youth infrastructure of the city.
An important result was the representation of Uzhhorod University in three strategic areas at once, which reflect significant scientific, educational and innovative potential.
Among the strengths of UzhNU in this area are research teams, modern educational and research laboratories, cooperation with technology companies, in particular Jabil, NVIDIA and other partners, as well as international educational programmes.
An important advantage of UzhNU is its established research schools, research infrastructure and cooperation with enterprises of the high-tech sector, in particular Jabil, Flextronics, Yazaki, SHEMAX and other partners.
The scientific potential of this area is represented, in particular, by research of the Educational and Research Institute of Chemistry and Ecology, the results of scientific attestation and cooperation with enterprises and organisations.
The initiative provides not only for identifying the existing strengths of universities, but also for the further systemic development of the network of talent hubs. The next steps are defined as conducting a comprehensive analysis of the needs and resources of each hub, developing individual development plans, attracting business and international partners, modernising research infrastructure, developing inter-university cooperation and implementing joint projects. In a three-year perspective, the concentration of talents, the involvement of international teachers and the modernisation of infrastructure are envisaged. The five-year perspective is focused on the development of centres of excellence, and the ten-year one - on the formation of world-class innovation centres in Ukraine.
The representation of Uzhhorod University in three areas of the Map of Talent Hubs is an important recognition of its scientific and educational potential and at the same time creates new opportunities for the development of research infrastructure, international scientific partnership, cooperation with business and support for talented young people.
According to information from the Research Department
