Kyiv, Ukraine – June 17, 2026 – American Councils Ukraine, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, convened alumni of five professional and academic programs at America
House Kyiv for the expert colloque and networking “From Education to Innovation: Celebrating Freedom 250”.
The event brought together Embassy representatives, American Councils Ukraine team and 43 alumni of the BridgeUSA UPRR, UBL PIE, PFP, YTILI, and UDS
(Ukrainian Displaced Scholars) programs who are university leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and innovation practitioners. Participants explored how education, innovation, business, entrepreneurship, and international exchange help shape Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem. After words of incisive inspiration by Embassy Public Diplomacy Counselor Jonas Stewart and American Councils Ukraine Director of Programs Nataliia Misiura, peer participants explored how academic institutions, alumni networks, and youth-focused business education collaborate to shape and advance practical innovation and entrepreneurship and cross-sector collaboration.
The UBL PIE and Bridge USA alumni-led panel discussions highlighted how U.S. exchange visits can serve as the foundation for lasting bilateral academic and business collaboration, while networking yielded new conversations among entrepreneurs, scholars and innovators present.
UBL PIE alumni panel featured:
- Andrii Vasyliev (UBL PIE 2021) – Founder of Briolight, PhD, Associate
Professor, scientist, and entrepreneur;
- Anna Herun (UBL PIE 2025) – CEO of WinWin Education Center;
- Vladyslav Hamolya (UBL PIE 2025) –
Staff AI Engineer at MacPaw and former Academic Director of Artificial Intelligence at the Kyiv School of Economics, who joined the discussion online.
The Bridge USA discussion panel consisted of:
- Vladyslav Panchenko (BridgeUSA UAFP 2024) – Vice-Rector for
Research and Education, Ukrainian State University of Railway Transport.
- Olha Kravchenko (BridgeUSA UPRR 2025), Associate Professor, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine.
The Freedom 250 exhibition tour at America House Kyiv added a cultural dimension to the program by connecting its forwardlooking innovation agenda with a broader reflection on shared values and partnerships.