The full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in 2022 posed extraordinary challenges to Ukrainian higher education. Universities found themselves in a situation of uncertainty, destruction, loss of personnel and the need to quickly adapt to the new reality.

In these conditions, an urgent need arose for a renewed approach to leadership - not only administrative, but also academic, strategic, anti-crisis. The LUTUR program was created as a response to this need. Its main idea is to invest in people who are able to lead changes within universities, in their teams and among the student body.

Among the tasks of the program are strengthening institutional capacity, developing strategic thinking, implementing modern models of leadership and change management, as well as building partnerships between Ukrainian and British educational institutions.

Six Ukrainian universities have joined LUTUR, demonstrating their readiness for change and the desire to transform their educational ecosystem. These are Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Lviv Polytechnic, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Dnipro State Technical University, Zaporizhia National University, and Mariupol State University (evacuated to Kyiv).

Each institution was represented by a team of five people — management, teachers, and administrative staff. In total, 30 participants took part in the program. At the same time, 47 experts from Ukraine and the United Kingdom, including representatives of Cardiff University, were involved in the implementation of the modules and mentoring support.

The program combined offline modules in Kyiv with online sessions, mentoring support, and teamwork on Change Projects.

• In October 2023, participants discussed the role of universities in post-war society and their responsibility for rebuilding and developing critical thinking.

• The November module was dedicated to strategic planning, change management, and crisis management.

• In December, the focus was on leadership, autonomy, and team culture, and in January 2024, on financing, project management, and sustainability of transformations.

Between modules, teams worked on Change Projects, which became real prototypes of changes in HEIs. The final presentation took place on March 2, 2024 in Kyiv with the participation of the government, educational institutions, and international partners.

Following the program, all participants noted profound personal and professional transformations. Participants emphasized that the program managed not only to develop leadership skills, but also to give impetus to reflection on the values, culture of interaction, and vision of the future of their universities.

100% of respondents indicated that the knowledge and experience gained will be directly used in their professional activities. 96% confirmed the growth of trust within teams, and 75% received support for their changes from university management.

The program also laid the foundation for long-term cooperation between Ukrainian and British universities, expanded the network of professional contacts, and created a community of change leaders who are able to think strategically and act effectively — even in the most difficult circumstances.

The LUTUR program goes beyond traditional education. It is about developing responsible leadership, strengthening the ability to act in difficult conditions and create change. After all, universities are not only about education, but also about social transformation. That is why supporting leaders in higher education is a strategic investment in the future.