In accordance with the order of the rector of the NAU No. 083/od dated 28.02.2024, a new structural unit, the Center for Veteran Development – (Tsvr NNINO NAU) appeared in the Educational and Scientific Institute of Continuing Education.

The center was created with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine as the first Kyiv Veterans Development Center. The main task of the veteran development centers (there are 16 of them on the territory of Ukraine) was the implementation of the experimental project of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine regarding the introduction of the veteran’s assistant institute in Ukraine. Funding of the veteran’s assistant institute was provided from the state budget, local budgets and development partners.

The purpose of the activity of the Center of the National Institute of Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences (hereinafter the Center) is the adaptation and professional orientation of veterans and their family members in public life by means of training, advanced training, retraining, promotion of employment, self-employment and entrepreneurial activity.

In the period from February to July 2024, the Center established cooperation with such powerful partners as the Municipal Budget Institution “Kyiv City Center for Assistance to Participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation” (Kyiv Military Hub), the Kyiv City Employment Center, the Public Organization “Interfaith Brotherhood of Military Chaplains”, the Kyiv City center of social, psychological, professional and labor rehabilitation “Askold”.

From June 6 to June 14, 2024, the exhibition “Echoes of War” was held on the basis of the NAU History Museum, which is a vivid example of the effectiveness of the Center’s partnership with the NGO “Interfaith Brotherhood of Military Chaplains”.

On June 13, 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, the Center held an event on the topic “Reintegration of veterans and their family members through education”, which was attended by veterans and their family members, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Employment Center, Kyiv City Employment Center, Kyiv City State Administration, Center for Reintegration of Veterans, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Center for Complex Support of Combatants “Kyiv Military Hub”, International Organization for Migration of the United Nations, Center for Veteran Development of the National University of Physical education and sports of Ukraine, NGO “Inter-confessional brotherhood of military chaplains”, Center for reintegration of veterans of the joint-stock company “Ukrainian defense industry”.

At the panel discussion of the event, in the meeting hall of the Academic Council of the university, a presentation of the project “Veteran space on the resource base of the higher education institution” took place. Oleksiy Lysak, director of the Central Research and Development Center of NAU, presented the project. The goal of the project is a single window for veterans to receive career guidance social services.

As part of the meeting, a charity concert of the Gvozd Band (frontmen Gennadiy Gvozd and Serhiy Lviv) took place.

The center takes an active part in the 2024 induction campaign, providing informational, advisory and career guidance support to veterans and their family members. As of August 7, 2024, 738 applicants from the number of combatants and members of their families, as well as children of deceased veterans, submitted applications to NAU.

The implementation of future plans and projects of the Center includes the development and implementation of new educational courses, programs, educational technologies, trainings and webinars. In particular, the discussion of the project idea regarding career guidance, training, employment and self-employment of veterans and their family members in cooperation with the Veterans Reintegration Center of the Joint-Stock Company “Ukrainian Defense Industry” is being considered.