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Open University of Reforms provides young activists with hands-on training to curb corruption

Kyiv, 19 June 2016 – The third graduation ceremony took place at the Open University of Reforms – an educational initiative of the Reanimation Package of Reforms held this year thanks to the support of UNDP in Ukraine and the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law.


img 1During three months, the University's participants took an 11-day training course, which consisted of 90 academic hours. Such anti-corruption leaders as MPs Viktor Chumak and Yehor Soboliev, UNDP experts Ivan Presniakov and Sofiya Kovach, CEDEM Director and RPR Council Co-Chairman Taras Shevchenko were among the speakers.

The participants learnt about the main reforms that are currently being implemented in the country, including judicial, civil service, decentralization, and anti-corruption reforms that were one of the priority fields of study at the University.

At the end of the course, the participants presented their projects, which they developed during the training. These projects are to be realized in the course of subsequent collaboration with the RPR experts. Particular attention was drawn to the anti-corruption element of each project.

IMG 008Ivan Presniakov, Head of UNDP's Enhanced Public Sector Transparency and Integrity Project, noted: "This was the first graduation of the Open University of Reforms that was supported financially by the UNDP's Enhanced Public Sector Transparency and Integrity Project. I am exceedingly happy that large numbers of people with law degress who have never encountered anti-corruption subject before are now involved in the anti-corruption movement gaining influence in Ukraine."

Upon the graduation, the Open University of Reforms plans to continue cooperation with the participants in order to conduct joint projects in the future.