Open Dialogue: Academic Hub Scholars Meet with the Management of Pivdenny Bank

How do you choose a profession for life? How do you balance studying, work, and personal life? What opportunities does Ukrainian business offer future graduates? These and other questions were discussed by students of the Faculty of Economics at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv – Academic Hub scholars – and management of Pivdenny Bank during an informal in-person meeting.

Yuliia is a third-year student and has been participating in Academic Hub workshops from the very beginning. She says that practical tasks help her understand how the bank actually operates. She is particularly interested in how the bank’s cooperation with businesses is evolving during the wartime.

Viktoriia, a second-year student, admits that she has always been drawn to finance. Now she wants to try herself specifically in the banking sector and find her own direction.

Liliia is also a second-year student and is interested in international economics. She says that participating in the workshops convinced her she had chosen the right path. Liliia enjoys working with data and analytics, and she is also interested in exchange programs and the prospects of the “green economy”.

Anton is now a fourth-year student and wants to build a career in management and administration. Studying at the Faculty of Economics allows him to combine academic knowledge with practical experience and prepare for his future career.

The students shared with the bank’s management their expectations for their future careers, how they balance studies with work and personal life, what worries them, and what motivates them. They also showed strong interest in the bank’s operations: how Pivdenny works with corporate clients, how it envisions its development in the coming years, and what principles underlie its ESG policy.

The bank’s management noted that young people ask unexpected and very profound questions, demonstrating initiative, sharp thinking, and a desire to drive change. Such young people are the driving force of the future – the ones who will help Ukraine grow.

We are convinced that such meetings help students better understand the business world and feel part of the professional community, while giving businesses the opportunity to hear the real voice of the younger generation – its expectations and ideas. This is a dialogue that inspires both sides. And it will certainly continue.