"Where do you see yourself in five years' time?"
It’s a common job interview question, but for this summer’s graduates, it’s far from easy to predict even one year in the future. The class of 2015 began their university studies with Viktor Yanukovych as the president of Ukraine, Crimea as a top domestic vacation spot, and preparations well underway for the 2012 European soccer championship that the nation co-hosted.
But the world they are entering as graduates now looks very different, with war raging in the east of Ukraine and the country’s economy in shambles.
Bloomberg economists have predicted that Ukraine will be the global economy’s “biggest loser” by year-end. Ukrainian graduates of both international and national universities are facing the daunting challenge of trying to balance helping their country in a time of need with finding steady employment that covers essential costs.
Kateryna Busol has just graduated with a PhD in International Law, and currently works at the Museum of National Art of Ukraine. Describing her search for meaningful employment, she says, “it’s difficult not only in terms of payment, but also in having this desire to help your country and then finding that your country doesn’t really need you and your help.”
She specializes in human rights law, a field which she says remains undeveloped in Ukraine, with most work still handled by nongovernmental organizations. Like many of her contemporaries, she provides free legal advice both privately and to NGOs to help with the war effort. She consulted the Ministry of Culture regarding the status and management of Ukrainian cultural property in occupied Crimea, but has to balance her pro bono work with paid employment.
“In a way, the state is spoiled, because they can say ‘Payment? No, we have a crisis and you should help for free,’” Busol told the Kyiv Post.
“And okay, I’m ready to do that – but I can’t work 24 hours a day for no money. It’s impossible,” she said.
Eugen Shevchuk says studying abroad was the best experience he has had. He’ll receive a master’s degree in management from Cambridge University this summer and realistically assesses how hard it will be to fulfill the high expectations he has.
“Maybe you can earn lots of money, but you’re working in an office doing things that aren’t meaningful,” he says. “Or you can go and work for the government and try to make an impact, but your chances of making this impact are really low, and your salary is even worse.”
Ukraine’s students served as a major catalyst for the EuroMaidan Revolution just over a year ago, but that will to transform the country is hard to maintain in the face of a shrinking economy and limited opportunities.
The instability in Ukraine has also limited options for education and employment overseas.
Mariia Terentieva, who has just graduated from the Institute of Journalism at Shevchenko University, says, “I am from Luhansk and I want this war to end so badly. That is why I initiated research on information warfare between Russia and Ukraine. So many people in the Donbas believe nobody, including their own government.”
Her research proposal on the subject gained her a place on a masters’ course at Cambridge University, but she’s struggling to secure the funding she needs.
“Studying information warfare is very important to develop recommendations for the Ukrainian Ministry of Information,” she says. “It could help to end this war sooner and save so many lives.”
Demyd Maiornykov, international officer for the National Students’ Union of Ukraine (NSU), says that maintaining momentum is a key focus for the organization. His experience with the post-Maidan government has given him hope for lasting reforms.
“There are a lot of things changing in Ukraine, and that includes education,” he says. “As representatives of all students of Ukraine, we can suggest ideas and the Ministry of Education will review them.”
The NSU also received the education ministry’s support to track the experiences of internally displaced students. It’s of particular significance for Maiornykov, who began the academic year at Donbas State Technical University but had to leave for the safety of Lviv Polytechnic University mid-way through a term.
Given the upheaval of the past 24 months, it’s understandable that this year’s crop of graduates is unwilling to make too many predictions about their future.
“A year ago I would say that I never will move abroad for work, but now it is difficult to say,” says Terentieva. “I definitely would like to live and work in Ukraine. In five years’ time, I will be 28 and most probably be on maternity leave.”
For Shevchuk, “the best case scenario would be to balance private practice in law, and academia.”
“Academia here would be just for pleasure, though, not for money, because you can’t make money working in Ukrainian universities.”
Busol, who also looks forward to having a child, still hopes her work will make a difference in Ukraine.
“I hope to be a mother, in five years or ten, and to be satisfied with what I’m doing in terms of my profession,” says Busol. “I don’t believe that I’ll be cloudlessly happy, but if I can do something important in this field in my legal job, which will change my country for the better, I’ll be really glad.”
Sandra MacKenzie can be reached at [email protected].
