How to update the teaching of public procurement in line with EU standards: EU4PFM and the Mineconomy hold a two-day workshop for university lecturers

On 22–23 October, EU4PFM Procurement Component experts the and representatives of the Public Procurement Department of the Ministry of Economy and Environment held a two-day workshop in Lviv “Teaching Public Procurement in the Context of Ukraine’s European Integration: the New Public Procurement Law, Modern Practices, and the Modernisation of University Curricula”. The event brought together lecturers from higher education institutions across Ukraine.

The programme combined an overview of legislative changes, practical case studies and work on updating courses, syllabi and teaching materials.

The speakers included Tetiana Mishta and Svitlana Slinchak from the Ministry of Economy and Environment, EU4PFM experts Lyudmyla Chernyaha, Oleksandr Shatkovskyi and Oksana Kamianetska; Zoriana Proniuk from the State Audit Service; and Yana Tsymbalenko, Associate Professor at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

On the first day, participants looked at the key changes in the new Law “On Public Procurement”, what they mean for Ukraine’s European integration, and how the new requirements can be built into university curricula.

Lyudmyla Chernyaha, EU4PFM Expert on Professionalisation, outlined how professionalisation works in public procurement. The “Public Procurement” degree programme is currently offered at five higher education institutions, while courses on the subject are taught at more than 30.

Tetiana Mishta, Deputy Head of the Public Procurement Department at the Mineconomy, focused on procurement during wartime and the priorities of the Public Procurement Development Strategy for 2027–2030. One of the key priorities is aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU directives as part of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.

Oleksandr Shatkovskyi, EU4PFM Senior Legal Expert, walked participants through the new Law “On Public Procurement”, including the new procurement procedures it introduces: how they work in practice, how to implement them, and how to bring these topics into university programmes. Learn more about the new procedures in the EU4PFM video series on YouTube.

The second day was devoted to monitoring, control and appeals in public procurement under Ukrainian legislation and EU standards.

Zoriana Proniuk, Head of the Legal Department of the State Audit Service, spoke about public financial control in public procurement in the context of European integration and shared case studies.

Oksana Kamianetska, EU4PFM International Cooperation Expert, presented European approaches to teaching and opportunities for developing international academic partnerships.

During the practical session, lecturers identified what changes to make in their own programmes to reflect the new legal requirements and modern procurement approaches.

The workshop also focused on ethics and integrity in public procurement. Lyudmyla Chernyaha, EU4PFM Expert on Professionalisation and Yana Tsymbalenko, PhD in Public Administration and Associate Professor at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, discussed European approaches to preventing violations and building a culture of integrity.

The key takeaway: integrity is not an add-on to procurement, but a prerequisite for using public funds effectively and maintaining the trust of citizens and international partners.

Principles worth keeping in mind when training future professionals:

• High risk = high control: the higher the risk and the larger the contract value, the less discretion and the more oversight
• Conflict of interest is treated as a management risk
• More professionalisation, less corruption: the more professional the procurement function, the less room for manipulation.

The workshop was more than a chance to exchange knowledge: it laid the groundwork for ongoing cooperation among the lecturers. The community they have formed is already sharing experience and materials, and will be able to keep developing public procurement methodologies and degree programmes together.