Education within the MoIA System: Unity, Resilience, Development
October 02, 2026
How should Ukraine prepare future law enforcement officers of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU), National Police of Ukraine (NPU), State Border Guard of Ukraine (SBGSU), State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) for the realities of war — and for the country’s path towards the EU? These questions were at the centre of the second Education Forum of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (MoIA), held with the support of EUAM Ukraine.
On 28 September in Kyiv, the forum brought together senior MoIA officials, including Deputy Minister Serhii Kobets, State Secretary Inna Yashchuk; senior leadership of the National Police, State Emergency Service, State Border Guard Service and National Guard; and rectors of MoIA Higher Education Institutions, and heads of NPU Police Academies. EUAM Ukraine was represented by a delegation led by Head of Mission Cornelia Taylor. The Mission has consistently supported Ukrainian partners in reforming the civilian security sector, including the education and training of future law enforcement officers.
The forum aimed to build a shared vision for modern professional education and training across the MoIA system. Participants exchanged good practices and discussed how to align training priorities, introduce European standards, strengthen practical learning, use digital technologies and develop international partnerships. They also examined how wartime experience is changing curricula and practical exercises, alongside approaches to leadership and psychological resilience.
In her opening remarks, MoIA State Secretary Inna Yashchuk said that more than 35,000 people are currently studying at educational institutions within the MoIA system, including over 10,000 cadets.
“The results of our teachers’ work are the graduates who enter service and face real situations for the first time — situations on which the safety and lives of Ukrainians depend. This meeting is especially important because it gives us an opportunity to share how we train our specialists, what we are changing in the educational process and how quickly we respond to the challenges of war,” Inna Yashchuk said.
She stressed that, on the instruction of Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Vyhivskyi, particular attention is being paid to training and cooperation with veterans. For the first time this year, veterans were admitted to degree programmes through state-funded places.
For EUAM Ukraine, education is an important driver of sustainable civilian security sector reform, with MoIA universities and the training institutions and centres of MoIA agencies as key partners. Ukraine’s EU accession process and evolving security environment provide an opportunity to align professional training with operational needs, EU standards and principles such as human rights, integrity and good governance.
“Our role is to listen, share experience, connect Ukrainian colleagues with European experts, and develop solutions together that meet Ukraine’s needs. The exchange of experience in both directions is becoming increasingly important. European law enforcement agencies have much to learn from the experience Ukraine is gaining today. We are proud of this partnership,” said Cornelia Taylor, Head of EUAM Ukraine, in her remarks to the Forum participants.
The second panel, “Education on the Path to the EU: Training the Specialists of the Future”, explored how international cooperation can help prepare future law enforcement and security professionals. Carsten Twelmeier, Head of EUAM Ukraine’s Strategic Reforms Component, joined Ukrainian partners to discuss cooperation between the Mission and the MoIA in training personnel and developing professional education.
“Closer cooperation between universities and operational services can bring practical experience, including lessons from the war, into teaching and research. EUAM supports this cooperation so that future officers develop both the skills to do their jobs and the judgement to apply principles such as human rights, integrity and accountability in their everyday work,” Carsten Twelmeier said.
The second education forum, “Education within the MoIA System: Unity, Resilience, Development”, was organised by the MoIA Department of Education, Science and Sport with EUAM Ukraine’s support.
