Higher School of Lobbying Launched in Ukraine
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association (UNLA) was held in Kyiv, during which it was announced that the Higher School of Lobbying, an educational platform for training a new generation of lobbying professionals, would be established.
The initiative is being implemented by the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association with the support of Rustam Kolesnyk, CEO of Yuridicheskaya Practika.
Formation of a new profession
Oleksiy Shevchuk, PhD in Law, doctoral student at the Ukrainian Free University (Munich) and V. Koretsky Institute of State and Law, noted that after the launch of the Transparency Register and the entry into force of the law on lobbying, Ukraine officially received a new profession – lobbyist.
“We have created the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, which brings together the best experts in the field of advocacy and lobbying. Leading scientists joined the Board of Trustees to lay the foundation for professional education for lobbyists,” Shevchuk emphasized.
According to him, the creation of the Higher School of Lobbying is a logical continuation of the process of institutionalization of the industry. It will become a center for training, research and development of ethical and transparent lobbying standards.
Memorandum of cooperation
During the meeting, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the UNBA and CEO of Yuridicheskaya Praktika Rustam Kolesnik, which officially launched the Higher School of Lobbying in Ukraine.
“I congratulate all of us on the opening of the Higher School of Lobbying. There is a huge number of issues that require professional clarification. And it’s good that now there will be a single center that will be able to do this systematically,” Kolesnyk said.
Unique training program
Doctor of Law, Professor, Director of the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University Law Institute Liudmyla Kozhura presented the training program “Lobbying and Advocacy. The Art of Influencing Public Policy”, which will become the basis of the school’s educational activities.
The program includes seven training modules, including:
- The essence of lobbying, historical stages of its formation and its role in the democratic process.
- Lobbying practices in the EU, the US and the UK.
- Organizing the work of government agencies and establishing the institution of lobbying in Ukraine.
- Regulatory and legal framework for lobbying in Ukraine.
- Basics of the lobbying profession, planning lobbying campaigns.
- Strategies and tools for influencing public policy.
- Professional ethics and control over the activities of lobbying entities.
“This is a unique program that has no analogues in Ukraine. It will open up the opportunity to join the European practice of forming a professional lobbying community,” emphasized Kozhura.
Recognition and self-regulation
During the event, Oleksiy Shevchuk addressed the Head of the NACP, Viktor Pavlushchyk, calling for recognition of the role of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine as a professional regulator of the industry.
“The Association should be a guiding light for the new profession. We are forming a self-regulated community that will receive a separate code of economic activity – integrity lobbying,” he emphasized.
Context.
As you know, the law on fair lobbying adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in February 2024 was one of the steps towards Ukraine’s European integration.
Establishment of the Higher School of Lobbying is another step in the development of a transparent and civilized lobbying market that meets European standards.
