Higher education institutes play important role in co-creating solutions for Ukraine’s rebuilding
Higher education institutions support Ukraine's recovery by contributing expertise, innovative solutions, practical approaches to rebuilding crisis-affected areas, and enabling and facilitating networking between local and international stakeholders. Metropolia's Future Construction Hub project TITAN, along with its partners Urban Mill Innovation Platform and Business Vantaa, introduced a collaborative forum for co-creating solutions for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The Expert and Support Forum for Rebuilding Ukraine, held at Metropolia’s Myllypuro campus on 19th March 2025, brought together experts, organizations, and innovators to address critical challenges in reconstructing Ukraine’s built environments in crisis-affected areas. Hosted by the Future Construction Hub TITAN and its partners, the hybrid event focused on sustainable development, innovative solutions, and practical actions to support Ukraine’s recovery.
In her opening speech, Metropolia’s President, CEO, Riitta Konkola highlighted the importance of international collaboration between higher education institutions and cities.
"At Metropolia, we strongly believe in the power of collaboration. This forum unites experts to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time—rebuilding Ukraine’s educational and urban infrastructure. By bringing together Finnish and Ukrainian expertise, we can create sustainable, resilient, and forward-looking solutions that empower communities and shape a better future”, Konkola says.
A Ukrainian delegation including experts from the State University of Economics and Technology and representatives from Kryvyi Rih City Council, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, and Boryspil City Council visited Finland in March 2025. In addition to the Myllypuro campus, they also visited Metropolia’s Myyrmäki campus, the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, Aalto University and Varia Vocational College.
The Deputy Mayor of Kryvyi Rih, Miliutin Serhii, said that success even after crises is possible with a strong system, good leadership, and national unity. He emphasized the valuable exchange of experiences between countries and reinforced the belief in the importance of cooperation and a bright future.
Initiatives for immediate reconstruction needs and also fostering new expertise
By integrating Smart City technologies and principles of smart building design, the collaboration aims to enhance education, strengthen community resilience, and promote urban development. One example is the initiative to rebuild the Kryvyi Rih university campus, which was destroyed by Russian ballistic missiles.
Educational innovation also plays a part in recovery efforts. The "Fun Academy on Wheels" initiative introduces mobile learning environments to bring stability and education to children in affected regions, offering valuable support amid challenging circumstances.
“Collaboration with Finnish partners is essential for Ukraine’s reconstruction. We welcome strong partnerships to ensure that reconstruction efforts are not only immediate but also sustainable in the long run. The key challenge is finding responsible people who can turn these ideas into reality. Collaboration in technology, education, and humanitarian projects—such as advancing digital tools for children—can help us build a more resilient and innovative future for Ukraine," says Oleh Podkopaiev, Director of the Institute of Economics and Business Education at the State University of Economics and Technology, and Deputy of the Kryvyi Rih City Council.
“These initiatives not only address immediate reconstruction needs but also foster new expertise, develop innovative business opportunities, and advance collaborative efforts within the network. By building capacity and creating impactful solutions, we aim to generate long-term benefits for everyone involved. In addition to physical reconstruction, developing entrepreneurship and pedagogy to better align skills with the needs of working life is essential for sustainable growth. Higher education institutions, through their joint initiatives, play a crucial role in this development”, says Lars Miikki, project manager of the Future Construction Hub TITAN.
Collaboration between experts, organizations, and local stakeholders is key to generating lasting societal and business benefits. In the Expert and Support Forum, Ukrainian stakeholders were encouraged to bring forward their challenges to the open digital platform, launched in this event to facilitate fresh ideas and impactful solutions.
The Expert and Support Forum for Rebuilding Ukraine initiative stems from the EDU 3.0 EU Creative Europe project (2023–2024). Urban Mill Innovation Platform, Future Construction Hub TITAN at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, and the team of Business Vantaa have taken the lead in continuing and developing this spin-off. They are committed to driving the initiative forward and warmly invite other stakeholders to join in contributing to this collaborative effort.
For more information on ongoing initiatives and opportunities to contribute, visit the digital matchmaking platform: Expert and Support Forum for Rebuilding Ukraine
See the event recording on Youtube.
More information
Lars Miikki
Project Manager, Future Construction Hub TITAN, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Lars.Miikki [at] metropolia.fi (Lars[dot]Miikki[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
Irina Tikka
Manager, R&D Development Services, Smart and Creative City Innovation Hub, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Irina.Tikka [at] metropolia.fi (Irina[dot]Tikka[at]metropolia[dot]fi)