Building Ukraine’s future through UK partnership: How Chevening turns UK expertise into global impact  

From a small town to a UK dream 

Chevening alumna Olesia Kompaniiets grew up in a small town in Southern Ukraine, a long way from Kyiv and even further from imagining herself studying in Britain. 

‘I always dreamed of studying in London… Kyiv already felt like a galaxy away. The UK felt like a whole different universe.’ 

In 2012, she applied for Chevening but was unsuccessful. After exploring other options, she realised Chevening was the best option for her and tried again, this time driven by what she calls ‘anger and passion’.  

‘I loved that Chevening trusted scholars to choose their own path. No one told me where to apply. That freedom changed everything.’  

At the time of her application, Olesia was working at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite loving her job, she chose Chevening because studying in London was her dream, and ten years on, she says it was the best decision she ever made. 

Pursuing a Master’s in International Relations at University College London (UCL), she specialised in national security, learning from her first sustained exposure to the UK’s approach to policymaking which centred open debate, constructive challenge, and collaboration across difference.  

‘I like the UK’s approach to governance and policy making. The more I asked, the more discussions continued. People appreciated engaging conversations. Challenges were seen as opportunities, not stumbling blocks.’  

Bringing UK higher education reform to Ukraine 

Returning to Ukraine in 2015, Olesia faced a country under immense strain. Recruitment freezes meant few opportunities, and she received repeated rejections. 

‘The British Council was the first place to give me a chance.’ 

At the British Council in Ukraine, Olesia led programmes that connected UK universities with Ukrainian institutions navigating reform and conflict. 30 universities across Ukraine, including displaced universities from the east, took part in leadership development and academic integrity programmes. This work helped Ukrainian universities: 

• Build long-term partnerships with UK universities  

• Strengthen academic integrity  

• Mobilise international funding 

• Modernise leadership culture 

‘This is where I blossomed. I felt respected, supported, included, and appreciated. This is where I started bridging UK experience with Ukrainian needs.’  

Embedding UK governance practice in defence and security reform 

Olesia later joined NATO’s Ukraine office, working on professional development for government officials responsible for Euro-Atlantic integration. With support from the British Embassy, she engaged with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Government Partnerships International team to support governance reform in conflict-affected contexts.  

Together, they helped shift Ukrainian government institutions from output-focused reporting towards results-based management, embedding UK governance practices into national systems.  

‘We did a lot of capacity development. I convinced them to pilot new approaches, and that work has continued and to be a success.’ 

The programme supported 56 defence and security agencies and contributed to Ukraine’s alignment with NATO standards. Olesia also diversified funding, growing the programme from a single UK donor into a multi-donor platform, multiplying the reach of UK technical leadership in Ukraine.  

‘For more than ten years since I graduated, I’ve remained deeply connected to the UK and the British Embassy. That connection comes from genuine appreciation and gratitude. Whenever I reach out to UK partners, I am taken seriously. I feel heard, seen, and supported.’    

Applying UK behavioural science to post-war recovery 

Today, she runs a Ukrainian NGO with a fellow Chevening alumna, and they have secured Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF) funding for a project called BASE (Behavioural Approach to Social Empowerment). The project brings UK behavioural science expertise directly to Ukrainian government officials and civil society practitioners working on recovery and social protection. The aim is to build a community of practitioners who apply UK-informed behavioural approaches to improve the quality of policies, programmes, and public services.  

‘The idea is to help create a society that is open to change and opportunity. During the post-war reconstruction, we will face tension and friction across different identities. I want to help create a society that sees difference as an opportunity. UK approaches help us move from blame to solutions.’  

Chevening’s impact  

For Olesia, Chevening’s impact has shaped how she works with people and power. 

‘Thanks to Chevening, I was exposed not only to the UK, but to the whole world. When you talk to someone from a different culture, you open a window to a bigger world. Those friendships gave me the fuel and desire to change things… It was the best thing about being a Chevening scholar.’  

Through long-term partnerships with UK government, academia and civil society, including work linked to the United Nations, Olesia continues to translate UK values into practical reform in Ukraine. 

Read more about alumni impact here!