The UNBROKEN University is an innovative educational project created in response to the challenges of war. Its main goal is to prepare a new generation of specialists who will help Ukrainians overcome the consequences of war trauma by applying the best global practices and expertise.
The UNBROKEN University will operate on the basis of the First Medical Association of Lviv — the largest medical institution in Ukraine. The educational process is designed around short-term modular postgraduate programs.
Students will be able to choose individual courses in the fields of medicine or municipal management. Special emphasis is placed not only on knowledge but also on practical skills that can be applied immediately in professional work.
The University is headed by Professor Oleksandr Filts — a renowned psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and public figure. For decades, he has shaped the Ukrainian school of psychiatry, served as head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, and earned the title of Honored Doctor of Ukraine. Today, he stands at the forefront of a new educational project that combines science, practice, and innovation.
Alongside him, Maryana Svirchuk serves as the Executive Director of the UNBROKEN University. At the First Medical Association of Lviv, she developed the area of investment attraction and international partnerships. Now, her mission is to turn the University into a platform where doctors, managers, scholars, and global experts come together.
The opening of the UNBROKEN University marks a new stage in the development of Ukrainian medical education. The project brings together innovation, international experience, and the real needs of society in wartime.
SCHOOL OF MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP at UNBROKEN University
MISSION
To cultivate a new generation of municipal leaders — competent, ethical, and resilient — capable of guiding communities through recovery, transformation, and turbulent times. Not just officials, but leaders of service.
CONTEXT
Ukraine is undergoing a historic transformation of local governance. War, post-war recovery, European integration, technological revolution, and demographic shifts are reshaping the environment and demand a new culture of leadership — one rooted in action, trust, and partnership.
Local municipalities face an acute shortage of management skills, motivated personnel, and horizontal cooperation between government, business, and civil society. As veterans return to their communities, a new wave of potential leaders will emerge — people with strong motivation for change but limited experience and qualifications.
OBJECTIVE
To create an educational and practical platform where community leaders learn, rethink experiences, and co-create solutions for the recovery and development of municipalities.
To build a research base for studying the resilience of communities and promoting cooperation between Ukrainian and international municipalities in the field of resilience and the functioning of social and administrative systems under crisis conditions.
TARGET AUDIENCE
- Local self-government officials and managers
- Activists, veterans, and entrepreneurs transitioning into public leadership
- Mayors and community leaders seeking to modernize their management approaches
EDUCATIONAL MODEL
Programs:
- Postgraduate education (1 year)
- Professional development programs (from 1 week to 6 months)
- Master’s programs (1.5–2 years)
Formats:
- Modular structure: topics on policy, communications, recovery, innovation, crisis management, European integration, etc.
- Mentorship: mayors, advisors, international experts, and change leaders
- Policy & Leadership Labs: collaborative work on real challenges faced by communities
- Hybrid format: in-person learning in Lviv + practical training residencies in different cities + online sessions + alumni network support
PROGRAM TOPICS
- Effective governance and public institutions — fundamentals of public administration
- The European Union: structure, decision-making, cooperation with Ukraine, and adaptation of communities to EU standards and funds
- Digital governance and modern technologies: cybersecurity, AI in public management, and citizen-oriented digital services
- Geopolitical context: Ukraine’s role in global politics and regional security challenges
- Communication and public engagement: crisis response, participatory governance, strategic communications
- Ethics, integrity, and anti-corruption policy: responsibility culture, risk management, anti-corruption frameworks
- Public finance and the economics of governance: fiscal decentralization, investment project management, budgeting
- Leadership, innovation, and strategic transformation: soft skills, team management, negotiation, change management, and strategic thinking
FACULTY
The teaching team will include practitioners from local self-government (mayors, directors, policy leads), managers from business and civil society, as well as Ukrainian and international scientists and experts.
A key selection criterion is proven experience and successful cases that can be translated into practical learning.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Graduates of the School will become agents of recovery — combining strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, technological literacy, and practical action. They will be capable of building trust, uniting communities, and leading them toward sustainable development.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND PARTNERS
UNBROKEN University and the School of Municipal Leadership operate within the UNBROKEN CITIES network — a global initiative fostering collaboration between municipalities to study resilience and community functioning under crises (wars, hybrid and terrorist attacks, natural and technological disasters, pandemics, etc.).
Currently, 12 cities are part of the network, including: Manchester (UK), Liverpool (UK), Oslo (Norway), Mechelen (Belgium), Würzburg (Germany), Aarhus (Denmark), Cannes (France), Rzeszów (Poland), Trento (Italy), Timișoara (Romania), Sofia (Bulgaria), Kaohsiung (Taiwan).
A dedicated network of Ukrainian cities on resilience is also being developed.
LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS
The School of Municipal Leadership is a branch of UNBROKEN University.
The founders of UNBROKEN University are the UNBROKEN Foundation and the First Medical Union of Lviv.
The University was established on March 11, 2025, and its Rector is Professor Oleksandr Filts.
In addition to the School of Municipal Leadership, the University also includes a Higher Medical School.
