Introduction
The Next Visionaries Program is a fully funded academic and leadership-development initiative for young Ukrainians interested in European integration, innovation, public policy and Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
The program was initiated and financed by ERSTE Foundation, an Austrian philanthropic foundation. It is implemented in Ukraine by the nonprofit organisation Internews Ukraine and supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
Next Visionaries is not an independently registered charitable foundation, university or commercial enterprise. Based on its public materials, it operates as a partnership-based educational program managed by established organisations.
The 2026 edition is the program’s third cohort. It will run from October 2026 to May 2027 and conclude with a study visit to Vienna, Austria. Participation is free, and the organisers cover program-related costs, including travel, accommodation and meals for relevant events.
History and Background
Establishment of the program
Next Visionaries was initiated by ERSTE Foundation in 2024. It was developed in response to Ukraine’s growing need for professionals who understand the European Union, democratic governance, leadership, innovation and the challenges associated with recovery and European integration.
The first Next Visionaries cohort began in 2024. The initiative combined academic learning with practical leadership development and opportunities for participants to create projects supporting Ukraine’s development.
ERSTE Foundation has identified Next Visionaries as part of its broader commitment to Ukraine. The Foundation’s other Ukraine-focused philanthropic activities have included media training, civil-society leadership, professional integration, cultural diplomacy and support for social innovation.
Development into a recurring program
Next Visionaries has developed into an annual, competitive initiative. The 2026 edition is recruiting its third cohort, demonstrating that the program has continued beyond its initial pilot year.
The program brings together young people from different professional and regional backgrounds. Participants learn from Ukrainian and international academics, diplomats, journalists, public officials, economists, entrepreneurs and civil-society leaders.
Mission and Purpose
Core mission
The central purpose of Next Visionaries is to develop a new generation of Ukrainian leaders who can contribute to:
- Ukraine’s European integration
- Democratic and institutional development
- Sustainable economic recovery
- Public-policy reform
- Social innovation
- Digital transformation
- Post-war reconstruction
- Stronger cooperation between Ukraine and European institutions
The program encourages participants to remain engaged in Ukraine and apply European practices, knowledge and leadership skills within their communities and professional sectors.
Investing in human capital
Next Visionaries is based on the principle that investing in young professionals is essential for Ukraine’s long-term recovery.
The program does not focus only on academic knowledge. It combines personal leadership development, institutional understanding and practical project design so participants can translate ideas into action.
Building knowledge of European integration
One important goal is to move beyond a general aspiration for Ukraine to have a European future. Participants receive a more detailed understanding of:
- European Union institutions
- EU decision-making
- European public policy
- Enlargement and accession processes
- Democratic values
- Rule-of-law principles
- International cooperation
- European approaches to public administration
This knowledge can be valuable for young people working in government, civil society, journalism, research, business and international development.
Developing practical leadership
The program helps participants examine modern leadership challenges, values and professional-development strategies.
Participants are encouraged to understand leadership as more than holding a formal position. The curriculum considers how individuals can influence institutions, communities and public decision-making through integrity, cooperation and effective communication.
Governance and Structure
Institutional structure
Next Visionaries does not publicly present itself as a separate legal organisation. It operates through a partnership in which different institutions have defined responsibilities.
The principal organisations are:
- ERSTE Foundation: Initiator and funder
- Internews Ukraine: Implementing partner in Ukraine
- Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration: Institutional supporter
- Happy Monday: Media partner
Ownership
The program has no conventional commercial ownership or shareholders.
It should not be described as an enterprise foundation, privately owned education company or independent grantmaking institution. It is an educational initiative funded through the philanthropic activities of ERSTE Foundation and delivered through a Ukrainian nonprofit partner.
ERSTE Foundation provides the strategic and financial foundation for the initiative, while Internews Ukraine manages implementation and engagement with participants in Ukraine.
Academic leadership
The curriculum is led by experienced Ukrainian academics and policy specialists.
The 2026 program identifies:
- Nataliia Kryvda as curator of the Leadership and Values module
- Roman Kobets as curator of the European Integration and Public Policy module
- Andriy Shevchenko as curator of the Innovations: How Change Works module
The wider speaker group includes experts from Ukraine, Austria, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries.
Selection and accountability
Participants are selected competitively.
The selection process includes:
- Review of written applications
- Assessment of education and professional experience
- Consideration of volunteering and community engagement
- Evaluation of motivation
- English-language interviews for shortlisted applicants
- Assessment of the applicant’s potential contribution to Ukraine’s development and European integration
Funding and Grants
Main funding mechanism
Next Visionaries is initiated and funded by ERSTE Foundation. Public program materials do not disclose a total annual budget or a per-participant funding amount.
Its basic funding appears to cover:
- Academic instruction
- Program administration
- Online learning
- Offline events in Ukraine
- Mentoring
- Study visits
- Travel
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Certification
- Participant networking
Fully funded participation
Participants do not pay tuition or participation fees. The organisers state that the entire program is free and that event-related expenses are covered.
This represents education and leadership funding provided in kind rather than a cash grant transferred directly to each participant.
Does the program provide grants?
Next Visionaries is not presented as a conventional grants program.
Participants receive:
- Free academic training
- Mentoring
- Access to experts
- Study visits
- Project-development support
- Professional networking
- A certificate upon successful completion
The official materials state that participants develop projects with support from mentors. However, they do not advertise a standard cash grant, project award or unrestricted stipend for participants.
Applicants should therefore not describe Next Visionaries as a grant unless a future call explicitly includes financial support beyond covered participation expenses.
Research grants and basic research funding
The program is not a source of unrestricted research grants or scientific basic funding.
Academic research, policy analysis and evidence-based learning may form part of its curriculum, but its main purpose is leadership and professional development rather than financing independent university research.
Students or researchers seeking traditional research grants should examine other ERSTE Foundation opportunities or European academic funding programs.
Relationship with ERSTE Foundation philanthropy
ERSTE Foundation supports projects in areas such as Europe and democracy, media and journalism, social innovation, arts and culture and financial health.
Next Visionaries fits within this broader philanthropic approach by investing in people who may contribute to democratic governance, European cooperation and Ukraine’s future recovery.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Eight-month academic program
The 2026–2027 program runs for eight months and includes more than 45 lectures and practical sessions.
The learning format combines:
- Online classes twice a week
- Offline events in Ukraine
- Practical workshops
- Expert lectures
- Study visits
- Team projects
- Mentoring
- A concluding visit to Vienna
Approximately 80% of meetings are online and 20% are conducted offline.
Leadership and Values module
This module examines:
- Personal and ethical values
- Modern leadership models
- Professional growth
- Communication
- Decision-making
- Organisational culture
- Leadership challenges
- Personal-development planning
Participants create strategies to guide their future careers and civic engagement.
European Integration and Public Policy module
This module develops knowledge of:
- EU institutions
- European law and policy
- EU enlargement
- Public-policy development
- Democratic governance
- Media freedom
- Migration
- Sanctions
- European values
- Ukraine–EU relations
The module is designed to help participants understand how national and European policies are developed and implemented.
Innovations: How Change Works module
This module examines how technological, economic and social innovation can support institutional and national transformation.
Topics include:
- Digitalisation
- Artificial intelligence in government
- Financial technology
- Global governance
- Geopolitical trends
- Sustainable development
- Climate policy
- Defence technology
- Digital public services
- Social entrepreneurship
Team projects
Participants work with mentors to develop team projects that can contribute to European integration or Ukraine’s development.
This practical component helps participants apply concepts from the academic modules to real social, institutional or policy challenges.
Vienna study visit
The program concludes with a study visit to Vienna.
The visit gives participants opportunities to engage with European institutions, experts and organisations while developing international professional connections.
The 2024–2025 cohort also completed a Vienna field visit in May 2025, demonstrating the practical role of international learning in the program.
Certification
Participants who successfully complete the program receive a certificate representing:
- 180 academic hours
- Six European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System credits, or ECTS
The certificate demonstrates completion of a structured academic and professional-development program, although applicants should confirm how individual universities or employers recognise the credits.
7. Impact and Examples of Work Supported
Development of young Ukrainian leaders
The principal impact of Next Visionaries is its investment in young Ukrainians who may later work in:
- Government institutions
- Civil society
- International organisations
- Journalism and media
- Universities and research centres
- Technology companies
- Social enterprises
- Public-policy organisations
- European integration initiatives
The program aims to create a community of participants who can continue cooperating after the academic course ends.
Third cohort in 2026
The 2026 edition will select 30 participants from across Ukraine. Its continuation into a third cohort indicates sustained institutional and financial commitment from ERSTE Foundation and its partners.
Practical project development
Participants develop projects intended to contribute to Ukraine’s European integration and national development.
Potential project areas may include:
- Public-policy reform
- Community development
- Digital government
- Sustainability
- Civic participation
- Education
- Media literacy
- Institutional transparency
- Social innovation
The exact projects vary according to the interests, experience and professional backgrounds of each cohort.
International expert access
Participants learn from specialists connected to universities, international organisations, think tanks, civil-society groups, government bodies and the private sector.
This exposure provides young professionals with knowledge and networks that would otherwise be difficult to access through a single university course.
Contribution to European integration
Independent academic organisations have described Next Visionaries as an ERSTE Foundation initiative for young Ukrainians working in governmental and nongovernmental sectors and preparing for careers connected to European integration and reconstruction.
Its impact therefore extends beyond individual career development. The program seeks to strengthen the wider pool of professionals capable of supporting Ukraine’s accession process, institutional reform and long-term recovery.
Current 2026 application details
For the 2026 cohort, applicants must generally:
- Be Ukrainian citizens
- Be between 21 and 25 years old
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
- Have English proficiency at B2 level or above
- Demonstrate professional, volunteer or community experience
- Show motivation to contribute to Ukraine’s European development and recovery
The published application deadline is 26 July 2026. The course will run from October 2026 to May 2027.
Conclusion
The Next Visionaries Program is a fully funded academic and leadership initiative preparing young Ukrainians to contribute to European integration, innovation and post-war reconstruction.
It was initiated by ERSTE Foundation in 2024 and is implemented by Internews Ukraine with institutional support from the Ukrainian government’s European integration office.
The program is not an independent foundation, commercial enterprise or conventional grant provider. It has no separate ownership structure or shareholders. Its foundation details are linked to ERSTE Foundation, which finances the initiative as part of its wider philanthropic activities in Ukraine.
Its principal benefits include:
- Fully funded participation
- Eight months of academic learning
- More than 45 lectures and workshops
- Leadership training
- European integration education
- Innovation and digital-transformation content
- Mentoring
- Team-project development
- A study visit to Vienna
- A 180-hour certificate worth six ECTS credits
For interns and early-career professionals, Next Visionaries provides insight into:
- European institutions
- Public policy
- Leadership development
- International relations
- Program management
- Innovation
- Digital government
- Civil-society development
- Ukraine’s reconstruction
- Cross-border partnerships
- Philanthropic education funding
Although it does not offer unrestricted grants or basic research funding, the program provides substantial educational support, international exposure and professional-development opportunities for young Ukrainians committed to shaping the country’s European future.
For more information, visit here.
