Ukraine Leadership & Technology Academy

We empower young Ukrainian leaders by sharing world-class knowledge from MIT

students

ULTA is

🎓 What is ULTA?

ULTA is a tuition-free educational program for Ukrainian high school students in grades 9 and 10. Our participants will show a strong passion for technology, active engagement in their communities, proficiency in English, and enthusiasm for learning from MIT mentors. By utilizing MIT’s open education resources, we aim to create a bridge between the rigor of MIT education and the perspectives of Ukrainian students. ULTA is in partnership with UA-Teens.

🌍 Our Vision

We envision to empower and inspire the next generation of Ukrainian leaders by sharing world-class knowledge from MIT. These young people are growing up during a time of war and hardship, but they possess a unique perspective that will be invaluable as the country moves forward. Our goal is to equip Ukrainian high-schoolers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to rebuild Ukraine into a thriving, European nation.

Update: September 2023

Dear Friends,

We’re excited to share that our first ULTA summer program, in Barcelona, has just concluded!

The experience of mentoring students through ULTA has been incredibly rewarding. Why? Because it was abundantly clear that we were not merely delivering an outstanding educational experience to our students: we were also profoundly changing their lives, putting them on a new, exponential success trajectory. This program was and is a transformative experience for the students, equipping them with both technology and communication skills that are often lacking in Ukrainian education. The students are highly talented and driven, and they all have project ideas aimed at rebuilding Ukraine.

Antonina Lavrik

Zaporizhzhia

It was the best thing that could happen to fifteen-year-old me. I thought that I wasn’t good enough. But now I can say – you are always worthy of it! Trust me: ULTA isn’t a place for math geniuses and English native speakers. ULTA is about your desire to make the world better. Every skill can be taught. When you come back home, you are the person with a strict understanding of what you want.

Yaryna Holoshchuk

Lviv Oblast

ULTA is a truly unforgettable experience. I believed I wasn't good enough and that it wasn't a place for me. But I've felt so comfortable just being there as a part of a community since my first day at ULTA. It quickly changes your perspective entirely. You learn new things that you couldn't learn in school. Additionally, you get a chance to meet amazing people as well as inspiring MIT mentors!

Vladyslav Yevlan

Odesa Oblast

The best opportunities are available to everyone! And this is me, a simple guy from a small town by the sea, telling you this. Thus, you don't have to be someone who studied higher math before graduating from kindergarten to take advantage of ULTA! MIT mentors will teach you to organize, create and communicate. Should you have a desire to change the world, ULTA will certainly empower you to do so!

Nazar Drugov

Kyiv

After my first day at the camp, I came to understand that in ULTA, it's not about your past accomplishments. What truly matters is the dedication you show every moment you're in ULTA, the respect you pay, and learning you derive from those around. To me, the primary takeaway from ULTA is the mindset: honestly admit your mistakes, learn from them, learn from every interaction, and open your mind!

Applications

Across Ukraine, 725 ambitious applicants, from busy cities to small villages, have shown their enthusiasm for our program. Each application is a testament to our nation’s diverse potential. Thank you for your commitment!

After a tough admissions process we have selected 20 finalists, a diverse and strong cohort of future leaders that will reshape Ukraine’s future. This group embodies the very spirit of resilience and ambition that we believe will be instrumental in rebuilding Ukraine.

Hometowns of ULTA'24 Finalists

2023-2024 Finalist Cohort

Basov Andrii, Kyiv
Plakhotna Mariia, Poltava Oblast
Antoniuk Daryna, Rivne Oblast
Yevlan Vladyslav, Odessa Oblast
Holoshchuk Yaryna, Lviv Oblast
Zubova Dariia, Kharkiv Oblast
Drugov Nazar, Donetsk Oblast
Matviienko Uliana, Kyiv
Hrybchuk Daryna, Rivne Oblast
Lavrik Antonina, Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Orliuk Diana, Vinnytsia Oblast
Kertutskyi Yarema, Lviv Oblast
Matviiuk Sviatoslav, Kyiv
Zahika Andrii, Vinnytsia Oblast
Gret Kateryna, Zakarpattia Oblast
Bondarenko Nataliia, Lviv Oblast
Melnyk Anton, Rivne Oblast
Pieshkov Rostyslav, Kyiv
Borysenko Volodymyr, Cherkasy Oblast
Lipkevych Sofiia, Lviv Oblast

Our students will receive:

Two MIT courses, based on your interests and passion

some example courses:

Our co-founding partner:

UA-Teens is our co-founding partner and financial sponsor of the program. UA-Teens is also responsible for running the logistics of the program and public relationships of Ukraine Leadership & Technology Academy (ULTA) in Ukrainian media sphere. Learn more about our partners here.

Organizational support

Tourist partner

Program Structure 2023-2024

August 20 - September 3, 2023 | Gavà, Spain
Ukrainian teenagers are studying intensively for two weeks, instructed by mentors – students from MIT. Teenagers are mastering material through our specifically designed educational program, which is based on MIT’s educational resources. Learn more about the logistics of summer 2023.
September-April, 2023-2024 | Online
Every participant of the program will be matched with a mentor (an MIT student) according to their professional interests. Together with their mentors, participants will study throughout the year using MIT’s open educational resources, available through MIT OpenCourseWare. Participants will meet with their mentors, other participants of ULTA, and members of the MIT academic community. At those meetings, participants will discuss their independently mastered material and analyze challenging questions.
2 weeks in Summer 2024 | Gavà, Spain
After a year’s worth of work, our program participants will meet with MIT mentors for 2 more weeks. Geared with the newly acquired knowledge and skills, Ukrainian teenagers will work on individual or group projects, guided by MIT mentors.