How does decentralisation work in practice? Where do communities find resources for development? Why do some cities recover faster and plan ahead, while others struggle to respond to crises? These questions were at the centre of a series of open lectures held within the UniCities project.

The lectures were delivered by experts from the Association of Ukrainian Cities — practitioners who work on a daily basis with urban and rural communities across the country. The speakers included the Association’s Executive Director Oleksandr Slobozhan, as well as Mykhailo Honchar, Tetiana Paliichuk, Iryna Honcharenko, Olena Kornіiuk, Oleh Harnyk, and Liudmyla Yaremchuk. Rather than speaking the language of reports and abstract strategies, they shared real-life experiences: actual municipal budgets, complex management decisions, lessons learned from mistakes, and successful cases from Ukrainian cities.

The lecture programme covered topics that are now essential for community development: decentralisation and the powers of local authorities, the economic capacity of communities, public finance management, social policy, land issues, and housing and communal services. Particular attention was given to how these processes are transforming under the conditions of war and green recovery, and why communities urgently need new knowledge and approaches — including those related to the green transition and the pursuit of climate neutrality.

An important part of the discussions focused on the role of universities. The speakers emphasised that a modern university is not only a place for teaching and learning, but also a partner for communities — capable of providing analysis, strategic thinking, and training professionals for local development, green transformation, and the transition towards climate neutrality.

The open format turned the lectures into lively discussions. Students asked about real careers and challenges in local governance, lecturers explored opportunities for joint initiatives, and experts shared insights that rarely make their way into textbooks.

This series of open lectures highlighted one simple idea: sustainable cities start with people, knowledge, and dialogue. This is exactly the approach UniCities promotes — placing universities side by side with cities and communities to create space for learning, cooperation, and real change.

*Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.