​Build Environment Professionals; University Education in Ukraine

This paper is one of nine drafted by national entities in Ukraine as part of a UN-Habitat-commissioned collection entitled Thematic Paper Series Informing Urban Recovery Approaches in Ukraine. The paper examines the evolution and current state of Ukrainian university education in urban development and planning, considering its historical legacies, institutional reforms and the impact of war. It finds that higher education has diversified beyond traditional architecture and engineering programmes, but remains constrained by rigid accreditation and curricula-development processes, limited interdisciplinary learning, shrinking student numbers and a growing faculty crisis. 

The absence of a formally recognised urban studies specialty also limits the development of integrated approaches to urban challenges. Despite these constraints, universities are demonstrating resilience and increasingly contributing to applied research, civic engagement and recovery initiatives. The paper highlights the opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary education, connect universities more systematically with municipalities and practitioners, and align teaching and research with the skills required for inclusive, sustainable and resilient urban recovery.