The event brought together current scholarship holders and alumni of the Ernst Mach Grant – Ukraine, providing an opportunity to share experiences and develop professional networks.
Inspiring Inputs and Discussions
The evening opened with a welcome from the Ernst Mach – Ukraine team, who highlighted the importance of supporting scholars in their academic and professional journeys.
The keynote speech was delivered by Alireza Sohrabian, co-founder of the BeFounder Accelerator and co-director of the Kyiv–Vienna Innovation Bridge. Drawing on his entrepreneurial experience, he encouraged participants to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Olena Bekreniova, co-founder of the European Centre for Freedom and Independence, presented the Professional Integration HUB – the internship programme for Ukrainians residing in Austria.
A central part of the programme was the panel discussion “From Studies into a Professional Career” featuring:
- Nataliya Sherimbetova, an expert in learning product development and soft skills training,
- Olesia Kvitka, a multimedia artist and cultural producer,
- Veronika Kulaga, an OeAD alumna and project manager in Erasmus+ Higher Education.
Hosted by Katharina Engel (OeAD), the discussion explored pathways from studies to professional careers in Austria, with panellists sharing their personal journeys, challenges and lessons learned.
Networking and Community Building
After the formal programme, participants gathered in the OeAD courtyard for networking, food and drinks. This informal setting provided space for meaningful conversations, exchange of experiences and new collaborations.
The Ernst Mach – Ukraine Meetup 2025 once again demonstrated the strong connections within the scholarship community and the valuable role of alumni in inspiring and supporting current scholars. By facilitating dialogue and professional exchange, the meetup contributes to building bridges between academia, international students and the Austrian labour market.
The participants were highly impressed and expressed their gratitude for the smooth organisation, expressing strong interest in further events on careers. The OeAD is particularly happy about the numerous positive comments, which emphasise the need for similar events in the future:
“I would like to thank you very much for organising last Thursday's event. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear exciting stories and valuable advice from the speakers.
I would particularly like to highlight the pleasant and inspiring atmosphere. The open networking environment was very appealing, the DJ's musical accompaniment was well chosen, and the lighting created a harmonious overall picture. Last but not least, the buffet was excellent – the food was a real treat.
Once again, my sincere thanks for this successful evening. Participating was both enriching and very enjoyable for me. I am already looking forward to future events of this kind. “
“I’d also like to highlight the evening gathering in the courtyard. That was an absolutely brilliant idea! The food, as always, was excellent. I was pleasantly surprised by the presence of a DJ, something we hadn’t had at previous events. What made me especially happy was the choice of popular Ukrainian music.
To sum up, the entire event was truly unforgettable!”
We thank all the speakers, alumni and participants for their contributions, and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the future.
