PUMB doubles its support for KSE: 30 students to receive tuition grants

PUMB has doubled its annual contribution toward scholarship support for Kyiv School of Economics students to $200,000; thanks to this support, 30 KSE University students will receive tuition grants and gain a profession.

Investing in education is a core part of the bank's approach; PUMB has been a strategic partner of KSE for nine years. During this time, the partner's contributions have funded scholarships for approximately 100 students with high national test scores—including children of military personnel and veterans, as well as young people who lost their homes due to the war.

Serhiy Chernenko, Chairman of the Management Board of PUMB: "This year, despite the challenging situation, we decided to increase our support to $200,000 annually. I believe this is one of our best investments. We see KSE growing, uniting people, discovering talented youth, and enhancing the quality of its programs. A talented student should not have to forgo a quality education due to financial circumstances—especially today, when Ukraine cannot afford to lose young people with great potential. By supporting their education, we are investing in the professionals who will drive the development of Ukrainian business and the economy".

KSE University attracts applicants with high test scores and strong academic backgrounds; this year, the average competitive score for the bachelor’s program was 174.4, while the average mathematics score among admitted students was 180.5—the highest among Ukrainian universities. PUMB’s contribution helps remove financial barriers for talented young people, enabling them to stay and build their futures in Ukraine.

Svitlana Denysenko, Executive Director of the KSE Foundation: "This support sends a powerful signal from the business community that opportunities exist in Ukraine and that its future is worth building right here. For a young person, a study grant represents an opportunity to receive a quality education and realize their potential, regardless of their family's financial situation. The partnership with PUMB demonstrates the long-term impact of such an investment: 96% of last year’s KSE graduates have remained in Ukraine, working toward its growth." In addition to providing financial support to students, the partnership encompasses the development of KSE’s educational infrastructure. With PUMB’s support, modern classrooms, spaces for individual and group study, relaxation areas, sleep pods, and game zones have been created and are being maintained. The bank also consistently supports KSE Foundation initiatives aimed at preserving and developing human capital and saving lives—ranging from equipping school shelters to enhancing medical air evacuations from frontline areas".

For KSE, supporting talented students is part of a broader effort to develop Ukraine’s human capital. The university trains professionals for the technology, business, scientific, and public sectors—individuals who will shape the pace of the country’s development in the coming years. The partnership with PUMB exemplifies how business can influence not only young people's access to education but also their decisions regarding their future in Ukraine.