The war in Ukraine is in its fourth year, with missile strikes escalating and daily life for millions thrown into turmoil.
Amid air raids and uncertainty it would be easy for initiatives to falter or cease and instead focus purely on providing a bare minimum of service.
Yet at The British International School Ukraine (BISU) we have strived since day one of the war to not only keep learning going but continue to drive for excellence in all that we do for our students at sites in both Kyiv and Dnipro.
This was underscored recently by our fourth graduation since the war broke out, honouring students who achieved IGCSEs, A Levels and Ukrainian secondary diplomas.
Global expertise
Despite many families being forced to leave, new students have joined, and many have even returned - a sign of confidence in the school’s mission.
What’s more, through partnerships with COBIS (Council of British International Schools) and a network of recruiters and media, BISU continues to expand its international team by hiring new staff on site in Kyiv and Dnipro - an inspiring example of global collaboration at a time when Ukraine needs it most.
This means we now have 10 international primary and secondary teachers, along with a new Principal and directors from the UK, US, Australia and Ireland.
This global presence enriches the Ukrainian context and celebrates a shared commitment to the country’s development.
Raising standards nationwide
BISU’s vision, however, extends beyond its own walls. Determined to elevate the national education landscape, the school is actively supporting professional growth for teachers across Ukraine.
In partnership with Cambridge, BISU recently launched a pioneering series of continuous professional development (CPD) webinars for Cambridge-authorised schools nationwide.
The first pilot, delivered between late 2024 and June 2025, focused on Global Perspectives (GP) for late primary and early secondary teachers.
Cambridge experts led online workshops, sharing innovative practices tailored to Ukrainian classrooms.
GP was chosen as a starting point because it equips students with vital transferable skills - critical thinking, research and collaboration - while offering teachers a flexible framework to enrich many curriculum areas.
Growing together
The programme, supported by an online forum, encouraged teachers to exchange ideas, develop new materials and grow professionally despite challenging circumstances.
A senior representative from Ukraine’s Ministry of Education attended a session, signalling strong interest in scaling up such collaboration and strengthening the foundation for quality education for students in Ukraine.
Looking ahead, BISU and Cambridge plan to expand this initiative and explore partnerships with the Ministry to benefit both public and private schools.
This pilot gave teachers a new understanding of the tools they can use in the classroom, enabling them to develop better questioning, structured inquiry and collaborative routines.
Our ambition is to launch similar projects nationwide, with the Ministry, so more pupils benefit wherever they learn - underlining the power of international cooperation to create meaningful change.
Bold plans for the future
We also have plans in development for an innovative international school and kindergarten just outside Kyiv. The masterplan allows for a boarding-school phase when conditions permit, subject to rigorous safeguarding and security assessments.
The school also plans to form alliances with global partner schools, creating innovative learning models that could first take root in Ukraine and later inspire other countries.
Another key initiative is working towards formal recognition of the IB Diploma and A levels by Ukrainian universities, opening pathways for students to pursue higher education at home as well as abroad.
At the heart of all this is our mission to keep all doors open for our graduates - into Ukrainian universities and into the world - so young people don’t have to choose between safety and ambition
Through resilience, innovation and global collaboration, our aim is not just sustaining education during the war, but laying the groundwork for recovery, progress and hope.
Anton Zastavnyi is the chief executive of British International Schools in Ukraine
