Academy for Heroes is a Ukrainian educational public organization that has been operating in Lviv since 2024. It offers unique training programs for war veterans to help them acquire in-demand IT skills and successfully integrate into the modern labor market. The organization also builds a community of Ukrainian veterans for experience exchange and collaborates with leading IT companies.
The project is funded by EveryMatrix NV, a company that supports the initiative by providing resources for educational programs and facilitating employment opportunities for graduates.
The head of the organization is Oleksiy Druhov—a public figure, professor at Lviv Polytechnic and Wroclaw University of Economics, participant of the «Ukraine-Norway» project, a lecturer with over 20 years of experience, and an academician of the Academy of Economic Sciences of Ukraine.
Mission and Goals
The primary goal is to train veterans in relevant information technology skills, enhancing their employability in the prestigious IT sector.
After completing their training, the most successful graduates are employed by IT companies with the support of the Academy for Heroes.
Distinctive Features
The Academy for Heroes offers the following unique educational opportunities:
- The only public organization in Ukraine that organizes comprehensive IT courses exclusively for war veterans;
- All programs are free of charge;
- Educational programs include not only technical skills (IT skills) but also the development of soft skills and English language learning;
- Training is conducted offline in specially equipped classrooms in Lviv;
- The organization provides internships in leading IT companies and facilitates further employment for veterans.
Educational Approach
The Academy's training programs are designed to address the specific needs of veterans, ensuring a comprehensive approach to their preparation.
Students work in teams and on real-world projects at partner IT companies , participate in workshops with industry leaders, actively improve their English language skills, and develop both professional abilities and personal qualities.
Completion of the program involves the defense of an individual final project, showcasing the graduate's professional level of preparation. Additionally, mentors continue to support graduates even after the training ends, assisting them in their career development.
Training Programs
The NGO «Academy for Heroes» currently offers two primary training programs:
Full Stack Development
This course focuses on mastering web development from scratch, including both frontend and backend. The program combines theoretical lessons and practical experience, allowing students to work on real-world projects, gain internships in IT companies, and improve their English language skills and soft skills. The training duration is 10 months.
Project Management & Quality Assurance
This program provides knowledge in project management and quality assurance. Students learn the basics of team management, resource planning, and gain practical skills by working on real-world projects. The course also includes English language training and soft skills development. The training duration is 10 months.
The organization plans to expand its range of programs, adding new areas based on veterans' requests and market needs.
Training for Veterans at Unbroken
Weekly sessions by the NGO «Academy for Heroes» are held at the Unbroken center. Veterans select the topics of future workshops based on their interests and needs.
This approach makes the training as useful and engaging as possible for each participant.
Team
The team of the NGO «Academy for Heroes» consists of experts in education and information technology:
- Oleksiy Druhov – Head of the organization, professor at Lviv Polytechnic and Wroclaw University of Economics;
- Volodymyr Pankiv – IT instructor, PhD candidate at Lviv Polytechnic National University, and experienced web developer;
- Maria Kondyrevych – Project manager, 4th year student in the «Management» program at Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Partners
The NGO «Academy for Heroes» collaborates with leading organizations that support its mission and contribute to the successful implementation of educational programs for veterans.
List of Partners:
- EveryMatrix;
- SoftServe;
- ELEKS;
- Unbroken;
- Lviv Polytechnic National University ;
- Lviv Regional Military Administration ;
- Lviv Center for Services for Combatants;
- Veteran Development Center;
- VeteranMedia.
Partnerships with these organizations ensure high-quality training, access to modern technologies, and support for veterans on their path to professional success.
Notes
- NGO «Academy for Heroes» announces enrollment for free IT training for veterans.]
- EveryMatrix launches ‘Academy for Heroes’ to help Ukraine military veterans develop IT careers
- Veterans in Ukraine will have the opportunity to become IT specialists
- NGO «Academy for Heroes» - About the project
- Veterans will be trained for free in IT courses in Lviv
- NGO «Academy for Heroes» announced the launch of free IT training for war veterans
- At the Lviv Veteran Development Center, defenders and their families will undergo professional retraining in the IT field
- Training for veterans has started at Unbroken
- A project for IT training for veterans is being implemented at Unbroken in Lviv
- Staff from the Department of Management of Organizations at INEM are developing an IT training project for veterans
- At the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the officials discussed the ways of supporting veteran spaces and new initiatives for veterans' retraining
- Academy for Heroes and the Lviv Center are joining forces to support veterans in the IT field