A $1,000 Prize: Ukraine's Students and Teachers Invited to Write About AI's Role in Higher Education

Contest Announcement

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: A nationwide essay competition is now accepting entries from university students and faculty across Ukraine. The prompt: “What should a university look like when AI can answer nearly any question?” Organized by the WINWIN EdTech Center of Excellence with support from Headway Inc, the competition invites submissions until August 31, 2026. Winners in each category will receive a cash award of $1,000.

How It Works

This is the first all-Ukrainian contest to put the future of universities under the AI spotlight. The competition proceeds in two stages: submission, followed by selection of finalists and winners. Entries must consist of a 1,000–1,200 word essay and a video pitch no longer than 3 minutes. Applications are submitted through an online form; the deadline is August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Kyiv time.

From each category, the jury will draw up a shortlist of 10 finalists, who will then take part in online interviews with the judging panel. Evaluation will focus on authenticity and personal reflection, novelty and originality of ideas, quality of argumentation, and logical structure. One winner per category will be chosen.

“AI is transforming not just learning tools but the very purpose of education. When access to information is nearly unlimited, what matters most is the capacity to think critically, create new things, work with technology, and use it responsibly. We want to hear from the diverse voices for whom this transformation matters most,” said Oksana Matiyash, CEO of WINWIN EdTech Center of Excellence.

Anton Pavlovsky, CEO and founder of Headway Inc, stressed that the key question today is not what AI can do, but how we use it to create new learning opportunities. “That is why it is so important to build space for fresh ideas, bold perspectives, and new solutions. We support this competition because we believe that jointly searching for new approaches opens the door to change,” he added.

The strongest essays are slated for publication on the organizers’ and partners’ platforms. WINWIN EdTech Center of Excellence was established by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ministry of Education and Science, with UNICEF’s support. Headway Inc is a global IT company with Ukrainian roots whose products are used by more than 180 million people worldwide. This initiative gives English-speaking audiences a window into how Ukrainian education leaders are grappling with the same AI questions that are reshaping campuses everywhere.

For more information on the competition, selection criteria, and the submission form, visit the WINWIN EdTech Center of Excellence website.

By putting the AI challenge directly to students and educators, this contest encourages a broader dialogue about new learning models and critical-thinking skills. It also lets participants voice their vision for the future of higher education in Ukraine and beyond.