The Department of Philology and Translation of the SEI “Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology” invites students to participate in the essay contest “The Future of Ukraine: A Matter of Responsibility”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the prominent Ukrainian economist, thinker, and public figure Bohdan Hawrylyshyn.

The contest began on October 27 and will run until November 6, 2026.

The task is available on the USUCT distance learning website via the link.

The contest topic invites students to reflect on the role of personal responsibility in Ukraine’s future and relate their own perspectives to the values formulated by Bohdan Hawrylyshyn in the Declaration of Human Responsibility.

Bohdan Hawrylyshyn created this document in 2014. The Declaration contains 15 principles covering a person’s responsibilities toward themselves, their family, society, the environment, their country, future generations, and the world.

These include honesty and adherence to moral principles, continuous learning and the development of one’s abilities, responsible attitudes toward health, respect for others, care for cultural heritage, responsibility toward society and the state, the rational use of natural resources, and preserving the world for future generations.

The competition gives students an opportunity not simply to summarize individual provisions of the Declaration, but to consider them from the perspective of the present day: which decisions depend on each individual, what responsibility means during wartime and the country’s recovery, and what role education, professionalism, civic engagement, and everyday actions play in shaping Ukraine’s future.

Bohdan Dmytrovych Hawrylyshyn (1926–2016) was born on October 19, 1926, in Koropets, Ternopil region. His life was connected with Ukraine, Canada, and Switzerland. He became an internationally renowned economist and manager, was the first Ukrainian member of the Club of Rome, worked in the field of international management education, and for many years supported the development of an independent Ukraine, civil society, and youth initiatives.

A special place in his legacy belongs to the idea of personal responsibility as a prerequisite for social change. The Declaration of Human Responsibility became the foundation of the values underlying the All-Ukrainian Day of Human Responsibility, which has been celebrated annually since 2021 on October 19 — the birthday of Bohdan Hawrylyshyn.

In 2026, the 100th anniversary of his birth was commemorated. To mark the centenary, educational, awareness-raising, and youth events are being held across Ukraine to introduce a new generation to his life, ideas of responsible leadership, and belief in young people’s ability to influence the country’s development.

We invite students of the USUCT SEI to participate in the competition, formulate their own positions, and reflect on a question that concerns everyone: what responsibility are we ready to assume for Ukraine’s future?