The partnership, facilitated by Sheffield City Council, was established in response to the ongoing challenges facing Ukraine's higher education sector. It has provided students and staff at KhNU with access to international learning opportunities and innovative teaching through a collaborative hospitality management programme.
Dr Dora Chan, Associate Head – Internationalisation, Sheffield Business School, said: “The collaboration with KhNU reflects Sheffield Business School’s commitment in supporting the next generation of business leaders in Ukraine and building long-lasting partnerships in Khmelnytskyi, Sheffield’s twin city.
“By providing international education to talented students at KHNU during these challenging times, we hope to contribute to positive societal change. As the HOTS song created by KhNU says, “we’re building bridges, we’re building dreams, together we are stronger than we’ve ever been.” We are proud to support the staff and students of KhNU.”
From March 2026, a cohort of 24 students and two members of staff from KhNU took part in a remote hotel and hospitality simulation programme delivered by Sheffield Business School academics Dr David Graham and Dr Ian Elsmore. Using the industry-standard Hotel Operations Tactics and Strategy (HOTS) simulation, participants worked in teams to develop and manage competitive virtual hotel businesses, gaining practical experience in hospitality management.
One of the students who took part in the programme said: “On behalf of all students here, I would like to thank the organisers, instructors and everyone involved in the course. During this course, we gained not only valuable knowledge and experience but also a greater confidence in our future career in the hospitality industry.”
The HOTS platform was made available through the generous support of Russell Partnership Technology, who donated a licence to support the initiative.
The project aligns closely with KhNU’s academic strengths in tourism, hospitality, and business management, as well as its recent Erasmus+ work on entrepreneurship in tourism. It also builds on Sheffield Business School’s previous engagement in Ukraine, following a similar programme delivered in 2022–23.
Kateryna Skyba, Vice-rector for International Relations, Khmelnytskyi National University, said: "At Khmelnytskyi National University, we deeply value partnerships that bring people closer and create real opportunities for growth. Through the twinning partnership between Khmelnytskyi and Sheffield, the HOTS project has helped our students develop valuable skills in hospitality and tourism, an important sector for our region. In challenging times, collaborations like this remind us that while borders may separate us physically, education and friendship continue to build bridges".
This initiative highlights the vital role universities and local authorities can play in supporting international partners during times of crisis, while also fostering long-term academic collaboration and cultural exchange.
Oleksandr Symchyshyn, Mayor, and Mykola Vavryshchuk, Deputy Mayor, of Khmelnytskyi, accompanied by Nik Hamilton - International Lead of Sheffield City Council, visited Sheffield Business School on Wednesday 24 June 2026. Dr Sam Giove, Director of Sheffield Business School, and Dr Dora Chan, Associate Head-Internationalisation, received the guests.
During the visit, the attendees had discussions about future collaborations between Sheffield Business School and Khmelnytskyi National University to further develop their students and strengthen their teaching capability.
