On March 20, 2026, the first day of the anniversary 20th Ukrainian Student Advertising Festival (USAF) took place in Kyiv. The event was traditionally hosted by the Educational and Scientific Institute of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

The festival began with a viewing of the exhibition of creative works, after which participants gathered in the Great Assembly Hall for the opening ceremony. Welcoming remarks were delivered by representatives of the organizers and partners, including the Chairman of the Union of Advertisers of Ukraine, Yevhen Romat. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of combining education and practice, noting that the festival serves as a platform where students can present their ideas, receive professional feedback, and take their first steps in the profession. According to him, the festival has been shaping a new generation of specialists in marketing communications and branding for many years.

A series of master classes by leading industry experts took place during the first day of the festival. Olena Derevyanko, Co-founder and Partner of PR-Service Agency, Vice President of the Ukrainian PR League, Head of the APKBU Committee on Crisis Communications, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, and author of the book “General Theory of Reputation”, spoke about the role of creativity in ensuring business resilience in times of crisis.

Svitlana Shybetska, Brand PR Manager at IDS Ukraine, shared her experience in using influencer marketing in brand communications.

Dmytro Oltarzhevskyi, Head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at the Educational and Scientific Institute of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, highlighted the importance of strategic interaction with the media.

Yevhenii Myroniuk, Co-founder and Strategy Director of the Brain Tank marketing group, also presented a report on how real advertising insights are formed.

The highlight of the day was the award ceremony, particularly in the partner nomination by IDS Ukraine, which actively supports the development of young creative professionals. Students of the Department of Marketing at Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design demonstrated especially strong and creative results.

First place in the partner nomination by IDS Ukraine was awarded to Svitlana Furkalyuk (group BMRD-23) and Yana Stadnik (group BZMR-23).

The winners received valuable awards that highlight their professional potential and creative achievements: a trophy, winner’s diplomas, the opportunity to complete an internship at IDS Ukraine, and a cash prize. The students demonstrated a high level of training, a modern vision of communications, and the ability to create ideas that meet current market challenges.

In addition, students of the 075 Marketing program also demonstrated a high level of training, reaching the shortlist with several projects. Among them: Anna Melenchuk (group BMR-23) and Anna Rachkovska (group BMR-23) with the project “A Drop of Circulation”, Oleksandra Snigur (group BMRD-24) with “YouTube Promotional Video”, Viktoriya Kostyrya (group BMR-24) with “Circulation – A Second Chance”, Kseniya Samoilenko (group BMR-22) with “Circle of Care”, as well as Andrii Sinchuk (group BMR-23) and Daniil Nevgadovskyi (group BMR-23) with the project “Non-classical Classics”.

The success of the KNUTD marketing students highlights the high level of training of young specialists and their competitiveness in the creative industries.

Overall, the festival once again confirmed its status as a key event for the student advertising community in Ukraine. It brings together education, practice, and industry, creating an environment for the development of creative ideas and professional growth of young people.

We express our sincere gratitude to the organizers of the 20th Ukrainian Student Advertising Festival, represented by Yevhen Romat, for the high level of the event, professional organization, and the creation of a unique platform for the development of young professionals. Special thanks to the festival partner, IDS Ukraine, for supporting the development of the creative industry and talented youth.

03.04.2026