Volunteer experience will give applicants an advantage when applying to university.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed a law to promote the development of volunteering among youth. Applicants will be able to include their volunteer experience in their motivational letters, which will enhance their chances of admission, and such activities can also be credited as student internships. Additionally, volunteering will be popularized among school students. Bill No. 11159 was supported by 298 members of parliament, reports “Osviitoriya”.

The aim of the new law is to align Ukraine’s legislation with European Union regulations regarding the recognition of volunteer activities, to foster a culture of social responsibility in society, particularly among children and youth, and to promote volunteering.

Under the new law, volunteers will have the following privileges:

• the ability to include their experience in the motivational letter for admission to educational institutions;

• such activities will be credited as student internships if they align with their field of study;

• the right to receive an official document confirming participation in volunteer activities;

• educational institution leaders are required to support their initiatives.

At the same time, school directors, in addition to their previous responsibilities, will now be required to facilitate student volunteering activities. An important aspect of education should be instilling social responsibility skills in students and supporting their contributions to sustainable societal development. Student volunteering should take place during their free time. Schools are already conducting volunteering lessons.

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“Volunteering allows youth to develop their skills and gain practical experience, which is beneficial not only for further admission to higher and/or vocational education institutions but also for entering the job market. Employers increasingly value social responsibility and volunteer experience as indicators of a worker's readiness to be active and effective in a team,” states the explanatory note to the bill.

According to a joint survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Centre, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 71% of Ukrainians have engaged in volunteer assistance to the army, displaced persons, and those affected by the war.