TNMU Professor Participates in Austrian Leadership Program

Professor Oksana Shevchuk from I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University (TNMU) represented Ukraine at the Austrian Leadership Programs (ALPS), organized by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria. The program took place from April 6 to 12, 2025.

Austria is widely known for its cultural heritage, music, and arts. However, through the ALPS initiative, it also presents itself as a hub for strong business and innovation. During the 19th round of the program, participants met with representatives of leading companies, as well as key political and public figures. Austria is home to top global brands and a key investor in Central and Eastern Europe.

Since 2016, the Austrian Leadership Programs have welcomed participants from around the world for a week-long networking and professional development opportunity. Participants connect with business leaders, policymakers, and innovators, while learning about Austria’s social and economic landscape. The 2025 Spring Leadership School was dedicated to life sciences.

The program was highly intensive and allowed participants to explore two of Austria’s nine federal provinces — Vienna, the capital, and the innovative region of Styria.

This year, 26 participants from 24 non-EU countries were selected based on embassy nominations. The countries represented included: Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, USA, China, Israel, Chile, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Tunisia, South Africa, Jordan, Botswana, Egypt, India, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.

The official opening took place at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and was led by Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Nikolaus Marschik.

Austria’s achievements were showcased by:

Thomas Moschig – Advantage Austria / Austrian Economic Chamber.

Mag. Marion Biber – Head of “INVEST in AUSTRIA” (Austrian Business Agency),

Johannes Sarx – Life Science Austria (LISA),

Anna Reindl – Federation of Austrian Industries,

The group visited the Vienna BioCenter at the Medical University of Vienna — Austria’s leading life sciences cluster — and met with representatives of the City of Vienna.

In Graz, the program began with a visit to the Medical Science City Innovation Hub at the Medical University of Graz.

Despite being established only in 2004, the university secured over 1,200 grants from the European Commission and other donors in 2024 alone. Its unique integration of research centers, university departments, hospitals, biobanks, and knowledge transfer hubs enables innovation from concept to commercialization in life sciences and healthcare.

Participants also met with Willibald Ehrenhöfer, Chancellor for Economic Affairs, Employment, Finance, Science, and Research of the Styrian Provincial Government.

The group visited ZETA – a leading company in biopharma and process solutions engineering – and the family-run company Neuroth, experts in hearing solutions since 1907, notably founded and long managed by women.

They also toured PAYER International Technologies GmbH, global innovators in medical and industrial manufacturing.

Another productive day was spent at Graz University of Technology’s HC2 – Human Centered Computing Labs and Karl-Franzens University of Graz, including a visit to the Unicorn Start-up and Innovation Hub.

All meetings, exchanges, and networking events took place in an exceptionally positive and dynamic atmosphere.

The official certificate ceremony was held in Vienna with the participation of embassy representatives from each participating country. Ukraine was represented by Counselor-Envoy Oleksandr Irkhin from the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Austria.

As part of the program, each participant engaged in bilateral meetings. Professor Shevchuk met with Dr. Michiel Wijnveld, Head of a research group studying tick-borne infections, to discuss collaboration opportunities — an area in which TNMU has held a leading role since 2016.

She also had meetings with:

and Austria’s designated Ambassador to Ukraine.

Mag. Stefania Stregl, Department Point of Contact for Ukraine Reconstruction,

Dr. Robert Müller, Deputy Head of the Department for the Russian Federation, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, Eastern Partnership, Turkey, and Central Asia,

Sincere thanks were extended to the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria (MFA Austria) and to Ulrike Ritzinger and her team for their well-organized program. Special appreciation was also given to the Styrian team — Lejla Pock (Human.technology Styria) and her colleagues Lorenz Neuhäuser-Happe and Pablo Zardoya-Laguardia, as well as Martin Mühlbacher, Social Affairs, Health, and Consumer Protection Adviser at the Austrian Embassy in Ukraine.

Professor Shevchuk expressed gratitude to Rector Mykhailo Korda for his support.