On March 14, 2025, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Law and Procedure, Maryna Utkina, took part in the international academic seminar Oxford Ukraine Hub entitled “State Consolidation: Challenges and Opportunities for Ukraine’s Post-War Reconstruction,” held at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford (United Kingdom).
The event brought together leading scholars, political analysts, public administration experts, and representatives of international organizations engaged in peacebuilding, state reconstruction, and institutional reform in post-conflict societies. Particular attention was devoted to Ukraine as a contemporary European state undergoing profound transformation amid armed conflict, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated efforts in reform, anti-corruption policy, and the strengthening of the rule of law.
Within the framework of Panel I: “Challenges to State Consolidation,” Maryna Utkina presented the findings of her research entitled “Corruption and Reconstruction: Overcoming Systemic Barriers to Ukraine’s Transformation.” Her presentation outlined the key threats posed by corruption to post-war recovery efforts and proposed practical mechanisms for mitigating these risks through the digitalization of administrative processes, the application of artificial intelligence in financial monitoring, and the active involvement of civil society in overseeing the allocation of resources.
Participation in the seminar provided an excellent opportunity to establish new academic connections, exchange experience with international colleagues, and enhance the academic presence of Sumy State University within the English-speaking expert community.
