{"id":57393,"date":"2025-04-17T15:18:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T12:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/?p=57393"},"modified":"2025-06-10T16:33:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T13:33:05","slug":"artificial-intelligence-as-a-driver-of-change-key-takeaways-from-it-future-fest-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/artificial-intelligence-as-a-driver-of-change-key-takeaways-from-it-future-fest-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Artificial Intelligence as a Driver of Change: Key Takeaways from IT Future Fest 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>On April 11, Lviv became a center for young people aspiring to build a career in tech. The city hosted <strong>IT Future Fest 2025 <\/strong>\u2013 the largest educational event of the year, bringing together <strong>40 company members<\/strong>, <strong>nearly 7,000 participants,<\/strong> with <strong>over 3,000<\/strong> attending in person. High schoolers, university students, educators, and tech professionals came together to connect with leading companies and explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the tech landscape, labor market, and career development strategies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>&#8220;I am glad that you are here today. Your presence is a confirmation that we are doing the right things. Such events contribute not only to the development of education, but also to the shaping of the future of the industry&#8221;, \u2014 said CEO of Lviv IT Cluster <strong>Stepan Veselovskyi<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57386\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>From Idea to Prototype: How AI Is Shaping a New Reality<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the central themes of the festival was artificial intelligence. <strong>Oleg Ponomaryov<\/strong>, CTO at It-Jim, spoke on the main stage, emphasizing that AI is already transforming the modern technological landscape. ChatGPT has <strong>400 million<\/strong> weekly active users, and in 2024 alone,<strong> $56 billion<\/strong> was invested in generative AI. According to McKinsey,<strong> 76% <\/strong>of respondents already use AI for at least one business task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cAI is a highly complex and constantly evolving field. That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial for young people to pursue studies in mathematics, AI, and neural networks \u2013 fresh minds with innovative approaches are essential for progress in this domain. Events like this are important for our company because they allow us to meet, talk, and connect \u2013 and potentially find future teammates,\u201d he shared.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Education Aligned with the Times<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the panel discussion \u201cStarting a Career in Tech,\u201d Head of L&amp;D office at Eleks, <strong>Oleksandra Mokiy<\/strong>, stressed the importance of developing soft skills:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen studying technical disciplines, you often focus on hard skills. But if you can\u2019t present your solution to a client or your team, your work loses value. That\u2019s why many companies are more and more focusing on soft skills when hiring.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><br>She also highlighted the need to make fast decisions and think ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maria Mashkovska<\/strong>, a student in the Internet of Things program at Lviv Polytechnic National University and CEO &amp; Co-founder of the startup GrainMole, shared her experience, noting that the university offered many opportunities for growth, including access to different contests. However, she emphasized the need for technical education to continue evolving to meet modern challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Internship That Prepares for Real Work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the career zone, attendees explored booths of over 40 tech companies. They connected with company representatives, learned about current job market trends and junior-level role hiring criteria, and took part in interactive sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cIt was great not only to see but also to talk with company representatives and learn more about what they do and what they expect from potential employees. It really helps to understand where to go next,\u201d said<strong> Kateryna Shynkar,<\/strong> a 9th-grade student from Solonka Lyceum.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWe joined the event to find young talents \u2013 they are always the driving force. They bring fresh energy, new technology, and new ideas into our teams. We\u2019re regularly hiring young specialists. Students from technical universities have a strong background; they easily integrate into the team, progress quickly, and grow. We\u2019ve already seen a positive impact after filling such positions \u2013 teams seem to come to when young people join,\u201d said <strong>Olha Bilyk<\/strong>, HR Director at EveryMatrix Ukraine.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57388\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The event featured interactive workshop zones, emphasizing the practical skills required to kickstart a tech career. Special attention was given to communication, adaptability, and teamwork \u2013 all of which are increasingly critical in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe event didn\u2019t just provide basic info \u2014 it delivered real insights, relevant topics, experienced mentors, and lots of practice,\u201d said <strong>Yurii Novak<\/strong>, a student at Lviv Higher Vocational School \u211629.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Education in Action: From AR to Career Discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representatives of leading Ukrainian universities, including Lviv Polytechnic, presented programs covering machine learning, computer vision, and big data analysis. They also hosted a practical workshop where participants created AR objects and integrated them into real-world settings \u2013 the same technology used in TikTok filters and games like Pokemon GO. Discussions also focused on how educational programs must adapt to the fast-changing tech world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThis year, in partnership with the Lviv IT Cluster, we\u2019re launching a new program \u2014 Virtual Reality Systems. Students will be trained in VR and AR development. We\u2019re confident this field has great potential \u2013 from military applications to education, healthcare, and entertainment,\u201d said <strong>Uliana Marikutsa<\/strong>, Head of the VR Systems Department at Lviv Polytechnic.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to Lviv universities, Kyiv Aviation Institute (KAI) was also represented. Their team showcased student-developed innovations and announced the launch of two new academic programs in partnership with Lviv IT Cluster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cKAI is Ukraine\u2019s first defense tech university. We want to show that this is not something to be feared \u2013 it\u2019s important and useful for strengthening our country\u2019s defense. We also want future students to know that we\u2019re not only about aviation \u2013 we offer training in cybersecurity, IT, robotics, and telecommunications,\u201d said<strong> Alla Pinchuk<\/strong>, an engineer at the Department of Telecommunications and Radio-electronic Systems, KAI.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57390\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways: How Technology Is Shaping the Future of Youth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IT Future Fest 2025 once again highlighted the fast pace of change in the tech world \u2013 and the need to stay prepared. Events like this help young people navigate trends, understand which skills will matter tomorrow, and discover new opportunities for growth today. This awareness is already influencing their choices and shaping a new tech ecosystem in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For companies, participating in events like this is more than just supporting education\u2014it&#8217;s an investment in our country&#8217;s future. It\u2019s a chance to engage directly with talented students and graduates, build a strong employer brand, and demonstrate social responsibility by contributing to youth development and tech education. It&#8217;s also a unique opportunity to show young Ukrainians that promising careers and education can thrive right here, not just abroad. Together, we can build the industry and contribute to rebuilding Ukraine\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Organizer of the event<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/\">Lviv IT Cluster<\/a><br><strong>Silver partners:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/everymatrix.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EveryMatrix<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.it-jim.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">It-Jim<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/raiffeisen.ua\/en\/aem\/biznesu\/rakhunok\/dlia-fop.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Raiffeisen Bank<\/a><br><strong>Media partner:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/mezha.media\/en\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Mezha<\/a><br><strong>Info partner:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/man.gov.ua\/en\" rel=\"noopener\">J.A.S<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/osvita.diia.gov.ua\/en\" rel=\"noopener\">Diva.Education<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/work.ua\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Work.ua<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/zaichenkoteam.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zaichenko.team<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><br><\/em><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 11, Lviv became a center for young people aspiring to build a career in tech. The city hosted IT Future Fest 2025 \u2013 the largest educational event of the year, bringing together 40 company members, nearly 7,000 participants, with over 3,000 attending in person. High schoolers, university students, educators, and tech professionals came [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":57386,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,25],"tags":[1114,1115],"class_list":["post-57393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lviv-it-cluster-news","category-projects-news","tag-education","tag-1115"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57393"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57435,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57393\/revisions\/57435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itcluster.lviv.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}