The Rector of KSU took part in an international conference as part of Democracy Week
As part of Democracy Week 2026, taking place in Kristiansand (Norway), the Kherson State University team participated in the Cities 4 Democracy conference.
The event brings together mayors, European institutions, and civil society leaders, exploring how local self-government bodies can strengthen democratic resilience through participation, innovation, and strong partnerships with the public sector.
KSU Rector Oleksandr Spivakovskyi was present at the conference.
“The context of the discussion is interesting, as I have experience working as a people's deputy and am currently a deputy of the Kherson Regional Council. Our native Kherson region is facing very difficult times, but it is precisely the civil society and volunteers who often take on the roles needed by communities where, unfortunately, due to the war, local self-government is not functioning. We spoke about democratic values, about the challenges democracy faces, and about the role of local self-government itself, which is always on the front line, alongside the people. Every community, and even more so every country, has its own experience, which makes such discussions valuable. It was a pleasure to see Mayor Mathias Bernander and Oleksandr Senkevych, the Mayor of Mykolaiv, and to listen to other speakers”, – commented KSU Rector Oleksandr Spivakovskyi.
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