Two Years of CDTO Campus: Results and Plans for 2026. An Interview with the Project’s Top Management
How one project trains both community digitalization managers and state-level digital leaders
CDTO Campus is an educational initiative that prepares digital leaders to drive the digital transformation of Ukraine’s public governance. In 2026, the project enters a new phase with updated leadership, renewed programmes, and the expansion of its Cybersecurity Faculty – CISO Campus.
Mind spoke with Ruslana Korenchuk, CEO of Diia.Education, CDTO Campus, and Manager of joint projects of the East Europe Foundation and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine; Inna Roman, Chief Operating Officer; and Galyna Pustova, ex-CEO, about the real demand for CDTOs in Ukraine, the skills and competencies of graduates, and the key launches planned for 2026.
CDTO – Chief Digital Transformation Officer. A senior executive responsible for implementing digital technologies and modernising processes in public institutions. Typically holds the position of Deputy Head for Digitalisation, defines digital strategy, leads teams, and launches digital services.
The Launch of the Project and Two Years of Active Work
CDTO Campus was founded in late November 2023 at the initiative of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov (currently Minister of Defence of Ukraine), and Valeriia Ionan, Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine on Innovations, Digitalisation and Global Partnerships, with the support of the East Europe Foundation.
Mykhailo Fedorov during the first anniversary of CDTO Campus
The creation of CDTO Campus responded to a systemic need for a new generation of digital leaders capable of initiating and implementing digital projects in ministries, other central executive bodies, regional state administrations, and local communities.
CDTO Campus is implemented by East Europe Foundation under the patronage of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. The initiative is supported by Visa Foundation, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and Switzerland within the framework of EGAP Program implemented by East Europe Foundation. The technology partner is Cisco.
The international market offers either digitalisation programmes for business or traditional training for civil servants. However, none of the existing international programmes prepare professionals for the role of a state-level digital leader – a minister or senior official responsible for digital transformation.
For Ukraine, it was also critical that educational programmes reflect both the national context and the challenges caused by the war. This led to the creation of CDTO Campus – a project focused on Ukraine’s digital transformation while actively incorporating international expertise.
This educational model has already demonstrated results: more than 1,600 graduates are now working locally and delivering digital projects. Moreover, the CDTO Campus model has attracted interest from international partners as a format that can be scaled and implemented in other countries.
Educational Model and Early Results
The first CDTO Campus programme, “Digital Transformation in Public Administration”, launched in early 2024. The initial cohort of 35 students studied for nine months; subsequent iterations were significantly streamlined and optimised. Despite the absence of formal academic credits, the Ukrainian GovTech community showed strong interest from the very first intake.
Training within the programme “Digital Transformation in Public Administration for Local Authorities” Lecturer – Maksym Stoliarchuk, CDTO of the Kyiv Regional State Administration
A significant share of the first cohort’s graduates were already serving CDTOs. Many later joined the teaching team and the Advisory Board, forming the foundation of an active professional community around the project – a community that has since grown substantially.
“The main task of a CDTO is to build and motivate a team, make processes work, sometimes find funding, engage partners, and ensure visibility. It’s a far more complex role than that of a technical lead”, explains ex-CEO Galyna Pustova.
The time and effort invested by the first participants confirmed that the project’s idea was both relevant and in demand. Today, CDTO Campus has more than 100 lecturers – practitioners who digitise registries, are responsible for national cybersecurity, build teams, and communicate as effectively as the Ministry of Digital Transformation itself.
CDTO Campus is currently preparing to launch the fourth cohort of the “Digital Transformation in Public Administration” programme. Registration is open on the project’s official website.
Over two years, CDTO Campus has scaled into a platform with around 40 educational programmes. Some are custom-designed by the academic team, while others are partner programmes developed jointly with Google, Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, Monarch, Mandiant, and others.
“When you understand who you are talking to and what challenges they face, adapting educational content becomes much easier,” adds Galyna Pustova.
At the end of 2024, the programmes were structured into four faculties: GovTech, AI, Cybersecurity, and the Diia Faculty. Three faculties prepare specialists for the public sector, while the Diia Faculty focuses on upskilling teams working within the Ministry of Digital Transformation ecosystem.
From the outset, CDTO Campus focused not only on learning but also on the practical application of knowledge.
“We train professionals to be competitive, because Ukraine’s goal is to be among the world’s digitalisation leaders,” Galyna Pustova emphasises.
In 2025, the third cohort of the “Digital Transformation in Public Administration” programme completed capstone projects. Students worked in teams on real assignments from central executive bodies and presented their solutions during Demo Day. Projects were developed for the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development. These projects became the basis for reforms and new tools within ministries.
How Many Specialists Have Been Trained
At launch, CDTO Campus aimed to prepare 1,500 graduates to meet Ukraine’s need for digital leaders. Over time, it became clear that this number must be significantly higher: Ukraine has over 1,200 communities, each requiring a digital leader. Ministries, other central executive bodies, and regional administrations also need CDTOs and their teams.
A talent reserve is equally important – specialists ready to step into roles or join digital teams. Graduate outcomes show that civil servants must regularly update their skills to keep pace with developments in AI, GovTech, and management.
Students during the programme
It is important to distinguish between CDTOs and digital leaders in local communities. Their responsibilities and needs differ, which is why CDTO Campus developed a dedicated programme – “Digital Transformation in Public Administration for Local Authorities.” The programme is tailored to local needs, including those of frontline and temporarily occupied territories.
The Tallinn Mechanism and CISO Campus
Cybersecurity has become a distinct priority within the faculty model, particularly through the Tallinn Mechanism and the launch of CISO Campus.
The Tallinn Mechanism (TM) is an international initiative aimed at supporting Ukraine’s cybersecurity, strengthening cyber defence and resilience, and developing civilian cyber capacity through coordinated international assistance.
Thirteen countries participate in the initiative: United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, the United States, France, Sweden, and Finland.
Catalin Petrascu – lecturer of Expertise France programmes within the Tallinn Mechanism
In cooperation with partners, CDTO Campus implements educational programmes within the Tallinn Mechanism as part of continued international collaboration to strengthen cybersecurity capacity in public institutions, particularly with Expertise France and Monarch. These programmes focus on cyber defence, OSINT, and attack prevention in government bodies.
CISO Campus represents a logical expansion of the Cybersecurity Faculty, explains CEO Ruslana Korenchuk. It was launched at the initiative of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. A dedicated operational team has already been formed and is developing the first programmes for training Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs).
Ruslana Korenchuk – CEO of Diia.Education, CDTO Campus, and Manager of joint projects of the East Europe Foundation and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Ruslana Korenchuk notes that the number of CISOs should be at least equal to the number of CDTOs. In 2025, Ukraine introduced the CISO position in all government institutions, and the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the resolution “Procedure for Appointing a Chief Information Security Officer in a Government Body.” The document clearly defines the CISO’s powers and ensures their independence, explicitly prohibiting the combination of the CISO and CDTO roles.
“The CDTO Campus model has demonstrated how systemic education, strong methodology, and a professional community can accelerate the integration of CDTOs into public administration,” summarises Ruslana Korenchuk. “That is why we chose this experience as the foundation for CISO Campus.”
CISOs combine project implementation with risk assessment, threat monitoring, and prevention. They are responsible for the security of an institution’s entire digital ecosystem, train their teams, and coordinate with other government bodies, CERT-UA, businesses, and partners.
Development Plans, Management Challenges, and New Directions
After two years of rapid growth, CDTO Campus is focusing not only on scaling but also on quality stability, management processes, and long-term development.
“Creating a new product is easier than maintaining quality standards and communicating it effectively to users,” says Ruslana Korenchuk.
CDTO Campus remains focused on the public sector. Training for civil servants is free of charge thanks to international partners investing in public-sector human capital.
Valeriya Ionan during the second anniversary of the CDTO Campus
The partner network now includes over 20 organisations and continues to grow. Partners support various directions – from frontline communities to programmes for central executive bodies.
CDTO Campus also plans to expand the number of faculties and scale its activities to reach more civil servants seeking competencies in AI, GovTech, leadership, and team building.
CDTO Competencies and Technologies Driving Demand
During training, participants strengthen leadership skills, communication, fundraising abilities, and responsibility for projects, explains Ruslana Korenchuk. They also gain knowledge of legislation, regulatory frameworks, innovation, available technologies, and best practices in Ukraine and globally.
Requirements differ by level – community, regional, or central government – and CDTO Campus offers tailored programmes accordingly.
Inna Roman – СОО CDTO Campus
Chief Operating Officer Inna Roman notes that many participants come seeking expertise in AI agents. At the start of programmes, lecturers assess institutional readiness for AI, analysing team capacity, skills, processes, budgets, and organisational maturity.
“First, you need to explain AI technology to the team – only then you can implement AI agents,” emphasises Inna Roman.
In communities, digitalisation often begins with basic citizen services – electronic queues for kindergartens, schools, and healthcare – followed by e-democracy tools such as petitions and transparent decision-making.
Lecture in the “Digital Transformation in Public Administration” programme – third cohort
A promising new direction is HR in the public sector. The team is developing solutions for HR professionals in ministries and agencies, responding to growing demand for CDTO-level specialists.
International Activities of CDTO Campus
Ukraine has made a significant leap in digital services, ranking 5th in the UN Online Service Index in 2024, up from 102nd place in 2018. In 2025, Ukraine also climbed 14 positions in the Government AI Readiness Index, ranking 40th out of 195 countries.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation, together with Kyivstar, is developing a national large language model (LLM), with a beta version planned for launch in 2026.
Open AMA session with two former CIOs of the Estonian government, Luukas Ilves and Siim Sikkut
“Interest in Ukraine’s digital transformation is high. The Ministry doesn’t just implement – it creates. That’s why interest in the CDTO Campus model remains strong,” says Ruslana Korenchuk.
Five case studies on Ukraine’s digitalisation experience, including the CDTO Campus model and methodology, have been published on the Apolitical platform. The team is also developing new programmes with other governments – some for international audiences, but based on Ukrainian expertise.
More details will be announced soon.
Photos provided by the CDTO Campus team.
