The Faculty of Finance and Accounting at the Western Ukrainian National University hosted the Second International Financial Forum, organized by the Department of Financial Technologies and Banking in collaboration with the Ukrainian-American Association of Higher Education Professionals, a non-governmental organization.
The event brought together Ukrainian and international experts, business leaders, financial intermediaries, and representatives of the academic community who are interested in issues related to the digital transformation of the financial market and the implementation of modern financial technologies in the banking and insurance sectors.
University Rector Oksana Desyatnyuk welcomed the forum participants, emphasizing the importance of such scientific and practical meetings: “Western Ukrainian National University warmly welcomes the participants of the Second International Financial Forum, which brings together leading experts, scholars, practitioners, businesspeople, and those committed to advancing the banking and insurance sectors. It is very gratifying that our students—our youth, our future—are also participating in the forum. We are training a new generation of specialists—leaders of the digital age who know how to think strategically, act ethically, and implement bold solutions in the real financial environment. And I am convinced that it is precisely these people who will build a competitive, technologically advanced, and transparent Ukraine. The Western Ukrainian National University has always been at the forefront of innovative processes. Hosting the forum at ZUNU is symbolic, as over its 60-year history, the university has produced outstanding financial schools and professionals who bring honor to our alma mater not only in Ukraine but also far beyond its borders.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the forum’s partners, our international colleagues, experts, and scholars who will share their experience and vision for the development of the fintech industry. Thanks to you, this event is becoming not just a discussion platform, but a true intellectual hub for developing strategies for the future.”
Andriy Krysovaty, Chair of the University’s Academic Council and Head of the S. I. Yuriy Department of Finance, drew attention to the deeper aspects of financial processes in this new era of technology, noting: “I sincerely welcome the forum participants—scholars, practitioners, financial sector experts, business representatives, and members of the academic community on the opening of the Second International Financial Forum, dedicated to an extremely important topic—the digital transformation of the financial market and the development of the fintech industry.
This new era is changing our way of thinking. We stand on the threshold of a transformation in finance—moving from linear models to a nonlinear, multifactorial architecture of finance. The latest financial technologies form the foundation of this transition. The focus is on fintech and artificial intelligence, as well as players in the banking and insurance sectors. We are shaping a new paradigm based not only on synergy but also on collective understanding and cutting-edge technological processes. Our task is to develop scientific platforms that will protect us from potential challenges so that they do not become threats. After all, today the foundation of finance is not only economic efficiency but also the security of businesses, insurance organizations, and people.”
Forum participants also highlighted the pressing challenges of the digital age, which require the development of new models of financial security. These include the risks of cyber threats, potential attacks by an aggressor state, building digital trust, managing cyber risks, ensuring financial inclusion, and establishing an effective regulatory environment. That is why such forums serve not only as platforms for exchanging experiences but also as powerful catalysts for interdisciplinary research that brings together economics, finance, IT, law, and management. The international nature of the forum is of particular importance. The participation of foreign experts and partners contributes to Ukraine’s integration into the global scientific and economic landscape, as well as to the development of new knowledge and competencies that will determine our country’s competitiveness in the global financial market. Key areas of discussion at the Second International Financial Forum include the following topics: the security paradigm for the development of the financial business environment in the digital age; the digital transformation of the banking market: new parameters amid global uncertainty; and turbulence in the insurance market in the era of digitalization.
“We live in a time when digital technologies are transforming the nature of financial services, opening up unprecedented opportunities for growth in the banking and insurance sectors. Artificial intelligence, blockchain, open platforms, and big data—all of these are becoming not only tools for efficiency but also catalysts for trust between people, businesses, and the government. At the same time, digital transformation is not just a technical upgrade, but first and foremost a shift in mindset, values, and management models. “That is precisely why the synergy between science, education, business, and government—which our forum fosters—is extremely important,” emphasized Pavlo Zhurba, Deputy Head of the Ternopil Regional State Administration.
Such events once again confirm that Ternopil Classical University is a powerful platform for scientific initiatives and international dialogue, where new ideas, technological solutions, and strategies for developing the financial system of the future are born.
