 The intent is to position these economists as future leaders in Ukraine’s economic policy circles through post-MA careers in public service, research institute, or private sector positions, or through completing PhDs abroad and returning to Ukraine to teach.Having achieved initial success in its teaching program, the longer-term aim of the EERC is to create a local centre for academic excellence in economics.By enabling graduates with Western training to return to Ukraine to teach and conduct research, EERC hopes to encourage the development of a dynamic economics community in Ukraine.