The Probation Managers’ School for Probation Centre Managers Kicked Off

On 25 April, on the initiative of EU Project Pravo-Justice, the Probation Managers’ School kicked off for heads of regional offices at the Probation Centre. Managers from the Odesa, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions were the first to participate in the training sessions. By the end of 2025, all heads of regional probation offices are expected to complete the training.

The training sessions will be delivered by Serhii Synohub, the national expert of EU Project Pravo-Justice, and David Knott, the Project international expert. They will share their knowledge and practices in modern leadership, decision-making and human resource management. Other experts in the field of effective human resource management will also be engaged in delivering training sessions within the framework of this School.

According to Serhii Synohub, the Managers’ School aims to equip managers of probation regional offices with practical tools that will help them manage their staff effectively and achieve strategic goals.

“The Manager’s School is not only about knowledge but also about developing management skills, strengthening teams and enhancing the overall effectiveness of probation. We empower managers with practical tools to help them achieve strategic goals, build trust and motivate staff,” said Serhii Synohub.

The training course consists of five modules. The first module, ‘Fundamentals of Human Resource Management,’ focuses on leadership, management styles, effective decision-making, delegating authority, and conceptual and innovative thinking.

“Modern leadership is not just about managing processes, but also about inspiring, delegating, and strategic thinking. We explored the key differences between leaders and managers because only combining both approaches can bring about real change in a team. Furthermore, participants learned to look at problems from a broader perspective. They received recommendations on how to develop conceptual and innovative thinking, which is particularly important in the context of transforming the probation system. Such skills lay the foundation for effective management and sustainable development,” said David Knott.

In turn, Viktoriia Kliuch, Head of the Human Resources Department at the Probation Centre, said that developing management skills is one of the top priorities for reforming the institution in 2025.

“The Manager’s School will become a key tool in the comprehensive professional development for our managers. It is based on best European practices, focuses on probation’s real needs and has already proven to be effective. We are deeply grateful to EU-funded Project Pravo-Justice for ongoing support and partnership,” said Viktoriia Kliuch.

Course attendees eagerly engaged in discussions, doing practical exercises and brainstorming. By the end of the first module, managers received practical toolkits they can use in their daily work to strengthen teams and improve management.