A training session for employees of the communications departments within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine was held at OSUIA

Odesa State University of Internal Affairs hosted a short-term professional development course for staff members of the communications departments within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Over the course of three days, participants learned about modern approaches to crisis communications, media relations, information security, and working with digital content.

The training brought together practitioners from the Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, representatives of the academic community, and experts in the field of media communications. The speakers at the event were:

- Anton Strashko – First Deputy Director of the Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine;

- Inna Zhylenko – Deputy Head of the Information Policy Division of the Strategic Communications and Digital Media Directorate within the Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

- Serhii Borushenko – Chief Specialist of the Organizational and Analytical Work Division of the Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

- Tetiana Kuznietsova – Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at the Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University;

- Viktor Makovii – Head of the Department of Civil Law Disciplines at Odesa State University of Internal Affairs;

- Antonina Ivashchuk – Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy at Odesa State University of Internal Affairs;

- Olena Hrezina – Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Analysis and Information Technologies at Odesa State University of Internal Affairs;

- Viktoriia Sirko – Associate Professor in the Department of Administrative and Legal Disciplines at Odesa State University of Internal Affairs.

The training program was designed to combine theoretical instruction with practical case studies, which allowed participants not only to gain new knowledge but also to practice their response skills in the face of information-related challenges.

On the first day, the participants learned about trends in the development of the national media system and the specifics of interacting with media resources within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Special attention was given to international media relations as a tool for shaping a positive image of a government agency among foreign audiences. The practical session focused on planning and conducting information campaigns, as well as creating modern digital content using AI tools.

The second day of the training focused on crisis communications—one of the key areas of work for modern communications departments. Participants analyzed mechanisms for managing audiences in crisis situations and studied the specifics of responding to information attacks and hate speech in the media landscape.

The final day of the training was devoted to issues of reputation management, managing reputation risks, and effective communication on social media. During the hands-on session, participants explored modern content promotion algorithms, principles of audience engagement, and tools for increasing reach in the digital environment.

At the conclusion of the training, participants took a final assessment and had the opportunity to consolidate the knowledge and practical experience they had gained. The training served as an important platform for the professional development of communications department staff, facilitated the exchange of experiences, and enhanced their readiness to work effectively in today’s information environment.