The course, a product of extensive collaboration among experts and criminal justice practitioners united by JustGroup, is designed to enhance students' understanding of effective interviewing standards and techniques. It also explores the factors influencing the reliability of information in investigative interviews, emphasising why such approaches are a priority in law enforcement training across progressive nations.
Practical Experience Through Expert Interaction
A key feature of the program is its practical orientation, offering students the opportunity to engage directly with practitioners—members of a national expert and training team in investigative interviewing. These seasoned professionals are set to share invaluable insights and outcomes derived from their use of the methodology.
The course's inaugural session was graced by prominent figures, including Yurii Bielousov, Head of the War Department of the Prosecutor General's Office; Volodymyr Vasylchuk, Senior Detective of the NABU; Viktoriia Rohalska, Professor of the Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs; and Vasylyna Yavorska, CEO of JustGroup. Yavorska shared her thoughts on this vital educational development:
A fresh perspective is key to transforming the system, and among today’s students are those who will bring new energy to the future. Change takes time and perseverance — just as it took seven years to bring investigative interviewing into universities, progress requires steady commitment. By showcasing the best role models in the legal community, we aim to inspire young lawyers to stay, grow, and strengthen institutions. In uncertain times, the opportunity to make a difference is not in the distant future — it’s something you can do right now.
Q&A Session with Dr. Asbjørn Rachlew
In preparation for electives starting at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and UCU Law School in February 2025, students participated in a unique Q&A session with Dr. Asbjørn Rachlew, a renowned Norwegian expert in investigative interviewing. Rachlew, shared his expertise with students eager to learn. He emphasised the significance of emotional neutrality and honesty, which underpin effective interviewing even in complex investigations. By discussing key aspects such as the applicability of investigative interviews for all types of interviewees and investigations, the session underscored the importance of imparting humanistic values in future legal professionals. The course opens seven years after investigative interviewing was first introduced by Dr. Asbjørn Rachlew in Kyiv.
"It's about horizons for advancement and change and the willingness to just go with different intensity, but in the direction of the goal,” described Vasylyna Yavorska, CEO of JustGroup, highlighting the dedication required to achieve this educational milestone.
Global Support and Collaboration
The development of the course was made possible through the support of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights through the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, the Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine project funded by the Government of Japan, and implemented by UNDP Ukraine. This collaboration underscores a global commitment to equipping Ukraine's future legal professionals with the tools necessary for effective and ethical law enforcement practices.
As this innovative course begins, it signifies a robust step toward enhancing Ukraine's legal education landscape, offering hope and opportunity for young lawyers to drive institutional transformation and make immediate impacts within their communities. This is a significant stride in legal academia, promising to cultivate a new generation of legal professionals with essential investigative skills.