Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko took part in the opening of the first Ukrainian Academy of Leadership, a unique format of educational institution for the country.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that the academy was opened on Thursday in Puscha Vodytsia area in Kyiv. The president said during his speech that 39 graduating students and freshmen from all regions of Ukraine, including Donbas and Crimea became students of the academy.

"I think that this is a symbol of changes in Ukraine," Poroshenko said.

The Ukrainian Academy of Leadership is a new format of education for graduates from high schools, education lasts for 10 months and it is built on the combination of elements of physical, academic and spiritual education and development.

The goal of the academy is to select young people with a high potential to leadership, train them as best as possible, so that training allows them to reach their potential and serve to own country.

The academy started operating in September 2015. Students were selected among 500 young people who enrolled into the academy. The academy has the UAH 2,000 entry fee. The rest of the expenses for students are covered by a grant from the Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF).