When Knowledge Becomes Action: the Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0 Final Through Students’ Eyes

Some events leave you not tired, but grateful and inspired. The Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0 final was one of them. After a two-month online marathon with 139 students from across Ukraine, seven teams reached the offline stage. On 16–18 September 2025 they met in person and worked through tasks set up as a real investigation. For three days the students operated in conditions close to real life: acting as detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), they ran an investigation strictly following procedures — from interviewing a witness to conducting covert investigative actions. Every step required attention to detail, critical thinking, and tight teamwork. For many, it was the first time textbook theory turned into real action — with all the difficulties, doubts, and small wins that come with it.

Finalists recall the stress, the lack of time, the complexity of tasks — and at the same time the excitement of trying themselves as detectives. These feelings capture the value of the Quest best: knowledge truly matters when you can put it into practice.

Participants’ impressions

Sofiia Kotelchuk Tteam “Control.UA”)
“The Anti-Corruption Quest was my first experience of this kind — and it truly grabbed me! The tasks were tough but really interesting: they made us think fast and act in near ‘extreme’ conditions. If you asked whether I’d take part again — without a doubt, yes!”

Artur Zhuravel (Team “Those Who Do NOT Go Quietly into the Woods”)
“From the online stage I knew my summer would be not just interesting but useful. The most engaging part was solving the quests — you really dive into the story and your choices shape what happens next… What I remember most from the offline stage was the slightly crazy Day 2, when basically every minute was scheduled for a task. It taught us to work under time pressure and brought a huge rush after submitting the final task. I also loved the evening get-togethers with the organizers and judges — you could ask any question and get a thorough answer. Thanks to the Quest our team learned about covert investigative actions, how to draft procedural documents, and in general discovered pre-trial investigation as an institution of criminal procedure. I’m sure these skills will help us in future studies and other legal competitions!”

Olha Synchyshyn (Team “Dnipro Anti-Scheme Squad”)
“Of all my impressions, the first task stands out most — that’s when I realized the pace we’d be working at in the coming days and that this was definitely not a standard competition (and yes, that’s also when our team found deer on the hotel grounds — something everyone will probably remember ). The next few days we rode an emotional roller coaster: from ‘it’s fine, we’re overthinking’ to ‘oh no, this is embarrassing, we know nothing…’. Talking with other participants showed we weren’t alone. The main takeaway: it’s not shameful not to know — it’s shameful not to learn.”

Kyrylo Zaitsev (Team “Those Who Do NOT Go Quietly into the Woods”)
“What I remember most about the offline stage was the second day — incredibly intense and exhausting. Tasks kept changing, time was desperately short, and that stressed the team. The evening conversations with organizers and experts were helpful, though sometimes answers felt general and not always about our specific questions. Overall, after Day 2 it was hard to focus on all the information. Still, some advice helped us understand how anti-corruption mechanisms work in practice. Thanks to the Quest our team gained not only theoretical knowledge of anti-corruption, but also practical skills: document analysis, decision-making in difficult situations, and working under time pressure. Despite some difficulties and overload, the experience was useful for developing practical competencies and helped us better grasp the realities of anti-corruption work. I liked the Quest as such — though I admit there were moments when I wanted to end it all and ‘quietly go into the woods’))”

Tetiana Khailo, Mariia Yarmolenko, Alina Vitsko, Oleksandra Tsesar (Team “(Non)-Corruptionists”)
“The Anti-Corruption Quest was both a real challenge and an adventure. There was the thrill, the team spirit, even a bit of adrenaline as we tried to find solutions quickly and finish on time. The atmosphere stood out — genuine, energetic, with humor, yet dealing with a very serious topic. We didn’t just run from task to task; we actually thought about how corruption affects our lives and what each of us can do to counter it. Involving practitioners was especially valuable. We felt the organizers wanted us to leave with real knowledge and experience, not just ‘tick a box’. That added depth and made everything far more meaningful. We discovered how game-based formats can help grasp serious things. And how important it is to reach decisions fast as a team, listen to each other, and support one another. It feels like we didn’t just play — we gained new experience and a charge of motivation.”

Anna Zubar (team “Kontrol.UA”)
“Simulating detectives’ work — from receiving a criminal complaint to choosing a preventive measure — is a unique experience. It let me feel like a real participant in the process and better understand how law-enforcement and the courts operate. It was engaging, dynamic, and as close to reality as possible. This format motivates you to keep growing professionally and to understand why every action matters.”

Vasyl Vasylenko (team “Anti-Corruption Corruption Committee”)
“For a law student (and not only for law students), gaining practical skills is always crucial. First, it helps you decide which field you want to work in. Second, your career growth depends on having those skills. Unfortunately, for various reasons, Ukrainian universities don’t always fully meet students’ need for real-world experience. Fortunately, there are opportunities like the Anti-Corruption Quest, which let us touch the everyday work of a lawyer. Drafting procedural documents under tight deadlines; modeling interviews, searches, and court hearings — I’m sure the sense of drive from all of this won’t leave the participants for a long time. I’m also grateful for the chance to talk with investigators, prosecutors, and judges — they completed the picture of the legal world for each of us.”

Olha Zadorozhnia (team “Anti-Corruption Corruption Committee”)
“The event was very valuable in practical terms. The tasks made us think through real corruption cases and apply anti-corruption law in practice. The Quest format is probably the best — and of course the toughest (especially for the organizers) — I could imagine. The three days of the in-person final were absolutely dynamic and exciting. The organization was excellent: a well-chosen group of experts who shared their experience, a clear timing for tasks, and moderators’ support — all of this helped participants fully focus on the process without extra obstacles. The atmosphere among participants and experts was friendly and motivating. It was great to exchange views, search for solutions together, and analyze legal aspects. I’m sincerely grateful to the organizers for this opportunity — to be part of a new generation ready to counter corruption!”

Anna Rachok (Team “Control.UA”)
“The Anti-Corruption Quest gave me invaluable experience. I improved my knowledge and met interesting, forward-thinking people who share my views and strive for growth. Over three intense days I felt how things work in practice: we gained skills you simply can’t get from books or lectures alone. That’s why projects like this are a great way for students to learn by doing. And if I had the chance to walk this path again — I’d gladly do it.”

Ilona Lukianenko (Team “Dnipro Anti-Scheme Squad”)
“I want to thank the organizers first — without their ideas and financial support, an event like this wouldn’t be possible. Special thanks to the judges and experts: I personally received well-grounded feedback on my area of responsibility in our team’s work. Despite their high professional level, we had the chance to talk with sincere, very smart people. What sticks best in memory is what was clearly explained as constructive remarks. Thank you to everyone involved for your time and for motivating us to keep growing!”

Anti-Corruption Quest 2.0 — 2025 is organized by the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine  in partnership with Bot&Partners, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and financial assistance from the Government of Sweden.