Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University continues to implement the EU project “Reinventing displaced universities: enhancing competitiveness, serving communities” (REDU). An important event that summarizes certain results of the project this year was the First International Scientific and Practical Conference “Personality, University, Society: Challenges of Interaction and Development”, which took place online.
The conference was actively attended by representatives of the project partners (Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University, Mariupol State University, British Council), the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, government and business, international experts. The conference sessions discussed a number of important issues regarding the transformation of higher education in Ukraine, the impact of the war and the challenges of post-war recovery, the transformation of displaced universities.
Svitlana Kalashnikova, Head of the EU Project “Reinventing displaced universities: enhancing competitiveness, serving communities” (REDU), Advisor to the Directorate of the Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, National Expert on Higher Education Reform of the EU Erasmus+ Programme, welcomed the participants in her opening speech and informed about the purpose of the conference.
The conference participants heard information on the policy of the relevant ministry regarding displaced universities, their resources and capacity for recovery and development, overcoming the exhaustion of staff after the war.
Oleh Sharov, Director General of the Directorate of Higher Education and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, National Expert on Higher Education Reform of the EU Erasmus+ Program, in his speech stressed that the displaced universities are resuming their activities today thanks to incredible efforts. 70% of the success of the evacuation and restoration this year belongs to the activity and initiative of university staff, thanks to which the three displaced universities this year recruited more students for the first year than last year, which is pleasantly impressive.
Experts who have already worked with representatives of two displaced universities exchanged and shared interesting views.
Dr. Charles Knight, Senior Consultant, AdvanceHE (United Kingdom), reported on his experience in creating important interaction between society and universities.
Gerrit Jan Schep, Associate Expert for VNG International (Netherlands), spoke about the role of universities in community development and crisis management for displaced institutions.
Dr. Helen O’Keeffe (United Kingdom), reported on the program for children and youth ” Coping with Melancholy”.
The university community was represented by the following speakers:
- Development of the displaced university: problems and prospects” – Oleksii Tselishchev, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work,
- “Values of the displaced university: personality and sources of development” – Ruslan Halhash, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, Economics and Development,
- “Student life in the displaced university” – Yana Chankotadze, specialist of the department of international projects and programs, head of the NGO “Laboratory of Luhansk region development”,
- “University community: implementation of anti-crisis measures under martial law” – Yana Bilous, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Administration, Management and Marketing, Head of the Charitable Organization “Charitable Foundation “New University”,
- “Partnership of the university and the public to promote common values” – Serhii Kudriavtsev, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Chairman of the NGO “Foundation “Prostir”,
- “Formation of the legal culture of the individual and society: interaction of civil society organizations with legal clinics (on the example of joint project activities)” – Halyna Tatarenko, Head of the Department of Constitutional Law, Head of the NGO “Women’s Initiative Founation”, Head of the Legal Clinic PRO BONO.