More than 250 participants from Ukraine, 19 countries of the EU and partner countries took part in the International Information Day of Erasmus+ for Universities on October 21, 2016. The meeting was held in the Assembly Hall of Lviv University.
The event was organized by the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine (EU project) together with Lviv University in close cooperation with the EU Delegation to Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Executive Agency of the EU for Education, Audiovisual Means and Culture.
During the opening of the International Information Day Erasmus+ for Universities the director of the EU project “National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine” Svitlana Shytikova pointed out that today for the Ukrainian universities it is more important than ever to participate in programs of the European Union, because it increases country’s credibility in the international arena.
“We seek for peace and want to live in a society that works for the good of the country, including making Ukrainian education competitive and of high quality. Today’s event is an example of a successful movement towards the modernization of higher education, and its members are already leaders because they have a unique opportunity to restore or establish cooperation with European universities and Erasmus+ partner countries”, said Svitlana Shytikova.
Members of the International Information Day were greeted by the Rector of Lviv University, Professor Volodymyr Melnyk. He extended special gratitude on the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine mentioning the development of international cooperation in higher education.
The Rector also stressed that Lviv University has considerable experience in EU projects. “For over 20 years now the University works closely with the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine. Erasmus+ program was launched in 2014, which was almost the continuation of the Tempus, Erasmus Mundus and the Erasmus projects. Our University at once started to participate in the Contests in KA2 direction “Development of Potential of Higher Education” (former Tempus) and KA1: International / Individual Credit Mobility and Jean Monnet Projects”, said Volodymyr Melnyk.
“For example, in 2014 the staff of the Faculty of International Relations participated in two Jean Monnet Projects (Roman Kalytchak, Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations and Diplomatic Service Module “Subnational Dimension of the EU” and Associate Professor of the Department of European Law Oksana Golovko-Havrysheva: Module “Summer Course on European Law and Policy”); in 2015 the University won a project Erasmus + KA2: “Development of Potential of Higher Education”: “System to Ensure Quality of Education in Ukraine: Development Based on European Standards and Recommendations” (Project Coordinator: Wroclaw University, Poland, University coordinator: Vitaly Kukharskyi, Vice-Rector of the University)”, said Rector.
He also noted that in February 2016 during this year’s competition Lviv University joined 22 project proposals submitted by consortia partner universities, the University was also a coordinator of one of the projects.
It is worth mentioning that according to the results of the competition announced in August 2016, the Faculty of Pedagogical Education became a member of the project Erasmus+ KA2 “Improving Teacher Education for Applied Training in Vocational Education” [ITE-VET] – Coordinator: Universitat Konstanz [UKON], Konstanz, Germany (project Coordinator – University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany, University coordinator: Dmytro Hertsyuk , Dean of the Faculty). In 2016 a lecturer of the Faculty of Management and Business Finance Vasyl Zelenko won another Jean Monnet project: Module “Economics in European Integration: Internal Challenges and External Dimension”.
“Since 2015, work continues on the preparation of applications for projects Erasmus + KA1 – individual credit mobility. University won the competition along with more than 30 universities from 17 European Union countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, Hungary, Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic). Within these agreements more than 50 applicants of the University received grants to study at partner universities in the second semester of 2015/2016 academic year, including 29 bachelors, 16 masters and 7 graduate students. 22 teachers and staff of the University took part in mobility (1-2 weeks). They gave lectures and trained at partner universities. Already in the first semester of 2016/2017 academic year about 50 students went to study abroad and 7 teachers and university employees plan their projects for mobility Erasmus + KA1”, informed Volodymyr Melnyk.
“Students, researchers and university staff participate in projects that aim to intensify European integration discourse, promote the excellence of European integration studies, involve higher education institutions to study the European integration process and the dissemination of ideas of United Europe”, said the Rector, noting that academic community of the University intends to actively work on the implementation of not only individual partnership programs, but also institutional projects that will enable to intensify research in priority areas.
Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Hanna Novosad believes that universities’ participation in international projects is “important to reform higher education in Ukraine”.
“It should be mentioned that Ukrainian institutions are always actively involved in European projects. However, we should focus on specific issues and prioritize national interest”, said project manager for the development of the potential of Higher Education of the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual Means and Culture activities (EASEA, Brussels, Belgium) Piyya Haynamaki.
During the information session, representatives of the National Erasmus+ Office consulted on important areas of cooperation within EU programs. Participants were also presented the structure of the Erasmus+, aimed at supporting projects, partnerships, events and mobility in education, training, youth and sport; told about the rules for participation of Ukrainian universities in competitions program in “Development of the Potential of Higher Education” (former Tempus); provided advice on preparing proposals.
It should also be noted that this year the International Information Day is attended by representatives of the national team of experts on Higher Education Reform, National Erasmus+ Office and universities from countries participating in the program Erasmus+ from four regions and five countries of the European Union, the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, Mediterranean, Central Asia; Professors from Austria, Germany, Poland, France and Sweden.