Supporting the internationalization of Ukrainian universities: Shaping the Digital Future Together

From September 2020, the two partner universities - Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development and Ukrainian National Forestry University in Lviv - are jointly implementing a project funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The main goals of the project are:

1. Expansion and use of innovative digital solutions, especially for teaching and and university administration.
2. Internationalization of Ukrainian and German higher education institutions, which is achieved through the exchange and transfer of know-how in the use of digital methods in scientific research, education and management.
3. Development of new digital training programs.
4. Creation of regional educational and research networks between German and Ukrainian universities.

The key elements for achieving these goals are the conceptualization and implementation of the interuniversity education training "Creation of interactive videos" for students and teachers of both universities, as well as the verification of the interuniversity elective educational discipline "Green Project Development and Management", which is addressed to graduate students and university employees. In addition, the achievement of the project goals will be realized through the implementation of a joint elective inter-university educational module "Ecosystem / Natural Resource Management in Transforming Countries", which has already been taught at HNEE for more than 15 years. The final element to achieve the goals of the project is the creation of a powerful Think Tank ERUkA "Empowerment and resilience of Ukrainian academia in the field of socio-ecological reconstruction and restoration".

Duration: 01.09.2022 - 31.12.2023

Scheduled activities:

1. Interuniversity education training course "Interactive content"

In this measure, a training course for students and university staff of both universities (HNEE and UNFU) will be developed and implemented. The course will not be integrated in the curriculum but will be offered as an additional technical training on a regular basis (once per semester).

The aim of the course is to increase the level of information and communication competences of students and teachers by deepening their basic theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the use of services and programs for the development of interactive presentations and videos. Potentially, such skills may be needed by students to present their own research results and teachers to use in the educational process in enhancing subject-methodological and didactic approaches.

Target group:

• Teachers of both universities (approximately 10 people)
• Masters and bachelors of both universities (approximately 50 people)

Requirements for participation:

• Availability of time and motivation
• Sufficient English skills

Format:

Dates:

• March - June 2023.

Team:

Ihor Kroshnyy Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Information Technologies, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Oleksandr Storozhuk Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Information Systems and Computer Modeling, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Juliana Pavliuk Associate Professor of the Department of Information Systems and Computer Modeling, Ukrainian National Forestry University
	Oleksiy Sinkevych Assistant of the Department of Information Technologies, Ukrainian National Forestry University

2. Interuniversity elective educational discipline "Green Project Development and Management"

Green Projects at different governance levels and sectors are extremely important for achieving sustainable development goals and accelerating implementation of green innovations. This course makes students familiar with the process of designing green projects and equip them with the most up to date knowledge necessary to its successful implementation. This knowledge will be complemented with the skills, which will allow to create a proposal competitive enough to receive appropriate funding and to be transformed into successful projects. In this course students learn about, how to adapt modern international projects management tools to research projects area with specific focus on environment protection and natural resource management (especially sustainable development of bioeconomy, including forest sector and cluster model of forestry; conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services).

Target group:

• Masters and postgraduate students of both universities (approximately 12 people)
• Scientific and administrative staff of both universities (approximately 12 people)

Requirements for participation:

• Availability of time and motivation
• Application with motivation letter (selection process if necessary)
• Sufficient English skills

Format:

• Online training (4 hours/week)
• Face-to-face meetings in Eberswalde (one working week)
• Joint writing of project applications in mixed international groups

Dates:

• March - June 2023.

Team:

 

Vasyl Lavnyy Vice Rector for Research of UNFU, Professor of the Silviculture department, Ukrainian National Forestry University

Ihor Soloviy Professor, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ecological Economics and Management, Ukrainian National Forestry University

Orest Kiyko Professor, Head of the furniture and wood products technology department, Ukrainian National Forestry University

3. Joint elective inter-university educational module "Ecosystem / Natural Resource Management in Transforming Countries"

In this measure a module that is already well established at HNEE will be further developed to be integrated and offered to Bachelor and Master students at UNFU to allow a deeper and joint implementation in the long-term.

The elective modules “Ecosystem Management in Transformation Countries'' for Bachelor students (International Forest Ecosystem Management) and “Natural Resource Management in Transformation Countries” for Master students (Global Change Management) are offered in the summer term and are jointly implemented at HNEE as a 10-days field trip with a focus on Western Ukraine.

Target group:

• Masters and Bachelors of UNFU (approximately 20 people)
• Masters and Bachelors of HNEE (approximately 30 people)

Requirements for participation:

• Availability of time and motivation
• Sufficient English skills
• Studying in the relevant or related specialties

Format:

• 10-day excursion to Western Ukraine
• Conducting research and creating video materials using a modern quadcopter, action camera and other technical means (on-site)
• Group work and completion of research results (online)

Dates:

• August 2023.

Team:

Pierre L. Ibisch Professor for Nature Conservation of Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

Andriy Holovko Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Marketing, Ukrainian National Forestry University

Angela Dichte Employee of the Center for Economics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

4. Think Tank ERUkA «Empowerment and resilience of Ukrainian academia in the field of socio-ecological reconstruction and restoration»

In this measure we will create an open-ended but goal-oriented exchange on opportunities and challenges for research and academic education in Ukraine related to socio-ecological ecosystem management in the broadest sense (e.g. from forest sector and nature conservation to renewable energy production and ecological economics). Under the conditions of climate change, there is an urgent need for action to make forest management more ecosystem-friendly and to manage the entire range of ecosystem services in the sense of a socio-ecological concept. This includes nature-based solutions for climate protection and adaptation to climate change, as well as forest justice for all people who benefit from forest ecosystem services. Direct or indirect consequences of war that have degraded ecosystems also have a special significance. The further strengthening and transformation of Ukrainian academic education towards more dialogue and citizens’ involvement as well as problem and action oriented learning approaches will be discussed in working groups using a variety of workshop formats.

Target group:

As in this measure the focus will not be on the Ukrainian National Forestry University alone but will look at Ukraine as a whole, we wish to involve persons and institutions from all over Ukraine. A network of universities and further experts (e.g. from relevant ministries) as well as students should be built and further strengthened.

Requirements for participation:

• Availability of time and motivation
• Complete the appropriate registration using the link
• Sufficient English skills

Format:

• Meetings and workshops will be organized online on a regular basis, but with occasional intensive in-person workshops. If need be a hybrid format will be organized to allow the participation for all members.

Dates:

• November 2022 - December 2023.

Team:

 

Pierre L. Ibisch Professor for Nature Conservation of Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development	Vasyl Lavnyy Vice Rector for Research of UNFU, Professor of the Silviculture department, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Ihor Soloviy Professor, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ecological Economics and Management, Ukrainian National Forestry University
Orest Kiyko Professor, Head of the furniture and wood products technology department, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Victoria Khrutba Professor of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies, National Transport University	Yuliia Nikitchenko Associate Professor of Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
Andriy Holovko Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Marketing, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Angela Dichte Employee of the Center for Economics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development	Oleksiy Sinkevych Assistant of the Department of Information Technologies, Ukrainian National Forestry University
	Fedane De Carlo Intern student of the Center for Economics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

Detailed information about the Think Tank ERUkA at the link.

Our partner university is Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (EUSD) was founded in 1830 as a higher forestry school in Eberswalde. This university is constantly focused on sustainable development, the environment and nature conservation, which makes it a leader in Germany in terms of "green" learning.

EUSD is one of the most research universities of applied sciences in Germany. It is one of the few universities in Europe that focuses on the research areas of "sustainable rural development" and "sustainable production and use of natural substances". EUSD has long been a pioneer in these subject areas.

The main areas of research include:

• Sustainable development of rural areas
• Regional economic development
• Monitoring and planning in large protected areas
• Geographic information systems (abbreviated GIS) and remote sensing
• Business consulting
• Tourism development
• Organic farming and marketing
• Sustainable production and use of natural products
• Wood processing
• Renewable energy
• Renewable raw materials
• Forest protection

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development has more than 70 partnerships with colleges, universities and institutes around the world. One of the most important partner universities is the Ukrainian National Forestry University.

„Empowerment and resilience of Ukrainian academia in the field of socio-ecological reconstruction and restoration“

In this measure we will create an open-ended but goal-oriented exchange on opportunities and challenges for research and academic education in Ukraine related to socio-ecological ecosystem management in the broadest sense (e.g. from forest sector and nature conservation to renewable energy production and ecological economics).

Under the conditions of climate change, there is an urgent need for action to make forest management more ecosystem-friendly and to manage the entire range of ecosystem services in the sense of a socio-ecological concept. This includes nature-based solutions for climate protection and adaptation to climate change, as well as forest justice for all people who benefit from forest ecosystem services. Direct or indirect consequences of war that have degraded ecosystems also have a special significance. The further strengthening and transformation of Ukrainian academic education towards more dialogue and citizens’ involvement as well as problem and action oriented learning approaches will be discussed in working groups using a variety of workshop formats.

What the Think Tank is about

The Think Tank will be the umbrella for different working groups focusing on specific topics (see below), also to enable exchange between these working groups and possible synergies. The Think Tank and building of working groups will be coordinated by the HNEE team but the working mode of each working group shall be flexible to serve the needs of each group and their participants.

The objective is on the one hand to create an exchange and to support networks as well as to develop recommendations for political decision-making. On the other hand concrete project ideas and corresponding project applications shall be developed by the working groups.

Topics / Working groups

• socio-ecological management and restoration of degraded ecosystems
• socio-ecological transformation towards an independent energy supply
• empowerment of students to impact on the decision-making process in socio-ecological forest management
• needs and opportunities for academic education to attract students and generate the future key competences of 21st century (focus: digitalisation as a tool for more effective collaboration)

Tasks of the Think Tank ERUkA

The main task of the Think Tank ERUkA is to develop a network of scientists and experts who closely cooperate with policymakers and development practitioners (as an umbrella for the exchange of knowledge and experience of working groups on specific topics) to implement ideas for initiating joint projects. The Think Tank ERUkA team will support participants in developing their own specific topics, formulating project tasks, project proposals, finding partners, communicating messages to decision-makers and submitting project proposals to relevant financial institutions. The desired result of the Think Tank ERUkA is the implementation of the ideas of the participants and the creation of an intellectual network for the formation of a better future for Ukraine.

Target group

As in this measure the focus will not be on the Ukrainian National Forestry University alone but will look at Ukraine as a whole, we wish to involve persons and institutions from all over Ukraine. A network of universities and further experts (e.g. from relevant ministries) as well as students should be built and further strengthened. ERUkA members to be invited (mostly already contacted and agreed on their interest to join):

• round table at UNFU “Reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine: the role of scientists”
• colleagues from DILeLa project at HNEE
• Nicolai Teufel (Bayreuth University) and partner universities
• Olena Vrublevska (Ivan Franko National University in Lviv)
• Viktoriia Khrutba (National Transport University, Kyiv)
• Yuliya Nikitchenko (Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development)
• Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, Kharkiv
• Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding (Faculty of Environmental and Technogenic Safety), Mykolaiv
• Odessa State Environmental University (Faculty of Environmental Protection), Odessa
• Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University (KNAHU - Department of Ecology), Kharkiv
• Members of the Ukrainian Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
• Professional Association of Ecologists in Ukraine (PAEU)
• State and /or Regional Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine / Lviv region
• students of UNFU, HNEE and if possible further universities

Activities

Meetings and workshops will be organised online on a regular basis, but with occasional intensive in-person workshops. If need be a hybrid format will be organised to allow the participation for all members.

Expected results

Strategy documents, policy recommendations, project proposals, strengthened network and cooperations between participating insitutions.

Registration of new members

So, if you are interested in becoming part of the Think Tank ERUkA, please fill out the registration form at the link and participate in the introductory meeting on November 3, 2022. We will be glad to see students, teachers, members of public organizations, practitioners in the field of nature conservation, forest use, nature protection, public relations, state administration, local self-government and representatives of other institutions.

Team and contacts:

Pierre L. Ibisch Professor for Nature Conservation of Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development	Vasyl Lavnyy Vice Rector for Research of UNFU, Professor of the Silviculture department, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Ihor Soloviy Professor, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ecological Economics and Management, Ukrainian National Forestry University
Orest Kiyko Professor, Head of the furniture and wood products technology department, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Victoria Khrutba Professor of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies, National Transport University	Yuliia Nikitchenko Associate Professor of Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
Andriy Holovko Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Marketing, Ukrainian National Forestry University	Angela Dichte Employee of the Center for Economics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development	Oleksiy Sinkevych Assistant of the Department of Information Technologies, Ukrainian National Forestry University
	Fedane De Carlo Intern student of the Center for Economics and Ecosystem Management, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

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