In early July, professors from Mariupol State University took part in an international academic workshop as part of the Jean Monnet Erasmus + project "Rebuilding of the potential of European studies in Ukrainian territories affected by war: Comprehending challenges and generating solutions."

The workshop, which took place in Kyiv, was attended by 20 representatives of nine universities of Ukraine.

During the week, educators talked to international speakers and Ukrainian experts - representatives of the Ukrainian Association of Teachers and Researchers of European Integration. Together they worked on the structure and content of the presented micro-projects, which were based on previous trainings and workshops. The organizers paid considerable attention to the issues of project management, team and personal success. The synergy of speakers and participants allowed to improve the initiatives presented at the beginning of the event and to understand the mechanism of their implementation.

Associate professors Olena Gilchenko and Yuliia Konstantinova presented the project of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy “Implementation of the course "European Integration Studies" in the educational process of MSU". In addition to the lecturers who presented the educational initiative at the workshop, associate professors Anastasia Trofymenko and Maria Svetlakova took part in its development.

Associate professors Olga Bezzubchenko and Olga Zakharova also presented a micro-project of the Department of Economics and International Economic Relations "Economic Dimensions of the Security Environment: European Experience for Ukraine". The first vice-rector of the university, professor Olena Bulatova and the vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work, associate professor Tetyana Marena also joined its development.

At the end of the international academic workshop, the topics of ten educational micro-projects were agreed, which will be implemented during the next year in the universities participating in the project. The next step will be to hold a second workshop in the summer of 2022, where educators will demonstrate their achievements, as well as analyze the challenges they will face in implementing their initiatives. 

The result of participation in the project "Rebuilding of the potential of European studies in Ukrainian territories affected by war: Comprehending challenges and generating solutions" will be the introduction of new elective disciplines in the educational process of Mariupol University. This will create prospects for organizing a certified training course for a wide range of interested people.