At Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, the project implementation the “Volyn Center of European Studies: Green and Safe Neighborhood” (No. 101085647 – VCES – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH) has started within the framework of the European Union ERASMUS+ Programme directed by Jean Monnet (Centres perfection).
On Monday, November 21, a corresponding press conference was held. The event was attended by Rector Anatolii Tsos, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Cooperation Lyudmila Yelisieieva, Dean of the Faculty of Law Anton Demchuk, Vice-President of the Volyn Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vitalii Kyrychuk, the lecturers and students of the Faculty of International Relations.
The Project Coordinator, Professor, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations and Project Management of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University Andrii Boyar revealed the goals, tasks, main measures and initiatives for the next three years.
According to the scientist, the project is aimed at deepening educational and scientific activities on European integration topics and forming interest in the European Union among high school students and students of higher education institutions, school teachers, lecturers and researchers, legal experts and budding lawyers, politicians, public servants, representatives of business and broad circles of the Ukrainian public. It focuses on the development of interdisciplinary research on European integration with an emphasis on cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in particular, in the context of neighborhood, security and Green Course issues, as well as the dissemination of the results of relevant activities.
The goal of the project is the preparation of publicly available educational and scientific materials in the field of European studies and the dissemination of knowledge about the EU and relations between the EU and Ukraine in society.
Rector Anatolii Tsos noted the positive dynamics and high level of international work and grant activity at the University. “It is pleasant and correct that we focus on international cooperation and implementation of international projects. It is no secret that Ukraine directs its main capabilities and resources to the defence of our country. This is a reality and a requirement. The existence of our statehood and us all depends on the victory. Therefore, today, higher education can be developed only through the international cooperation. It is very gratifying that various international cooperation programmes are being activated in our country, such as academic mobility, internship, double degree and more. As many as six programmes has begun to be implemented this year. This proves the powerful potential of our employees and the correct policy of the University regarding international cooperation”, said Anatolii Vasyliovych and wished the participants of the project good luck for its successful implementation.
The Project Coordinator Andriy Boyar recalled that the European Union studies were started in 2000 at the Faculty of International Relations, when the then dean Petro Lutsyshyn initiated the application for the “Higher Education – Leadership for Progress” project of the international Renaissance Foundation. The result was the piloting of several European integration courses and the initiation of a cycle of conferences, which have been held at the faculty every year since then.
Andriy Boyar also denoted that since 2016, when Professor Nataliya Pavlikha won the first project funded by the European Union, and until now we have had nine Jean Monet projects of various categories. Winning grants, the scientist claims, is recognition of the University as a centre of the European studies. In addition, Andriy Oleksiiovych spoke about other achievements of the faculty, such as the initiation of the “European Integration” correspondence educational programme, the publication of three editions of the “European Integration” textbook (2008, 2011 and 2020), hundreds of articles and other achievements.
Educational trainings and open courses will be held every year during the project implementation period on a free basis. Among the other measures and actions envisaged as part of the project implementation are the creation of the VCES website, the publication of the books “Green and Safe European Union” and “Conducting Sustainable Business in Europe”, printing a booklet about the Project’s activities, brochures “International and European Studies at the University of Lesi Ukrainka”, collections of materials of the international conference and publication of 10 articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals, which are mostly intended as a supplement to teaching activities.
30 instructors will ensure the implementation of the project. The core of the coaching staff will be comprised by the lecturers of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, but there are also invited coaches, in particular, the representatives of the Volyn Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Junior Academy of Sciences, the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National University of Economics, the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy National University, Pomeranian Academy in Slupsk (Poland), as well as invited foreign experts.
In addition to the 850 participants who will directly participate in the trainings, hundreds of other people will have the opportunity to participate in the international conference and receive relevant information through the mass media, through the distribution of promotional materials, thanks to the active activity of the website and the dissemination of information in social networks.
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