Second edition of the ECIU4Ukraine project came to a close. Read the article to find out more about the key project activities.
Lodz University of Technology has coordinated two editions of ECIU4Ukraine, an educational project funded by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). The aim of the project was to foster international integration at 10 Ukrainian universities by bringing the partner institutions closer to the European Universities Initiative. ECIU4Ukraine Vol. 1 run throughout 2023, whilst ECIU4Ukraine Vol. 2 was carried out in 2024.
The project objectives were achieved by organising exchanges, study visits, training courses and conferences both at TUL and at partner institutions. Representatives from Ukrainian universities had numerous opportunities to broaden their knowledge of innovative teaching methods (e.g. challenge-based learning, micro-credentials) and, perhaps most importantly, to network and strengthen their cooperation with members of the ECIU alliance.
Key activities carried out during the ECIU4Ukraine Vol. 1 included:
- Purchase and delivery of IT equipment to enable our partner universities full access to ECIU's online educational offer
- Participation of representatives from partner universities in the City Regeneration Congress in Lodz in May 2023
- ''Summer school for life'' - a summer school organised by TUL in the Masuria region in July 2023. This Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) was attended by students from ECIU universities as well as by 11 students from Ukrainian universities
- "Innovative Teaching and Learning Tools and Methods (T&L) with Coaching" training session which took place in Lodz and Uniejow in October 2023
- Participation of representatives from Ukrainian universities in the ECIU University Research Conference in Barcelona in October 2023
- Training on micro-credentials delivered by Prof. Dorota Piotrowska, director of the International Cooperation Centre at TUL. This training course took place in November 2023
- Training course for rectors delivered by the Center For Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) at the University of Twente in November 2023
- Closing conference, European Universities for Ukraine, held at TUL in December 2023
Key activities carried out during the ECIU4Ukraine Vol. 2 included:
- Ukrainian partners took part in 3 ECIU-run conferences:
a. IV International Congress Culture of the Regenerative City which took place in May 2024 in Lodz
b. ECIU Forum held in Kaunas (Lithuania) in June 2024
c. Summary Conference which was organised at TUL in November 2024
- Representatives of the Ukrainian universities participated in three training courses:
a. "Innovative Teaching, Learning and Coaching Tools and Methods (T&L) part 2" which took place in June 2024 at TUL
b. Microcredentials and challenge-based learning training part 2 which happened in October 2024, also in Lodz
c. ''Development strategy for the higher education sector training part 2'' held at the Center For Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) at the University of Twente in November 2023.
- Research Week at Lodz University of Technology during which the guests participated in sessions and panel discussions which were held in English. There was also a special session "ECIU InnoFusion: Polish-Ukrainian Exchange of Innovative Ideas" led by Prof. Dorota Piotrowska
- A series of online and offline meetings related to signing a double degree agreement between TUL and 2 partner institutions from Ukraine. This collaboration concluded with signing a letter of intent with two universities from Kharkiv.
Coordinating both editions of the ECIU4Ukraine project was a great opportunity for Lodz University of Technology to establish new and strengthen existing business contacts. Above all, however, it allowed the Ukrainian partners to strengthen their international integration as well as to provide professional development opportunities to their staff members. We would like to thank all participants for taking part in the project!