Project achievements
Taking into consideration the challenges that the Ukrainian society has been facing, especially in the face of the military conflict, the project focused on supporting students, academic staff, and administrative personnel through educational, innovative, and integrative activities.
The “ER-UA” project was notable for the breadth of initiatives it accomplished, their wide reach and significant impact it has had on the participants. The most important initiatives included:
Cross-institutional Mobilities
A total of 30 short-term mobilities were organized for academic and administrative staff from Ukraine. Participants took part in ERUA conferences, academic innovation workshops, and study visits. The mobilities were directed to ERUA partner universities, with half of them hosted by SWPS University in Poland. This provided participants with the opportunity to explore diverse approaches to teaching and higher education administration.
Ukrainian academics visiting the Aegean University in Greece, 2024.
Ukrainian academics visiting the Aegean University in Greece, 2024.
Ukrainian academics visiting Viadrina University in Germany, 2024.
Ukrainian academics visiting Viadrina University in Germany, 2024.
Ukrainian academics visiting SWPS University's School of Form in Warsaw, Poland, 2024.
Ukrainian academics visiting SWPS University in Warsaw, Poland, 2024.
Summer schools
As part of the project, 23 students from Ukraine participated in ERUA Summer Schools: in Sopot (organized by SWPS University) and in Paris (organized by University of Paris 8). These events focused on topics such as the rule of law, media, culture, and communication. The students had an opportunity to enhance their language, interpersonal, and professional skills, in an international environment.
Lecture during USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024. Lecturer: Professor Anna Śledzińska-Simon, Faculty of Constitutional Law, University of Wrocław.
Lecture during USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024. Lecturer: Metodi Metodiev, Ph.D., Department of History, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Lecture during USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024. Lecturer: Filip Cyuńczyk, Ph.D., Faculty of Law in Warsaw, SWPS University.
Group work during USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024.
Group work during USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024.
Participants of USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024 in Sopot, Poland.
Participants of USWPS Summer School on the Rule of Law 2024, Sopot, Poland.
Academic innovations
As part of the ERUA Academic Innovation Laboratory, seven academic staff members from Ukrainian universities participated in two workshops organized by SWPS University and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The team collaborated on developing an Academic Innovation Manual, which provides modern educational tools and will support the ongoing development of not only ERUA universities but also other European higher education institutions, including those in Ukraine.
Webinars
To meet the needs of the Ukrainian community, SWPS University produced three webinars concerning support for individuals affected by war and displacement. The webinars were also addressed to non-governmental organizations. The content was developed and presented by Professor Halina Grzymała-Moszczyńska and Dr. Maria Baran, experts in intercultural studies and migration. The webinars are available to the public with subtitles in Polish, Ukrainian, and English. Within just three months of the release of the first episode, the series garnered a total of 190,000 views.
Explore the webinar series:
- Cultural differences between Poland and Ukraine
- Recommendations for institutions and individuals supporting people fleeing war in Ukraine to Poland
- How to work with children who have experienced the trauma of war and refugeeism - a cultural perspective
Collaboration Network
Through joint efforts, we established new bilateral partnerships and initiated discussions about future international projects between Ukrainian universities and the ERUA alliance.
The pinnacle of the project was an event held from December 11 to December 13, 2024, where SWPS University hosted a total of 26 representatives from partner Ukrainian universities. The event coincided with the celebrations of the first ERUA Day. During the three-day program, participants had an opportunity to tour the Warsaw campus of SWPS University, learn about the initiatives undertaken by USWPS and ERUA, and participate in hybrid meetings with representatives involved in internationalization efforts at other ERUA universities. Additionally, our Ukrainian guests learned how to organize teaching initiatives in collaboration with ERUA, listened to students talk about mobility opportunities provided by ERUA, and participated in a discussion on micro-credentials, a topic presented by Professor Agata Dębowska. They also attended a lecture titled “How to dissolve the truth in 7 simple steps? The European experience of disinformation", delivered by Dr. Bartosz Kicior from SWPS University’s Department of Journalism and Social Communication.
ERUA Corner at SWPS University on ERUA Day 2024
Partners from Ukrainian universities during ERUA Day at USWPS
Students during ERUA Day at SWPS University
Participants in ERUA Day Celebrations at SWPS University
ERUA Day at SWPS University
ERUA Corner at SWPS University on ERUA Day 2024
ERUA Corner at SWPS University on ERUA Day 2024
ERUA Corner at SWPS University on ERUA Day 2024
Students during ERUA Day at SWPS University
Conclusion
The "ER-UA" project was not only an initiative aimed at supporting the Ukrainian education sector but also an example of academic solidarity and effective international collaboration. Through various activities, the project succeeded in building lasting relationships between universities, promoting educational innovations, and supporting a community affected by war.
The project demonstrates the importance of investing in education as a tool for social reconstruction and international development, laying the groundwork for a better future for both Ukraine and Europe. The actions undertaken last year highlight SWPS University's contribution to higher education on the international stage and reinforce its position as an open, modern, and innovative institution.
Ukrainian academics at SWPS University in Warsaw, Poland 2024
Polish and Ukrainian academics at SWPS University in Warsaw, Poland 2024
Ukrainian academics visiting SWPS University in Warsaw, Poland 2024"
Academics from Technical University in Lvov visiting SWPS University in Poland 2024