Introductory Speech at the International Forum “Transition Lab Forum II: Universities as Drivers of Green Recovery of Ukrainian Cities” (19.02.2026, online)

On February 19, 2026, Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, delivered an online speech at the international forum “Transition Lab Forum II: Universities as Drivers of Green Recovery of Ukrainian Cities”, which marked the final event of the UniCities project co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme.

In her remarks, she highlighted the contribution of Erasmus+ projects to strengthening the institutional capacity of higher education institutions, fostering international partnerships, and promoting European approaches in Ukraine’s recovery and modernisation processes. Particular attention was given to the role of the Programme in supporting transformations aimed at sustainable development, climate neutrality, and European integration.

The forum was held in a hybrid format through a teleconference linking Stockholm, Kyiv and Chernihiv. The main focus was on how Ukraine’s reconstruction can be built on the principles of climate neutrality and sustainable urban development, and how universities can act as key drivers of these processes.

The event served as a platform for meaningful dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of partnerships oriented towards the green recovery of Ukrainian cities. The forum reaffirmed the strategic role of universities as centres of knowledge and transformation, capable of aligning European priorities with community needs and contributing to the development of resilient and climate-neutral urban environments.