Results of the Jean Monnet module “EU trade opportunities and challenges for Ukraine” (2016–2019)

The Jean Monnet module “EU trade opportunities and challenges for Ukraine” is headed by Associate Professor Oleksandr Kubatko at Sumy State University since September 2016. The responsible teachers from Economics, Entrepreneurship and Business Administration Department are Pimonenko T., Melnyk L., Kovalev B., Chortok Yu., and Chigrin O.

The following activities were performed within the project:

• Two study guides were prepared: O. V. Kubatko, T. V. Pimonenko, “Basics of European Economy and EU Trade Policy”; O. V. Kubatko, T. V. Pimonenko “EU trade policy and Ukraine “;
• A section on European Trade Policy was prepared for the textbook “Entrepreneurship, trade and exchange activity”;
• Three distance courses have been developed: “The basics of European economy and EU trade policy”, “EU trade and Ukraine”, “EU Trade Policy: Experience from the Visegrad States”;
• A set of presentation materials was developed to provide appropriate lecturing and training;
• Number of research activities has been carried out to substantiate the content of the module. Thus, the implementation of the project resulted in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Ukrainian economy related to deepening trade with the EU. In particular, it has been found that agricultural enterprises and agro-industrial enterprises have a significant potential of competitiveness on EU markets; while, machine-building and engineering enterprises are among the weakest, and often are not competitive with the EU manufacturing enterprises.
• The results of research were published in three collective monographs, six papers in periodical academic journals, abstracts at 10 scientific conferences.

Based on the trade potential between Ukraine and EU it was identified the key areas that contribute to long-run economic growth. Within this JM module it was also discussed legal aspects and real economic situations concerning the protection of trade interests by each part of “Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement” (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the European Union. The main opportunities and challenges of Ukraine’s trade with the EU are determined. It was organized a scientific work of students on relevant issues and prospects of EU trade with Ukraine.

This Jean Monnet Module is implemented through the series of lecture and seminars: 1) for the students “Economics”, “Entrepreneurship”, “Journalism”, “Management”, “Advertising”, and “Computer Science” specialties at Sumy State University ( 2016-2019); 2) for the students of “Economic Cybernetics”, “Accounting and Audit”, and “Finance” specialties at National University “Ostroh Academy” (2017); 3) for the students of “Economics”, “Entrepreneurship”, and “Management” specialties at Poltava National Technical University (2016-2018); 4) for the teaching staff at the Sumy State University (2016-2019); 5) for students of the Machine-Building College of Sumy State University (2017-2019); 6) for students of “Management”, “Economics”, and “Marketing” specialties at Sumy National Agrarian University (2017-2019 years); 7) for the students of Kharkiv National Economic University named after. S. Kuznets (2017-2018).

This Jean Monnet Module is also implemented through seminars and roundtables debates: 1) the debates of “Analytical Center of the Agrarian Union of Ukraine” on the readiness, tasks and ways of implementing the Association Agreement (2018); 2) International Workshop “European Studies outside the EU: Teaching and Research” organized by the Ukrainian Association of Teachers and Researchers of European Integration (2018); 3) seminars for schools teachers and teachers at educational institutions of 1-2 levels of accreditation within the framework of the biannual Business School “Youth & Business” (2016-2019); 4) seminars for teachers, scientists and representatives of non-governmental organizations at Sumy National Agrarian University (2017); 5) consultation session of the National Erasmus + Office (2016).

Tetyana Pimonenko has provided a series of lectures and seminars to ensure international visibility of project results, in particular: 1) seminars for teachers and staff of the Kaunas University of Technology (Kaunas, Lithuania, 2016); 2) lectures for students of the University of Mateja Belau (Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, 2017); 3) seminar for the participants of the ITEC program at the Institute of Energy and Resources (New Delhi, India, 2018); lectures for students of Riga technical university (Riga, Latvia, 2018); lectures for the students of Salem State University (Salem, MA, USA, 2019).

More detailed information on the Jean Monnet Module “EU trade opportunities and challenges for Ukraine” (EUTOU can be found at the following link.