Meeting with Rector and Team of Kherson State University (2.04.2025, Ivano-Frankivsk)
On 2 April 2025, representatives of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine and Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade met with the Rector and team of Kherson State University relocated to Ivano-Frankivsk. They discussed key steps for cooperation with Portugal, explored youth learning mobility opportunities, and outlined ideas for new collaboration projects and ways to support the university, which continues to suffer from the consequences of the war.
Luís ALVEIS, Head of Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade, joined the meeting alongside with Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, and Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Senior Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine as well as the team from Kherson State University. Rector Oleksandr SPIVAKOVSKY presented the university’s history, pointed out its progress and achievements before 2022. He also shared the hard experience of the team during occupation by Russians, the forced evacuation/rescue of people and documents/museum stuff of university from Kherson, as well as the university’s current needs and challenges.
Vice-Rector for International Relations Veronika DENYSENKO highlighted the importance of expanding international activities during martial law. She explained how these efforts help restore the university’s competitiveness and support the Kherson community and youth — a core part of the university’s third mission. She also presented Erasmus+ projects recent developments.
To conclude the meeting, the partners explored opportunities for Ukraine–Portugal cooperation through the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps. They focused on possibilities to support young people, grow non-formal education, and create spaces for youth activity. Their goal is to reconnect the Kherson community, keep young people engaged, strengthen links and offer new paths for self-development for those abroad. They also exchanged ideas on how to build youth-friendly environments and find partners for joint projects in youth work and social initiatives.
Based on materials from: https://www.kspu.edu/PublisherReader.aspx?newsId=21239