Participation in the conference “UkrainEU: Integration of Ukraine into the EU Partnership” (30.08.2024, Vinnytsia)

On 30 August, 2024, the team of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine took part in the conference “UkrainEU: Integration of Ukraine into the EU Partnership” in Vinnytsia. During the event, participants discussed pressing challenges and opportunities related to Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, as well as strategies for strengthening cooperation between Ukrainian and European institutions.

The conference program featured speeches by leading experts from Ukraine and the EU, presentations of successful case studies, and discussions on developing partnerships in the areas of vocational education and training. Special attention was paid to opportunities for Ukrainian institutions to participate in the Erasmus+ Programme and other European initiatives.

The event was attended by government representatives, higher education and vocational education institutions, and civil society organizations. The delegation from the Donetsk National University named after Vasyl Stus included the university’s Rector Ilya KHADZHYNOV, Vice-Rector for Research and Educational Work Serhii RADIO, Dean of the Faculty of Economics Tetiana ORIEKHOVA, Professor of the Department of Constitutional, International and Criminal Law Ella DERKACH, and Acting Director of the Academic Development Institute Svitlana ZHYLTSOVA.

The conference was organized by Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University named after Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi, VTEI DTEU, National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, Folkuniversitetet (Sweden), and European institutions.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Igor IVASIUK, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Council; Galina YAKUBOVYCH, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia and Chair of the Regional Council’s Standing Committee; and Andrii KAVUNETS, Deputy Head of Vinnytsia Military Administration for Digital Transformation and Digitalisation.

Following the opening, the floor was taken by Nataliia LAZARENKO, Rector of Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University named after Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi, and Nataliia ZAMKOVA, Director of Vinnytsia Trade and Economic Institute.

Conference Speakers:

• Theodor GRASSOS, Secretary-General of the European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) (Belgium). Presentation topic: “How the EVBB Association can support educational organizations and institutions providing vocational education.”
• Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine. Presentation topic: “Opportunities and challenges of the Erasmus+ programme for Ukrainian educational institutions.”
• Ali RASHIDI, Director of the International Cooperation Department at Folkuniversitetet (Sweden). Presentation topic: “EU projects with the participation of Ukrainian partners.”
• Richard PARKS, Founder and Executive Chair of Rinova (United Kingdom). Presentation topic: “Building change potential: vocational education as an economic driver.”

During the second part of the conference, a panel discussion was held with speakers on the topic “Cooperation and innovation in Ukrainian-European partnership”. This session explored opportunities for cooperation and offered practical advice to participants.