Presentation within the Education for Democratic Citizenship Training Programme (08.09.2026, online)
On 8 September 2026, the team of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine joined the training programme implemented within the Education for Democratic Citizenship project, funded by the Swedish Institute. The event was organised for staff of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and subordinate organisations and brought together 15 participants, including representatives of MESU structural units, education departments of regional military administrations, the Ukrainian Institute for Education Development, the State Institution “Institute of Educational Analytics”, and the National Qualifications Agency.
The Education for Democratic Citizenship project aims to strengthen democratic citizenship in Ukraine through the development of approaches to democratic governance, strengthening democratic institutions, and expanding opportunities for citizens to actively participate in public life. The training programme consists of three thematic modules: good governance and democratic institutions; democratic culture, civic identity and engagement; and governance in the European Union and European citizenship.
Zhanna TALANOVA, Deputy Coordinator and Analytical Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, Coordinator of the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE team), delivered a presentation entitled “Key Challenges and Results of International Cooperation in Reforming Ukraine’s Education: Cooperation between the EU, Erasmus+, MESU and Key Stakeholders”(in Ukrainian). The presentation focused on the role of the EU Erasmus+ Programme as a tool for international cooperation, education modernisation and support for reforms in Ukraine.
During her presentation, Zhanna TALANOVA introduced the participants to the structure and key priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme for 2026, opportunities for organisations and individuals, and the main actions and project types. Particular attention was paid to Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), including its three strands – from fostering access to international cooperation and transforming higher education to supporting structural reforms.
A separate part of the presentation addressed the challenges of international cooperation under the conditions of the full-scale war and the results of Erasmus+ support for Ukraine. It covered the European Commission’s special measures for Ukraine, the results of international academic mobility, capacity-building projects and cooperation partnerships, as well as examples of the impact of Erasmus+ on higher education reform in Ukraine.
Participants also learned about reform areas supported by Erasmus+ projects, including higher education quality, staff development, governance and leadership, internationalisation, teacher education, and vocational and professional pre-higher education. The presentation highlighted the importance of international cooperation for institutional and systemic change and for strengthening the innovative capacity of Ukrainian education.
Find out more about the Education for Democratic Citizenship project via the link.