REGIONAL TRAINING for International Relation Officers, Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinators, other Staff Members Responsible for Erasmus+ Actions at Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions (12.12.2025, Lviv)
On 12 December 2025, in Lviv (hybrid format), the team of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine organised a REGIONAL TRAINING for International Relation Officers, Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinators, other Staff Members Responsible for Erasmus+ Actions at Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions . The event was organized with the support of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
35 participants joined the event — IRO staff, heads of departments responsible for international cooperation, and institutional Erasmus+ coordinators from Ukrainian higher education institutions directly involved in planning, coordinating and implementing the international activities of their universities.
Agenda of the event (detailed) – download
Agenda of the event (summary) – download
The event began with an introductory session “Erasmus+ — a plus or minus for the university?”, during which Oleg KARIY, Vice-Rector for International Activities at the National University “Lviv Polytechnic,” emphasized the strategic role of international programs for institutional development and enhancing university competitiveness. Yuriy PETRUSHENKO, Head of the President of Ukraine’s Fund for Education, Youth, and Sports, highlighted the importance of international cooperation for the development of human capital and the resilience of Ukraine’s higher education system during the war and post-war recovery. Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, in her welcoming speech, stressed the systemic impact of the EU Erasmus+ Programme on university modernization, the development of managerial and academic capacities, and Ukraine’s integration into the European Higher Education Area.
In the session dedicated to the specifics of institutional coordination of Erasmus+ projects, Svitlana SHYTIKOVA and Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Senior Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, provided a comprehensive overview of managing international projects at the institutional level. The speakers focused on program opportunities, call results, the role of international networks and thematic events, visualization and dissemination of project results, effective collaboration with partners, quality assurance, and reporting requirements.
Within the first session, the speakers emphasized the complementary impact of the EU Erasmus+ Programme on institutional, national and individual levels of development, highlighting the connection between project results, strategic changes, and increased international competitiveness of higher education institutions. Special attention was given to systematically preparing universities for full participation in the next Erasmus+ Program from 2028 as a Programme member country, including detailed familiarization with and implementation of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). As a result of the session, participants received practical recommendations for building internal coordination processes and enhancing the institutional capacity of universities.
A separate part of the event was devoted to discussing the challenges of project implementation under martial law. Moderated by Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, participants shared their experiences, outlined key risks, and discussed possible solutions, including participant mobility, financial management, partner communication, and ensuring the sustainability of results.
In the session “International Academic Mobility Projects from A to Z”, Kateryna ZHDANOVA provided methodological guidance on the full cycle of mobility project implementation — from planning and preparation to practical implementation, monitoring, and reporting. She focused in detail on common mistakes, the role of institutional coordinators, and the necessity of aligning international activities with internal university development strategies.
After the lunch break, a session focused on international academic mobility projects and partnership cooperation took place, during which Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Nataliya HOTS, Head of the International Office at Lviv Polytechnic, and Nataliya BUTYCH, Regional Coordinator Eastern Europe (DAAD Programmes Eastern Partnership, MoI, MERIT-MInT-Ukraine, DigiUni, Leibniz University Hannover), discussed approaches to ensuring the sustainability of international activities, strengthening the institutional impact of partnerships, and integrating project results into the long-term development of higher education institutions. Particular attention was paid to institutional readiness and the availability of active case studies to ensure high-quality preparation for Erasmus+ competitions and joint project implementation.
The final part of the training involved a practical simulation, where participants had the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained, work through real cases of international academic mobility, and discuss them with each other. During the summary session, participants noted the high practical value of the event, the opportunity to exchange experiences, and the relevance of the topics discussed for the daily work of university international offices.
As a result of participating in the training, participants deepened their understanding of institutional coordination of Erasmus+ projects, improved their practical skills in managing international activities, and gained tools to enhance project quality and strengthen international cooperation at their higher education institutions.
USEFUL RESOURSES and PRESENTATIONS – via the link.