Speech at the kick-off press conference of the EU Erasmus+ CBHE ReGrow international project (05.03.2025, online)
On 5 March 2025, the team of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine took part in the kick-off conference of the international project “ReGrow: Rebuilding Growth in Precision Agriculture in Post-Conflict Ukraine & Transitioning Georgia” took place in a hybrid format in Vinnytsia and online. The project is funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and aims to support the modernisation and internationalisation of higher education in Ukraine and Georgia by developing a new joint master’s programme in precision agriculture.
The coordinator of the project is Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), with partners from Greece, Germany, Georgia, and Ukraine, including leading universities, agricultural associations, consulting firms, and government institutions.
The event gathered over 60 participants: representatives from higher education institutions, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and the agricultural sector. Among the speakers was Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, who emphasised the importance of the project in developing innovative and sustainable agricultural education. She also highlighted the opportunities offered by Erasmus+ Programme for Ukrainian institutions and encouraged stakeholders to participate in future calls.
The ReGrow project will integrate advanced educational programs focused on sustainability, digital transformation, and cutting-edge technologies to enhance the quality, relevance, and accessibility of higher education. The project aims to equip students, educators, and agricultural professionals with the necessary skills to lead and implement innovations in sustainable agriculture.
The project’s objectives include:
- Modernization and internationalization of agricultural higher education in Ukraine and Georgia, focusing on developing a joint MSc course in Precision Agriculture.
- Equipping HEIs, students, and agricultural professionals with skills for sustainable practices, digital transformation, and socio-economic development.
- Bridging the educational gap by integrating advanced technologies and sustainable agriculture practices into the curriculum, ensuring relevance and employability.
- Establishing collaborations between HEIs, industry representatives, and local actors to foster innovation and agricultural productivity.
- Enhancing the quality, relevance, and accessibility of agricultural education to align with European and global standards.
- Promoting environmental sustainability through educational initiatives, focusing on minimizing the agricultural sector’s ecological impact.
The ReGrow project will play a crucial role in supporting the socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and digital transformation of the agricultural sector, contributing to regional integration and cooperation in line with EU priorities such as the European Green Deal.
The project is scheduled to run from December 2024 to November 2027.