On March 18, 2025, within the framework of the project "European Studies for Technical Specialties at the National University "Lviv Polytechnic" (EUSTS) with the support of the EU Erasmus+ Jean Monnet program, an interactive event "Dissemination of best practices in teaching European studies and creation of interdisciplinary programs in higher education institutions of Ukraine: exchange of experience" was held online. The event was organized by the team of the National Center "European Studies for Technical Universities" of the National University "Lviv Polytechnic" (Lviv) together with teachers of Uzhhorod National University (Uzhhorod).
Prof. Yaryna Turchyn (head of the EUSTS project) emphasized the relevance of implementing interdisciplinary educational programs in Ukrainian universities in order to activate the integration process in various fields (energy, ecology, transport, ecology, construction, etc.), focused on the stages and features of the development of European studies in NULP, starting from the late 1990s and up to the present day, and focused in detail on the features of the implementation of numerous Jean Monnet projects, which are often interdisciplinary, which is due to the specifics of Lviv Polytechnic. The speaker revealed the advantages, positive practices of the university environment in disseminating knowledge about the EU, their implementation in the educational and scientific process (in particular, through separate educational components, educational and professional programs, optional classes, scientific work, etc.), as well as challenges that require a response. She informed the participants of the event with the results of the survey of the NULP Center "European Studies for Technical Universities", including on the creation of interdisciplinary programs in the field of energy, ecology, digitalization, which are interesting to young students. The following events within the framework of Jean Monnet projects were also announced, in particular the event "Day of Acquaintance with European Youth Ambassadors", which is planned for March 2025.
Prof. Tetyana Karabin (Head of the Department of Administrative, Financial and Information Law of the Faculty of Law of the State Higher Educational Institution "Uzhgorod National University") started a discussion on the importance of Jean Monnet projects for the successful conduct of scientific certification of higher education institutions of Ukraine, and also shared the experience of implementing the discipline "Europeanization of Public Law: Methods, Drivers, Influences", which was developed within the framework of the Jean Monnet project and is aimed at studying the Europeanization of Ukrainian public law. The training course is designed for postgraduate students, students, teachers, civil servants and researchers. Its purpose is to disseminate knowledge about European integration as a factor in the convergence of public law; democratic foundations of the European Union; constitutional identity and European integration of Ukraine; European administrative space and its significance in the process of Europeanization of public law; cross-border cooperation as a tool of European integration.
Assoc. Prof. Nataliya Vovk (participant of the EUSTS project, associate professor of the Department of Social Communications and Information Activities of the NULP) shared her experience of best practices in teaching European studies to students of technical specialties through the prism of the main challenges, such as: encouraging students to choose disciplines; making classes interesting; diversifying the educational process; updating educational materials; constantly popularizing news and project results, as well as ways to overcome them by the EUSTS team. Further directions for the development of European studies at Lviv Polytechnic after the completion of the EUSTS project in the fall of 2025 were also outlined, and mechanisms were revealed that will ensure the sustainability and further influence of the Jean Monnet Department "European Studies for Technical Specialties of the National University of Technology".
Assoc. Prof. Petro Tokar (Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of European Integration Studies of the State Higher Educational Institution "Uzhgorod National University") shared the practices of the functioning of the "Transcarpathian Jean Monnet Center for the Study of European Development Strategies" and its role in the study of European integration topics in the field of social sciences. The activities of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence were aimed at implementing basic EU strategies in the field of higher education in the context of the provisions of the Association Agreement; developing cross-border cooperation; creating a consulting and information Training Office; organizing the Transcarpathian Jean Monnet Center at Uzhgorod National University; development of the university development strategy for 2021-2031, etc. The speaker revealed his own vision of how to ensure the impact of the project after its official completion, for example, through updating training courses, establishing public organizations, and active publication activities.
Assoc. Prof. Olena Lukachuk (INNOVATION HUB mentor, EUSTS project participant) revealed the features of conducting the implementation of interactive classes at the university, the experience of project activities of student youth in the NULP through involvement in the activities of the INNOVATION HUB, friendly visits to various institutions, cooperation with Tech StartUp School, the STARTUP Breakthrough 2024 program, mentoring programs of the Lviv Polytechnic, participation in the Rotary Business Forum and the "European Cultural Spaces" program, work on the Map of Cultural Heritage Sites together with students of the University of Torun, the use of various opportunities from the Erasmus+ program by students of the Lviv Polytechnic, etc., and also outlined the nearest plans for work with students.
Following the speeches of the participants, an active and interesting discussion was held on the role of scientific diplomacy in preserving and spreading European values, introducing new interdisciplinary programs, exchanging best practices in teaching European studies using interactive teaching methods, implementing projects and finding new opportunities for scientific cooperation. Assoc. Prof. Petro Tokar aptly described the significance of the event – “From partners to partnerships”.
The practical part of the event using interactive teaching methods (“Europuzzle: interesting facts, figures, events about the EU”, “Walk through the gallery: a tour of the EU”, etc.) to form knowledge about the EU as a responsible global actor of the modern system of international relations for students of Uzhhorod National University was conducted by trainers in teaching methods, participants of the EUSTS project – Assoc. Prof. Olha Ivasechko (Department of International Relations), Assoc. Prof. Oleh Tsebenko (Department of International Relations). Assoc. Prof. Oleksandr Markovets (Department of International Relations), Assoc. Prof. Lidia Kasha (Department of International Relations), Assoc. Prof. Iryna Sukhorolska (Department of International Relations) also participated in the preparation of the event.
In total, more than 40 participants – students (21 people), teachers of the Lviv Polytechnic National University and Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University – joined the event. The EUSTS project team expresses its gratitude to all participants of the event for interesting discussions, professional reports, exchange of best practices and development of new ideas for the development of European studies in Ukrainian HEIs.
