On 28 October 2024, students majoring in International Relations and faculty of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, the Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Lviv Polytechnic, met with representatives of the International Cooperation Division of the Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sports and Culture of the European Commission. The guests of the meeting were Filip Van Depoele, Head of the Division, and analysts Adrien Olszak-Olszewski and Vasyl Romanyk who are working on the EU’s education policy towards Ukraine and Moldova.
In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the students learned about the peculiarities of the International Cooperation Department, as well as the key programs of the European Union to support our country on its way to EU membership. The information on opportunities for educators provided by the EU was particularly valuable and interesting. More than 11,000 Ukrainian students, researchers and university staff have already participated in the Erasmus+ program in the period from 2021 to 2024
The support of the European Union during Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine was also particularly noted. This includes, in particular:
- financial support of more than €100 million for students and academics who were forced to leave their homeland;
- various projects that, for example, support the online university environment, which makes it possible for Ukrainian students to continue their studies
- printing of textbooks for secondary schools;
- joining of Ukrainian universities as associate members to the European University Alliance, etc.
The students had the opportunity to ask questions about the peculiarities of the European Union’s cooperation with other countries, the involvement of third countries in educational and research programs within the EU, and to find out the challenges and obstacles to reforming higher and secondary education in Ukraine.
We are sincerely grateful to Vasyl Romanyk, a graduate of the International Relations study program at Lviv Polytechnic, for the opportunity to organize and conduct this meeting!
