On October 8, 2025, the Department of Architecture and Restoration of Lviv Polytechnic National University hosted a Round Table dedicated to discussing the challenges of training specialists in the restoration of works of art in Ukraine. The event took place within the framework of the XXX Review-Competition of Diploma Projects in Architectural-Urban and Design-Art Specialties and brought together educators, researchers, students, restorers, and cultural heritage protection specialists to discuss contemporary challenges and ways to improve professional training in this field. The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen academic and practical developments in the preservation, protection, and restoration of cultural heritage objects.
Within the round table, in addition to discussing current issues in the training of specialists in art and architectural restoration, a presentation was held on the results of the international research project under the Horizon Europe program — “Unique Recognition and Tracking of Artworks” (AURORA).
The main speaker of the event, Dr. of Architecture, Professor Mykola Bevz, Head of the Department of Architecture and Restoration of the Institute of Architecture and Design, opened the meeting and emphasized the importance of integrating the Ukrainian school of restoration into the European educational and research space. Dr. of Technical Sciences, Professor Oleksandr Kashchenko, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, in his opening remarks stressed the importance of combining theoretical education with practical experience in the training of restorers and highlighted the significance of cooperation among Ukrainian universities in preserving cultural heritage.
In the first section of the round table, participants discussed improving educational programs for restorers and enhancing the qualifications of specialists in cultural heritage protection. Professor Mykola Bevz presented a report emphasizing the need for a systematic renewal of teaching approaches that would align with modern technological and methodological requirements of restoration practice. The next speaker, Dr. of Architecture, Professor Oleh Rybchynskyi of the Department of Architecture and Restoration, addressed current problems in the preservation and restoration of movable art objects, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach to the protection of museum and private collections. Ph.D. Viktor Melnyk, Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture and Restoration, introduced participants to innovative methods and materials already being applied in restoration processes in Ukraine.
The second part of the session was devoted to discussing the results of the Horizon Europe AURORA Project (Grant Agreement No. 101094245). The project lead from Lviv Polytechnic, Dr. of Economics, Professor Nataliia Chukhrai, Head of the Department of Management of Organizations, presented the main results of the university team and their achievements within the international consortium. The AURORA project aims to create an innovative system for the recognition and tracking of artworks through chemically encoded data, micromarkers, and digital blockchain solutions, involving scientific and museum institutions from several EU countries, including active participation from Lviv Polytechnic specialists. The purpose of AURORA is to develop technologies to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property, counterfeiting, and the loss of artworks, as well as to establish a system for monitoring the authenticity of cultural objects.
Another speaker, Ph.D. Maksym Chornyi, Assistant at the Department of Architecture and Restoration, presented a report on digital marking systems for cultural heritage objects, which help ensure transparency in inventory and the security of artworks even under crisis conditions.
Summarizing the discussion, Professor Mykola Bevz presented the resolution of the round table. The document emphasized the need to modernize the system of training restoration professionals in Ukraine, develop contemporary tools for cultural heritage preservation, and strengthen international cooperation in this field. Among the key recommendations was the submission of documentation to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine to incorporate the proposed measures into state restoration and cultural communication programs.
The round table became an important event in the academic life of Lviv Polytechnic and another step toward advancing international scientific cooperation in the field of cultural heritage preservation. The event demonstrated that the Ukrainian school of restoration is actively evolving, combining tradition with cutting-edge technology, and is capable of being a worthy partner in European research projects. The AURORA international project, in turn, plays a crucial role in safeguarding cultural heritage.
