On 8 April 2025, within the framework of the European Studies for Technical Specialities at Lviv Polytechnic National University (EUSTS) project with the support of the EU Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Programme, an interactive event "Dissemination of best practices in teaching European studies and creation of interdisciplinary programmes in Ukrainian higher education institutions: exchange of experience" was held online. The event was organised by the team of the European Studies for Technical Universities at Lviv Polytechnic National University (Lviv) together with professors of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University (Chernivtsi).
Prof. Yaryna Turchyn (EUSTS Project Manager) emphasised the relevance of implementing interdisciplinary educational programmes in Ukrainian universities to enhance the integration process in various fields (energy, ecology, transport, environment, construction, etc.), focused on the stages and features of the development of European studies at Lviv Polytechnic since the late 1990s. and to this day, she elaborated on the peculiarities of the implementation of numerous Jean Monnet projects, which are often interdisciplinary, 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 programmes, elective classes, research, etc. She also informed the participants of the event about the results of the NULP Centre's survey on the possibilities of introducing interdisciplinary programmes in European studies. She also noted that students of technical specialties of the NULP can now study a number of elective courses thanks to Jean Monnet projects, such as: "European aspects of the distribution of medicines at the stages of manufacturer-consumer promotion", "Fundamentals of logistics and supply chain management in pharmacy", "Sustainable development economics in the context of digitalisation: EU experience", "Methods and models of digital sustainable economic development: European practices", "Technologies and standards for personal data protection", "Industrial Internet of things and data protection".
Prof. Natalia Rotar (Deputy Director of the Research Institute for European Integration and Regional Studies, Professor of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University) revealed the sustainable practices and innovative prospects of European Studies at the Chernivtsi National University, emphasising that European Studies began to develop here in 1993 through the introduction of a course on European integration for history students on the initiative of Prof. A. Kruglasov. The speaker focused on the features and results of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies project (2011-2014); teaching courses of the European Studies cycle ("Theory and History of European Integration", "EU Institutions and Political Processes", "Ukraine's European Integration Policy"); training of civil servants in the field of European integration, mainly cross-border cooperation; activities of the Euroclub and the EU Information Centre; the content of new Jean Monnet projects ("The EU and its Neighbours. Network for Enhancing EU Action on the Eastern Borders", "Building Europe Together: European Unity and Integration Processes"); implementation of modern teaching methods, in particular, the model games "European Civic Initiative" and "Conference on the Future of Europe", etc. At the end of the discussion, Prof. Rotar said: "Today, European studies are not only about forming knowledge about the work of European institutions, but also about what our role in the European Union will be".
Associate Professor Nataliia Vovk (EUSTS project participant, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Communications and Information Activities of NULP) shared her experience of best practices in teaching European Studies to students of technical specialities through the prism of the main challenges, such as: encouraging students to choose disciplines; making classes interesting; diversifying the learning process; updating teaching materials; constantly promoting 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 autumn 2025 were also outlined, as well as mechanisms that will ensure the sustainability and further impact of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Studies for Technical Specialities at NULP.
Prof. Oleksandr Kyfiak (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics for Research and International Activities of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University), Associate Professor Victoria Kyfiak (local course instructor within the CERGE-EI Foundation and Localising Economic Education for V4 Countries and Beyond projects, member of the ILCA project team under the EU EIT HEI Initiative) introduced the participants of the event to the content of international educational and integration projects of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. Fedkovych, the CERGE-EI Foundation and the Visegrad Fund and the ILCA-Project, the peculiarities of international cooperation with universities in Romania, Italy, Poland, Germany, Norway, Austria, Lithuania, etc. and distance learning programmes, teaching courses "Labour Economics" and "Development Economics" in the international educational and integration project of the CERGE-EI Foundation, implementation of the Norwegian-Ukrainian projects "Retraining and Social Adaptation of Military Personnel and Their Families in Ukraine" and "Norway-Ukraine. Professional adaptation. Integration into the State System", as well as regional cooperation formats for the cooperation of scholars’ efforts to develop European studies.
Associate Professor Olena Lukachuk (INNOVATION HUB mentor, EUSTS project participant) revealed the peculiarities of conducting interactive classes at the university, the experience of project activities of students at NULP through involvement in INNOVATION HUB activities, friendly visits to various institutions, cooperation with Tech StartUp School, STARTUP Breakthrough 2024 programme, mentoring programmes of Lviv Polytechnic, participation in the Rotary Business Forum and the European Cultural Spaces programme, work on the Map of Cultural Heritage Sites together with students of Toruń University, use of various opportunities from the Erasmus+ programme by Lviv Polytechnic students, etc., and outlined the nearest plans for working with students.
The participants' presentations were followed by an active and interesting discussion on the role of academic diplomacy in preserving and promoting European values, introducing new interdisciplinary programmes, sharing best practices in teaching European studies using interactive teaching methods, implementing projects, and finding new opportunities for academic cooperation.
The practical part of the event with the use of interactive teaching methods ("EU-CHALLENGE BOX", "Gallery Walk: Tour of the EU", etc.) to form knowledge about the EU as a responsible global actor in the modern system of international relations for students of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University was conducted by trainers in teaching methods, participants of the EUSTS project - Associate Professor Olha Ivasechko (Department of Political Science and International Relations), Associate Professor Oleh Tsebenko (Department of Political Science and International Relations). Associate Professor Oleksandr Markovets (Department of Social Communication and Information Activities), Associate Professor Lidiia Kasha (Department of Electromechatronics and Computerized Electromechanical Systems), Associate Professor Iryna Sukhorolska (Department of Political Science and International Relations) also contributed to the preparation of the event.
In total, the event was attended by over 45 participants - students (30 people), professors of Lviv Polytechnic National University and Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The EUSTS project team is grateful to all the participants for interesting discussions, professional presentations, exchange of best practices, and development of new ideas for the development of European studies in Ukrainian universities.
