Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) celebrates a significant milestone as it kicks off the four-year Erasmus+ project “DigiUni”, whose project partners also include the University of Cologne. A hybrid press conference, marking the official launch of “DigiUni”, will take place at KNU on 11 October 2023. Along with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, all members of the project consortium are invited. Professor Beatrix Busse, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Studies, will take part as leading representative of the University of Cologne.
Date:
11 October 2023, 11 a.m. CET, 12 a.m. EEST
“Press conference on the launch of the Erasmus+ project ‘DigiUni’”
The hybrid press conference will take place in English and Ukrainian (simultaneous interpreting). Please register with Ms Liudmyla Zagoruiko and Ms Inna Serbina if you want to take part: liudmyla_zagoruiko(at)knu(dot)ua, +380934238587, inna.serbina(at)knu(dot)ua.
KNU secured €5 million in funding from the European Union for “DigiUni” back in August. This funding will now be utilised to create a high-performance digital platform for Ukrainian universities, especially benefiting students who have had to leave their country or are internally displaced. The project will ensure uninterrupted education for students enrolled in Ukrainian higher education institutions, providing them with digital learning resources, online teaching techniques, and adapted learning content. “We are delighted and honoured to receive this funding to strengthen the digital education environment in Ukraine,” says Professor Volodymyr Bugrov, Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. “This opportunity will allow us to foster innovation and improve access to quality education for students in our country, supporting sustainable recovery, growth and development.”
As a project partner, the University of Cologne’s brings valuable and comprehensive expertise to the project, e.g., in the areas of digital education and assessment, and quality control in education. An innovative digital infrastructure is also being built in the context of the European University Alliance EUniWell, which is led and coordinated by the University of Cologne, so that positive synergy effects as well as collaboration opportunities between the initiatives can be expected. EUniWell, the European University for Well-Being, of which KNU has been a member since August 2022, played a pivotal role in forging the connection between Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the University of Cologne as partners for the successful Erasmus+ application. “We are proud to witness this new collaboration between our member institutions for the advancement of education and well-being. ‘DigiUni’ reflects our commitment to fostering international partnerships and impactful projects,” says Professor Beatrix Busse, Chief Development Officer of EUniWell and Vice-Rector for Teaching and Studies at the University of Cologne. “Through initiatives like this, we aim to enhance educational access and quality, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of individuals and communities.”
The coordination of “DigiUni” by Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv involves higher education institutions and stakeholders from six EU Member States (Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, and Spain) along with 15 other Ukrainian partners. The project includes national universities, the Ministries of Education and Science, and Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance, and associations representing the IT sector and students. “The DigiUni project is pivotal for innovating Ukraine’s digital education landscape. Particularly in light of the challenges posed by the full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory, our focus on establishing the DigiPlatform aims to bolster higher education resilience in Ukraine. We take immense pride in this extensive collaboration between Ukrainian and European partners, alongside Ukrainian national authorities, which underscores our commitment to achieving compelling policy-driven outcomes,” remarks Professor Kseniia Smyrnova, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at KNU and principal coordinator of the DigiUni project.
The successful selection of “DigiUni” is part of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education action, which supports the modernisation and quality enhancement of higher education worldwide. Through this initiative, projects like “DigiUni” promote international cooperation, improve education systems, and contribute to global growth and prosperity. Additionally, the project aims to empower students and educators with essential digital skills, aligning with the European Commission’s priorities of the Green Deal and Digital Transformation initiatives.
Media Contact:
Professor Dr Beatrix Busse
Vice-Rector for Teaching and Studies, University of Cologne
beatrix.busse(at)uni-koeln(dot)de
Press and Communications Team:
Eva Laurie
Communications Manager
European University for Well-Being (EUniWell)
University of Cologne
+49 221 470-76661
eva.laurie(at)uni-koeln(dot)de
More Information:
www.euniwell.eu