On 1 October 2026, Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University hosted a Project Development Meeting entitled “From Idea to Project Proposal”, organised within the framework of the EDUC-WIDE project.

The meeting aimed to strengthen the capacities of academic and research staff to develop competitive international research projects, prepare high-quality grant proposals, and participate in European research funding programmes. Particular attention was given to developing practical project planning skills, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and identifying opportunities for international research partnerships.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Vitalii Shkromyda, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, who highlighted the importance of international project activities for strengthening the University’s research potential and its integration into the European Research Area.

Iryna Hryhoruk, Head of the Research and Development Office, presented the University’s approach to strengthening project development capacities, emphasising the importance of systematic institutional support for researchers throughout the project preparation process. Her presentation addressed the development of competitive project ideas, international partnerships, identification of funding opportunities, and the capacity building of university research teams.

As part of the meeting, Taras Malyshivskyi, Lecturer at the Department of Management and Business Administration, introduced the concept of the University’s Grant Office as an institutional mechanism for supporting research and project development. Participants were introduced to its key functions, including monitoring international funding opportunities, providing consultations to researchers, supporting project concept development, identifying potential partners, building international consortia, and assisting with grant proposal preparation.

A separate session focused on the evaluation of international project proposals. Tetiana Solodzhuk, Head of the Project Management Department, explained the main principles and criteria used by funding organisations to assess project applications. She discussed common weaknesses in proposals and provided practical recommendations on defining project objectives, demonstrating research relevance, presenting expected outcomes, and articulating the potential impact of proposed activities.

The practical component of the Project Development Meeting involved collaborative work on developing project concepts. Working in teams with the support of mentors, participants identified research challenges, formulated project objectives, outlined key activities, defined expected results, and considered the potential impact of their proposed projects.

Particular attention was paid to the logical structure of project proposals, innovation potential, identification of target groups, partnership development, sustainability of results, and relevant funding opportunities, especially within the Horizon Europe programme.

As a result of the meeting, participants developed preliminary project concepts that can serve as a basis for further collaboration, the establishment of research teams, and the preparation of applications for European funding calls.

The Project Development Meeting contributed to the objectives of EDUC-WIDE by strengthening institutional research support capacities, enhancing researchers’ competencies in international project development, and promoting greater participation in the European Research Area. The activity also supported the development of sustainable institutional mechanisms for assisting researchers, fostering international research partnerships, and improving the University’s capacity to successfully participate in competitive European research funding programmes.

A two-day international meeting, “Joint CDEG & GEP Meeting and Knowledge Sharing Workshop,” took place at the University of Pécs (Hungary). The event brought together representatives of universities within the European EDUC alliance as part of the implementation of the EDUC-WIDE project.

The aim of the two-day meeting was to strengthen cooperation between European universities, exchange experience in supporting staff career development, actively implement Gender Equality Plans (GEPs), and seek practical solutions for creating a university environment in which equality, support, and respect for individual needs become integral components of institutional culture.

The first day of the workshop focused on practical tools for ensuring equal opportunities for higher education staff, developing career counselling, and establishing transparent and fair approaches to human resource management.

On 19 October, the meeting was moderated by Kateryna Fomin, Associate Professor at the Department of English Philology, leading specialist at the Project Management Office of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, and leader of an EDUC-WIDE project task.

The participants were welcomed by Professor Katalin Füzér, EDUC-WIDE project coordinator at the University of Pécs, and Iryna Hryhoruk, Head of the Research Department, Associate Professor at the Department of Management and Business Administration, and EDUC-WIDE project coordinator at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University.

Representatives of Masaryk University, Iva Lízalová and Natálie Miklánková, shared their experience in developing a career counselling system for university staff. The discussion focused on practical mechanisms for supporting professional development and translating the university’s strategic objectives into concrete services and opportunities for employees.

Aina Enstad from the University of South-Eastern Norway presented approaches to moving from individual career initiatives towards systematic institutional practices. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating staff professional development into the overall university management strategy.

Particular attention was paid to pay transparency in higher education. Csenge Láng, a representative of the University of Pécs, addressed contemporary approaches to ensuring remuneration transparency, fairness in pay systems, and prospects for their improvement in the university environment.

The first day concluded with a joint creative session facilitated by Claudia Dell’Uomo d’Arme from Paris Nanterre University. The session invited participants to explore gender equality through personal experience, language, identity, and academic solidarity. This approach complemented discussions of management mechanisms with a human-centred perspective, emphasising that people, their needs, dignity, and opportunities for self-realisation must remain at the heart of institutional policies.

The second day began with Tetiana Solodzhuk, Head of the Project Management Office, Associate Professor at the Department of Finance, and leader of an EDUC-WIDE project task.

Martina Cannone, a representative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, delivered a presentation on the European policy context for advancing inclusive gender equality in research and innovation.

The Ukrainian experience of gender-responsive budgeting and the role of higher education institutions in its development were presented by Oksana Tsiupa, Associate Professor at the Department of Finance at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University and a national expert in public financial management and gender-responsive budgeting in Ukraine.

Participants also heard a presentation by Ester Cois, Professor at the University of Cagliari and President of the National Conference of Equality Bodies in Italian Universities. Her presentation focused on moving beyond the formal adoption of Gender Equality Plans towards genuine institutional change and the development of a culture of care.

A common theme running through the expert presentations was the understanding of gender equality not as a separate area of university policy, but as a cross-cutting principle of governance that should influence decision-making, resource allocation, professional opportunities, and the everyday life of the university community.

The central part of the second day was an interactive working session entitled “Gender Equality in Action: Building Inclusive, Supportive, and People-Centred Universities.” The session was jointly designed by Tetiana Solodzhuk and Claudia Dell’Uomo d’Arme, who also facilitated the participants’ work.

Instead of the traditional presentation format, participants were invited to jointly explore how gender equality principles are implemented across different universities and which institutional practices could be useful to other partners.

The participants worked on distinguishing between practices that could be relatively easily adapted, approaches requiring changes to institutional or regulatory frameworks, and shared principles that could be implemented by different universities while taking their specific characteristics into account.

For Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, contributing to the programme, participating in expert discussions, and facilitating collaborative work provided an opportunity not only to present the Ukrainian experience but also to make a direct contribution to the development of common European approaches to promoting gender equality in higher education.

The main conclusion of the workshop was that genuine gender equality begins when universities move beyond declarations and formal strategies towards concrete management decisions, institutional practices, and a culture of mutual respect, support, and responsibility.

The event was held as part of the EDUC-WIDE international project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme.

On 22 October, Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University hosted an important event as part of the EDUC-WIDE project, bringing together researchers and experts to discuss how universities can support diverse, inclusive, and sustainable research careers. The meeting focused on two interconnected themes: understanding what has already been implemented and what has been learned, and exploring how existing practices can be transformed into meaningful, long-term impact. We were delighted to welcome distinguished speakers who shared their expertise and insights into career opportunities for researchers beyond academia. Their contributions offered valuable perspectives on how researchers can apply their knowledge, skills, and experience in different professional environments and build fulfilling careers beyond traditional academic pathways.
The audience included early-career researchers and researchers at R2 level, whose active participation made the discussions particularly relevant and engaging. For many participants, it was an opportunity to reflect on their professional futures, discover alternative career pathways, and better understand the skills needed to navigate an evolving research and innovation landscape. What made this meeting especially valuable was the opportunity to connect institutional experience with researchers’ real needs and aspirations. Supporting research careers means looking beyond academic positions and creating an environment in which diverse talents, transferable skills, and professional ambitions can flourish.
A sincere thank you to all our speakers, colleagues, and participants for their openness, expertise, and meaningful contributions. Every such discussion brings us a step closer to more inclusive, flexible, and sustainable research career ecosystems.

Rector Valentyna Yakubiv and Tetiana Hrynyshak, Head of the Centre for Research, Projects and Scientific Information at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, visited the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), a partner within the EDUC European University Alliance.

The visit took place within the EDUC-WIDE project, supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.

Together with Norwegian colleagues and representatives of Masaryk University, the participants explored approaches to digital university management, data analytics, research repositories, Open Science and digital tools for research management. The discussions offered valuable insights into how universities can use data and digital infrastructure to support research and institutional development.

🤝 A meeting with representatives of Drammen Municipality highlighted cooperation between the university and the local community, including support for Ukrainians who have found refuge in the city since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Rector Valentyna Yakubiv proposed educational and cultural initiatives connecting our university with Drammen’s Ukrainian community to help preserve Ukrainian language, culture, traditions and ties with Ukraine.

🔬 At USN’s Vestfold campus, the delegation visited the Science Park and research laboratories. Simulation-based learning was a particular highlight, demonstrating how realistic professional scenarios help students develop practical skills and prepare for their future careers.

The visit strengthened our international partnerships and provided inspiration for advancing digital governance, research infrastructure and practical learning at our university.

💙💛 Our sincere thanks to USN for the warm welcome and thoughtful programme, and to our Norwegian and Czech colleagues for sharing their experience and supporting Ukraine!

#EDUC #EDUCWIDE #HorizonEurope #OpenScience #Digitalisation #InternationalCooperation #CNU #USN

A lecturer at the Department of Management and Business Administration of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, a participant in the project “EmpoWering EDUC for Inclusive Development of the ERA,” implemented under the Horizon Europe programme, took part in an academic exchange programme at Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic).

The purpose of the academic exchange was to study Masaryk University’s experience in developing a research environment, responsible assessment of research activity, support for researchers and doctoral students, technology transfer, development of university innovations, and international project cooperation.

The main part of the stay was devoted to work with the Research Office of Masaryk University, headed by Michal Petr, as well as the Centre for Research Culture, Evaluation and Doctoral Studies, headed by Monika Kuchlei Siberova. During the meetings, the university’s approaches to assessing the results of research activity, shaping research culture, supporting researchers at different stages of their academic careers, and developing doctoral studies were examined in detail.

A separate area of work concerned technology transfer and the commercialization of research results. During a meeting with the head of the Technology Transfer Office of Masaryk University, Radoslav Trautmann, the mechanisms of university–business interaction, support for innovative developments, and the creation of conditions for the practical implementation of research results were discussed. There was also a meeting with Veronika Stepankova, a representative of the South Moravian Innovation Centre, during which attention was focused on the development of university spin-off innovation companies and the mechanisms for turning research developments into innovative products and services.

An important component of the academic exchange was communication with Robin Burda, a research fellow at the Department of Political Science of Masaryk University and a participant in the project “ATHENA Seed (Advanced THinking and ENhanced Analysis platform).” The meeting was devoted to the development of international project cooperation, in particular the formation of international consortia and the preparation of joint project initiatives.

The academic exchange made it possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the organization of research and innovation activities at Masaryk University and to trace the interconnection between research culture, the system of research assessment, support for researchers, the development of doctoral studies, technology transfer, and international project activity.

The practical nature of the exchange was particularly valuable: during working meetings, it was possible not only to become acquainted with the relevant approaches but also to discuss the possibilities of adapting them to the Ukrainian university environment. Following the academic exchange, three analytical reports with recommendations were prepared, which systematize the experience gained and formulate proposals for the possible application of certain practices at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. Participation in the academic exchange programme became an important step towards deepening international cooperation, professional development, and the exchange of practices in the field of research, innovation, and the development of a modern university in the context of the European Research Area.