Join us for the first lecture of the series "Ukrainian Education and Academia in Times of War"

🎓 Academic Freedom and Resilience: Scholars in Times of War
Speaker: Viktoria Sereda (Kyiv School of Economics, VUIAS)

📅 Thursday, 11 June 2026
🕓 16.00-18.00 CEST / 17.00 – 19.00 EEST
💻 Join via Zoom:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89662760990?pwd=Gbn1XCKoYK3RrUM7hCuq3KxOGpMzbU.1
Meeting ID: 896 6276 0990
Passcode: 0fAdD0

We look forward to welcoming students, researchers, and all those interested in the future of higher education in times of war and transformation.

📢 Join the SUUN Lecture Series 2026: Ukrainian Education and Academia in Times of War.

From 11 June to 16 July 2026, scholars from Ukraine and Germany will come together for five online lectures and a roundtable discussion exploring how education and academia respond to war, displacement, and societal change.

Topics include:
🎓 Academic freedom and resilience in wartime
📚 Challenges facing secondary and higher education in Ukraine
🌍 Ukrainian students abroad and transnational educational experiences
🤝 European integration and the internationalization of Ukrainian education
🏛️ Universities in exile, academic communities, and cross-border cooperation
💻 Online via Zoom | Open to all interested participants  

June-July 2026, Thursdays, 16.00-18.00 CSET / 17.00 – 19.00 EEST
Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89662760990?pwd=Gbn1XCKoYK3RrUM7hCuq3KxOGpMzbU.1
Meeting ID: 896 6276 0990
Passcode: 0fAdD0
 

The SUUN Training Course 2026 (Module 2 – Phase 2) took place from 20 to 24 April in Saarbrücken, Germany, bringing together ten participants from ten Ukrainian universities for an intensive week of professional exchange, collaborative learning, and strategic development.

Organized by Saarland University, the program combined academic expertise, intercultural dialogue, and practical workshops to support participants in developing their Strategic Action Plans (SAPs). Through expert-led sessions, SAP Idea Labs, coaching sessions, and collaborative group work, participants explored approaches to internationalization, university leadership, research cooperation, and institutional development in higher education.

The program featured contributions from numerous experts from Saarland University and partner institutions. Prof. Dr. Astrid M. Fellner led sessions on Strategic Action Plans and internationalization, while Prof. Peter Franklin focused on intercultural leadership in university contexts. Dr. Ekaterina Klüh introduced the mobility program and formats of international cooperation, and Nina Christmann presented opportunities for research collaboration and academic networking in Germany. Perspectives on the internationalization of Ukrainian higher education were provided by Prof. Dr. Oleksandr Pronkevich, who discussed current developments, challenges, and strategic approaches within the Ukrainian university landscape. Sessions dedicated to SAP development and implementation were guided by Dr. Nataliia Ishchenko.  Additional sessions included contributions from Dr. Birgit Michel-Dittgen on human resources management and leadership development, as well as from Adèle Robart and Julia Lenz, who introduced quality assurance processes and joint study programs within European university alliances. Participants also visited the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry at Saarland University, where Prof. Dr. Claus Jacob and Dr. Muhammad Jawad Nasim welcomed the group and provided insights into interdisciplinary research and academic practice. The overall coordination of the training course was carried out by Dr. Olha Polishchuk, Dr. Alina Mozolevska, and Eva Nossem.

The program also created space for networking and exchange with colleagues and experts from Saarland University. Participants had the opportunity to explore the university campus and learn more about its academic and research environment during a guided campus tour. Beyond the academic program, participants experienced the cultural and historical landscape of Saarland through a guided city tour of Saarbrücken and excursions to the Saarschleife and the Völklinger Hütte UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The training course also provided an important platform for discussing the current challenges and transformation processes in Ukrainian higher education and for strengthening academic cooperation between Ukrainian and German universities.

The week concluded with the presentation and refinement of the participants’ Strategic Action Plans, marking an important milestone in their professional and institutional development.

We invite you to explore the posters prepared by the participants to learn more about the universities they represent. We would like to sincerely thank all participants for their active engagement, openness, and the inspiring exchange that shaped this training week.