SumDU realized an EU Erasmus+ project on journalism enhancement

At Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland), the final international conference took place. It was held within the EU Erasmus+ project “Journalism Education for Ukrainian Democracy: Standards, Integrity and Competence” (598964-EPP-1-2018-1-UK-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP).

Here, ten Ukrainian institutions participated. Among them, there were SumDU and European partners: Bath Spa University (the UK), Dublin Institute of Arts, Technologies and Design (Dublin), University of Vienna (Austria), Linnaeus University (Sweden). Also, the Ukrainian Erasmus+ Office and the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science took part.

The event summed up the project results. They comprised new Master’s curriculums for universities in Ukraine, implementation of 20 media literacy courses, establishment of the Journalism Research Association and the European Journalism Training Association. The project partners will keep cooperating for over 5 years to share experience, media information and journalism education methods. Besides, academic mobility programs will be offered as dual degree diplomas.

As SumDU project executors, the Department of Journalism and Philology has significantly improved its material and technical basis. The journalism curriculum has been upgraded according to the EU standards. Lecturers and students could complete advanced trainings and internships in European institutions.

Volodymyr SADIVNYCHYI (the project supervisor and department head) enumerated the latest developments as introduction of project results. Firstly, SumDU media curriculums were revised. Secondly, European workshops were conducted to reassess curriculums. Thirdly, SumDU programs were checked by international experts. Fourthly, the department was provided with over 600,000 hryvnias for academic support.

Kostiantyn KYRYCHENKO (head of the International Affairs Department) states that the SumDU project results were appreciated by European specialists. It is a basis for further foreign cooperation and academic mobility to raise journalism education. Currently, the latter is extremely important for our country.