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On February 10, Sumy State University delegates took part in symposium of the Urban X-Change Network project in German twin-city for Sumy: "Joint Peace Center Celle-Sumy: Support in times of crisis through education, social affairs and culture", dedicated to the organization of lifelong learning and adult education as its component during crisis period.
From the German side was represented by the following members: the representative of the Institute for International Cooperation of the Association of German National Universities (DVV International) Lisa WARNKE, the director of the Volkshochschule Celle (Adult Education Centre – Celle) Lilian STEINKE and her team, as well as representatives of the educational sphere, psychological centers and libraries of Lower Saxony. The delegation of Sumy State University consisted of: the chairman of the board and the executive director of the Lifelong Learning Centre-Sumy , professors Yuryi PETRUSHENKO and Hanna SHVINDINA, the deputy head of the international cooperation department Tetyana MAYBORODA, the director of the Institute of Business, Economics and Management Tetiana VASILYEVA and Ph.D. student Kateryna ONOPRIENKO, who work in adults education sphere both as scientists and as practitioners.
During the seminar, representatives of Sumy State University were introduced to current issues of adult education in Lower Saxony and Celle, and our delegates represented the topics about the activities of the Lifelong Learning Center in the city of Sumy, which is carried out in close cooperation with the university, about the courses implemented as part of the project, the relevance and importance of choosing actual topics for trainings and seminars since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of russia to support the population of the city. The participants of the seminar discussed directions of cooperation in the field of adult education, first of all from the point of view of the possibility of borrowing German experience, as German institutes for adult education (VHS) have existed for about 100 years, as well as the issue of necessary support to be provided to Sumy State University and Sumy residents in wartime conditions.
As the result of the seminar – there was the signing of a Memorandum on long-term cooperation between Sumy State University, the Lifelong Learning Centre-Sumy and Adult Education Centre of Celle on the development of cooperation in the field of lifelong education.
FYI: The Adult Education Centre of Celle (VHS-Celle) has been cooperating with the Lifelong Learning Centre "Education for Life" operating at Sumy State University for 2 years. In particular, in 2021, the educational festival "The art of learning and living together: education for democracy, human rights and sustainable development" was launched; and in 2022, with the help of a project from the VHS of Celle, a joint educational course on psychological first aid was implemented and equipped a classroom in the bomb shelter of the Congress Center of Sumy State University, in which classes can be held during air raids.
The Adult Education Centre of Celle was created after the Second World War as a response to the challenge of the need for new education for the post-war reconstruction of Germany, so the importance of such cooperation and exchange of experience is more relevant and important than ever.
