eng 
укр 
On 24 October 2023, an educational forum “Rebuilding Ukraine through the Synergy of Universities and Local Communities” was held in Kyiv. Among the organizers, there was Sumy State University as a member of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities.
The forum launched the pilot project “Strengthening the Capacity of Communities to Rebuild through Piloting Their Interaction with Universities”. It was supported via the Renaissance Foundation.
The project goal is to study the needs of communities and ways to solve them through the use of the university potential. Its forms of skills for attracting international aid.
Rectors and experts from the Alliance of Universities, representatives of the public sector, delegates of local communities discussed future cooperation, opinions, expertise of educational institutions for community needs. During the event, universities and communities solemnly signed a memorandum of cooperation.
The selected communities will have an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their needs and prepare development projects together with universities. They will also be able to improve qualifications of specialists and establish cooperation between communities and university experts.
Vasyl KARPUSHA (the rector of Sumy State University) presented the long-term experience of fruitful cooperation between SumDU and oblast communities. He underlined the city-forming role of the university and intentions to deepen ties with local communities for their recovery.
Kostiantyn KYRYCHENKO (the coordinator of SumDU activities in the Alliance, the International Cooperation Department head) stated this project is an important example in attracting resources of international organizations.
Notes: The Alliance of Ukrainian Universities, together with Sumy State University, includes Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University (Kyiv), Kyiv School of Economics (Kyiv), Dnipro Polytechnic National Technical University (Dnipro), National University of Water Management and Nature Resources Use (Rivne) as well as Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv).
