On 1-4 October 2024, the fifth training workshop “Network of Universities to Improve Management Capabilities and New Developments: The Best Practices of the University of Strasbourg and the EPICUR Alliance” took place in France. The host was the University of Strasbourg (France). The event was held within the EU Erasmus+ project “Digital University – Open Ukrainian Initiative” (DigiUni).

The project started in December 2023. It creates a digital educational ecosystem in Ukraine that will provide continuous, high-quality and inclusive education for students and teachers regardless of their location.

The event brought together representatives of partner universities to share experiences and discuss further steps in project implementation. The key topics of the event were:

• Promotion of networks, alliances and mergers of universities as tools for improving management, sustainable development and competitiveness of higher education institutions.
• Enhancement of consortium projects and international cooperation, discussion of opportunities and challenges related to the joint implementation of educational and scientific initiatives.
• Implementation of digital technologies in education (resources for learning and teaching, alliance digitalization).
• European integration of higher education (development of joint degrees, microcredits and certification to facilitate mobility of students and teachers).
• Employment of graduates, higher role of universities in preparing students for modern labor markets.
• Acquaintance with advanced technologies and infrastructure to support educational and scientific processes at universities.

The SumDU delegation included Ivan KOZII (vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work), Oksana SHOVKOPLIAS (head of the Department of Computer Sciences), Borys KUZIKOV (head of the Electronic Learning Systems Laboratory).

SumDU representatives had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with experience of European colleagues in education digitalization. “Participation in such meetings allows us not only to adopt thebest practices, but also to present our own innovative solutions in the European arena. The DigiUni project opens up new opportunities for our university to build a modern digital infrastructure and improve quality of educational services”, – said Ivan KOZII.

The DigiUni project is an important step on the way to unite efforts of Ukrainian and European universities in creating a sustainable and effective educational ecosystem that will meet modern challenges and needs of society.