From 19-21 March 2025, the city of Enschede (the Netherlands) hosted the E³UDRES² Spring Summit – the General Assembly of the European University Alliance E³UDRES². The event brought together more than 150 participants representing nine partner universities from across the EU, as well as associated institutions, including Ukrainian universities.

For the second consecutive year, SumDU was invited to join this high-level forum as an active associated partner. The university was represented by Head of the International Affairs Department Dr. Alla Krasulia and her Deputy, Dr. Tetyana Mayboroda.

Dr. Alla Krasulia co-moderated two interactive workshops during the summit. On March 19, she facilitated a session on the Three Horizons Method together with Dr. Leopold Kögler-Vencour (St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria). On March 20, she and Dr. Tetyana Mayboroda led the workshop Building Bridges Through COIL: Fostering Global Collaboration in Higher Education.

The workshop delivered by the representatives of SSU sparked particular interest among the members of the Alliance. This is no surprise, as Ms. Alla and Ms. Tetyana have been at the forefront of developing virtual academic mobility at the university – an initiative that has been actively implemented since 2019 through COIL projects. Over the years, it has expanded to become an integral part of nearly every academic programme at SSU and has gained special significance in the educational process during the full-scale war.

Participants of the event learned about the key stages of COIL development at SSU, the institutional models adopted for its implementation, as well as the core pedagogical, organizational, and didactic approaches that ensure both the quality of learning and sustainable international partnerships. 

“For us, COIL is not just a method – it’s a philosophy of cooperation,” said Tetyana Mayboroda. “In times of global challenges, such models open doors to mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue, and academic support. We are truly grateful to the E³UDRES² Alliance for the trust and for the opportunity to share our experience. The dialogue was sincere, meaningful, and inspiring”.

The speakers shared best practices, as well as institutional, pedagogical, and didactic approaches to implementing COIL effectively. They delivered two workshops to participants from various European universities who were interested in models of virtual learning. Among the associated partners of the Alliance, it was SumDU experience that sparked particular interest – and this direct interest led to an invitation to contribute to the summit’s programme.

“It was a real marathon – two days of travel, two days of deep engagement (with two workshops each day!), and two more days to return home. But there were two of us from Sumy, because meaningful transformation always begins with more than one voice, one heart, one step,” – shared Alla Krasulia.

The Spring Assembly was not only a platform for professional dialogue but also a space for inspiration, new connections, and partnerships. Throughout the two dynamic days, teams from various countries discussed innovative teaching approaches, interdisciplinarity, the challenges of digitalization, and ideas for joint future projects.

“This was more than just sharing experience,” noted Alla Krasulia. “It was a chance to show that Ukrainian universities can be active and equal partners in European academic initiatives. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. Direct communication, open discussion, and genuine support made a meaningful contribution to amplifying the voice of Ukrainian universities within the Alliance”.

SumDU participation in E³UDRES² continues to expand the university’s international integration, creating new opportunities for strategic cooperation, academic mobility, joint research, and institutional development.

We sincerely thank the E³UDRES² European University Alliance and Saxion University of Applied Sciences for the invitation, trust, and for creating a space where ideas cross borders, partnerships are built on solidarity and courage, and shared purpose drives innovation.