Sumy State University (SumDU) is actively implementing the international project “Service-learning in Higher Education for Ukraine’s Recovery” (ServU, Project No. 101128922 – ServU – ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE), funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme.

The project aims to introduce service-learning as a tool for Ukraine’s recovery and to foster stronger cooperation between higher education institutions and local communities.

In May 2025, representatives of SumDU held meetings with officials from the Sumy and Konotop territorial communities within the framework of the ServU project. Participants from SumDU included:

• First Vice-Rector Inna Shkolnyk;
• Head of the International Cooperation Office Alla Krasulia;
• Head of the Quality Assurance Center Olga Liuta;
• Course developers and lecturers Anastasiia Samoilikova and Viktoriia Petrashenko;
• International Cooperation Office staff: Iryna Tsehelnikova and Viktoriia Kupriieva;

The local communities were represented by:

• Oksana Kubrak, Head of Strategic Development of the Sumy City Council, with colleagues;
• Tetiana Hrebenyk, Director of the SumDU Classical Professional College (Konotop), together with representatives of the Konotop City Council.

In her opening remarks, First Vice-Rector Inna Shkolnyk emphasized:

“For Sumy State University, participation in the ServU international project is of great significance. We fully recognize the importance of collaboration with European partners, especially when it comes to the development of innovative educational practices such as service-learning.
This approach not only modernizes academic programmes but also integrates the project outcomes into the daily life of territorial communities, responding to the real needs and demands of society.”

Olga Liuta, Head of the Quality Assurance Center, highlighted the relevance of academic disciplines developed within the framework of service-learning. She noted that service-learning represents a modern educational approach that has gained wide recognition across Europe and is now actively being introduced in Ukraine.

During the meetings, participants discussed pilot versions of new course syllabi in two key areas:

• “Entrepreneurship and Digital Business Communication” Course developer: Anastasiia Viktorivna Samoilikova, PhD in Economics, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Financial Technologies and Entrepreneurship, Institute of Business, Economics and Management, SumDU
• “Supporting Children’s Mental Health” Course developer: Viktoriia Oleksandrivna Petrashenko, PhD in Medicine, Associate Professor at the Department of Pediatrics, Medical Institute, SumDU

Representatives of the Sumy City community actively engaged in discussions, contributing their perspectives and ideas regarding the development priorities of educational programmes. Konotop community members expressed interest in involving various population groups in the courses, as well as in implementing these courses in local educational institutions.

The developed courses are expected to be effectively applied in the following areas:

• Training of specialists for local government bodies
• Professional development programmes for civil servants
• Design of local recovery programmes, development strategies, and action plans
• Creation of local-level internal policy monitoring systems

All feedback and suggestions were recorded and will be forwarded to the relevant experts at SumDU for refinement of the course content in line with the actual needs of the communities and current challenges.

Future plans include the further development of courses that respond to pressing societal needs. A key step in this process will be the active involvement of European partners in shaping the content of new programmes. Such collaboration will help integrate the best European educational practices and ensure a high standard of professional training. Once finalized, the updated courses will be incorporated into the academic curriculum of Sumy State University, contributing to the ongoing modernization of the educational environment.

SumDU’s participation in the ServU project demonstrates the university’s commitment to aligning education with real societal needs and supporting Ukraine’s recovery and development through active community engagement. It also creates new opportunities for students and academic staff to gain practical experience and develop civic competencies.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Sumy State University continues to maintain close cooperation with international partners and local communities, who require particular attention and support in times of war.

Background

The ServU project was launched in late 2023 as a result of joint efforts by six universities from four countries. Ukrainian participants include the Ukrainian Catholic University, Sumy State University, and the National Technical University “Dnipro Polytechnic.” International partners include KU Leuven (Belgium), LUMSA University (Italy), and the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (Germany).

ServU is one of the higher education reform initiatives supported by Erasmus+ with the financial backing of the European Union and the European Commission.

This material was created with the co-funding of the European Union. It reflects the position of the ServU project and does not necessarily represent the views of the European Union.