On October 16–17, 2025, the FOREU4ALL “Cooperation for Ukraine” Workshop took place in Prague, dedicated to strengthening the cooperation of Ukrainian higher education institutions with the European University Alliances.

The event was organised by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research in cooperation with  the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission , and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. It brought together representatives of more than ten European University Alliances and their Ukrainian partner institutions.

Sumy State University was represented by Dr. Tetyana Mayboroda, Deputy Head of the International Relations Office. Together with Michal Karpíšek, co-organiser of the event and Secretary General of the E³UDRES² European University Alliance, she presented the case of cooperation between E³UDRES² and SumDU, which acts as an associate partner of the Alliance alongside Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy and Cherkasy State Business College .

Participants discussed current successful examples of cooperation, challenges, and perspectives for integrating Ukrainian universities into the European Higher Education Area. The main focus was placed on the transition from assistance to equal partnership, as well as on developing recommendations for the European Commission regarding the future inclusion of Ukrainian universities as full members of the Alliances.

“The bottom-up initiative of the European academic community in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated that such cooperation can become a long-term programme, provided that appropriate mechanisms and strategic planning are developed. For SumDU, this is not only international cooperation but also an opportunity to help shape the European future of Ukrainian higher education,” — emphasized Tetyana Mayboroda.

The workshop concluded with world-café discussions, during which participants developed proposals for expanding academic mobility opportunities, strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian universities to participate in alliances, and preparing for the full association of Ukraine with the Erasmus+ Programme from 2028.

SumDU expresses sincere gratitude to all organisers and partners for the high level of coordination, professional dialogue, and shared vision of a European future for Ukrainian higher education.