The implementation of the international project Service-Learning in Higher Education for Ukraine’s Recovery (ServU), No. 101128922 – ServU – ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE, continues within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme (ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE).

This phase of the project featured working meetings of the consortium partners and a thematic seminar entitled “The Impact of Service-Learning Pedagogy in the Context of War and Recovery,” held at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium). The event focused on the outcomes of the fourth work package, dedicated to the design and piloting of service-learning courses aligned with the current needs of territorial communities.

Sumy State University was represented by First Vice-Rector, Doctor of Economics, Professor Inna SHKOLNYK; Head of the Center for Higher Education Quality Assurance, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor Olha LIUTA; as well as course developers – PhD in Medicine, Associate Professor Viktoriia PETRASHENKO, and PhD in Economics, Senior Lecturer Anastasiia SAMOILIKOVA.

SumDU presented two academic courses piloted in cooperation with the Sumy City Territorial Community:

• “Supporting Children’s Mental Health” (developed and delivered by Dr. Viktoriia PETRASHENKO);
  
• “Entrepreneurship and Digital Business Communications” (developed and delivered by Dr. Anastasiia SAMOILIKOVA).

The courses received highly positive feedback from students, community representatives, and meeting participants. Discussions of the results reaffirmed the relevance of service-learning as an effective mechanism for strengthening university–community engagement, particularly in the context of wartime challenges and post-war recovery.

Further details are available via the link.

Sumy State University’s participation in the ServU project contributes to the adoption of contemporary educational practices, reinforces the university’s social responsibility, and fosters sustainable partnerships with territorial communities.

This material has been produced with the co-financing of the European Union. Its contents represent the views of the ServU project and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.