On 23–24 March, a delegation from Sumy State University took part in the UK–Ukraine Research Twinning Showcase and Networking 2026  , organised and hosted by the University of Liverpool, SumDU’s partner within the UK–Ukraine Twinning Initiative 

The delegation included Vasyl Karpusha, under whose leadership the partnership between SumDU and the University of Liverpool was launched, and Tetyana Mayboroda, coordinator of the twinning partnership and Deputy Head of the International Relations Office.

The conference brought together researchers, representatives of university management, government institutions, and international organisations from the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Among the participants were Cormack Consultancy ,Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ,Department for Science, Innovation & Technology ,British Council , Springer Nature, Universities UK International , MSCA4Ukraine, Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science and Sports, and other institutions and partners. 

As part of the event, the Liverpool–Sumy Showcase was presented, reflecting the results of three years of cooperation between the universities. The partnership covers a wide range of areas, from research and co-supervision of PhD students to academic mobility, professional development, collaboration between libraries, and cooperation between media teams.

One of the key achievements was the implementation of the Co-supervision Research Fellowship Programme, in which 70 representatives of SumDU took part. Over 18 months, the programme enabled around 100 research visits to Liverpool. The total funding for this strand amounted to approximately £460,000, which made it possible to support SumDU researchers in conducting research under the co-supervision of professors from the University of Liverpool.

During their stay in Liverpool, the SumDU representatives met with Matt Greenhall, Director of University of Liverpool Libraries, Museums and Galleries . Cooperation between the libraries holds a special place in the partnership between the universities and is one of its strongest and, at the same time, most human-centred areas. A particular point of pride is that the joint application by the libraries was accepted for participation in the  LIBER Annual Conference 2026 , which will take place this summer in Norway.

At the conference, the case of cooperation between the libraries of SumDU and the University of Liverpool will be presented as an example and a source of inspiration for the development of international library partnerships.

A meeting also took place with SumDU students who are currently studying under academic mobility programmes. The students shared their impressions and sincere enthusiasm about the opportunity to study in Liverpool thanks to the support of the University of Liverpool.

The partnership with the University of Liverpool involves all faculties and institutes of SumDU, which ensures its systemic character and sustainability. Cooperation between the institutions is an example of an effective international partnership based on trust, joint work, and the involvement of a wide range of participants. It not only provides support in times of challenge, but also opens up new opportunities for the university’s development and its integration into the international academic community. 

A continuation of the programme in the United Kingdom was the participation of the SumDU delegation in the event “UK–Ukraine Research Bridge: Accelerating Reconstruction through Science and Innovation”, which took place at The Royal Society  in London. The UK–Ukraine Research Bridge initiative is coordinated by University College London   in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine .

The project is aimed at strengthening research cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, supporting Ukraine’s recovery through science and innovation, and creating new opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange, and the development of research capacity.

The event brought together representatives of the research community, government bodies, and international organisations, including Cormack Consultancy ,Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ,Department for Science, Innovation & Technology ,British Council , Springer Nature, Universities UK International ,  Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science and Sports, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine , he Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine, as well as representatives of higher education institutions from the United Kingdom and Ukraine with successful cases of implementing cooperation projects.  

Participation in these events became an important platform for presenting SumDU’s experience, expanding partnerships, and discussing the role of universities in the processes of Ukraine’s recovery. Special attention was paid to the development of research, innovation, training of specialists, and the integration of Ukrainian universities into the European research and educational space.