On 5 June 2026, SumDU hosted a meeting of participants in the interregional working visit “Space of Unity – Joint Solutions”. It was organized within the national project “Side by Side: United Communities”.

The event brought together representatives of government agencies, local communities, international organizations, and experts to discuss results of inter-municipal cooperation and prospects for developing partnerships.

The visit was moderated by Yehor GORDIEIEV (renowned Ukrainian anchorman).

Participants were welcomed by Oleh HRYHOROV (head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration) as well as representatives of the project “Side by Side: United Communities” and the UN Development Program in Ukraine.

In his speech, Vasyl KARPUSHA (rector of SumDU) emphasized importance of collaboration between university and communities, particularly in border regions.

“A community is people. University’s success is impossible without community’s success. We have always positioned ourselves as an active part of the community, because the university cannot exist separately from the people who live, work, and develop the region here,” – noted the rector.

SumDU today is not only an institution of higher education but also a reliable partner for communities in overcoming contemporary challenges. The university plays an important role in region’s development and is committed to further deepening cooperation with local communities to support their recovery and sustainable development.

Vasyl KARPUSHA highlighted university’s initiatives regarding collaboration with communities. Back in 2022, the program “SumDU – Communities of Sumy Region” was developed. It provided for support to local areas in training specialists, implementing innovative solutions and social work, attracting international grants, etc. Currently, there are plans to update it to reflect current conditions.

In 2023, SumDU, together with its partners, launched a project to help communities prepare grant applications and attract external funding.

“Many international projects teach European approaches to community management, principles of sustainable development, and support for mental health and psychological resilience. We are ready to visit communities, present our capabilities, and assist in implementing joint initiatives,” – emphasized the rector.

Participants discussed results of cluster groups’ work, prospects for implementing joint projects, and further development of interregional partnerships.

The event marked another step toward strengthening cooperation between university, communities, and government institutions to restore, develop, and enhance resilience of Ukrainian regions.