On 4 December 2025, the Kick-off Meeting of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project “Good Governance Practice: European Experience for Ukraine” (101237607 — EG4HDCEEU4UI) was held.
Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University was represented by Vasyl Klymonchuk, Doctor of Political Sciences and Professor of the Department of Political Science; Ivan Monolatii, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science; and Nadiia Klykailo, Leading Specialist of the Project Management Office.
The meeting took place in a hybrid format at Dragomanov Ukrainian State University and online, bringing together representatives of universities and research institutions from Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, and Latvia. The event opened with welcome remarks from Veronika Tkachenko, representative of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, and Vitalii Stashuk, Vice-Rector for International Relations at Dragomanov Ukrainian State University.
Presenting the project, the Coordinator Vitalii Stashuk outlined its central aim: to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ukrainian universities and public authorities through the adoption of modern European approaches to good governance. The project seeks not only to modernise administrative practices in higher education but also to support transparent decision-making, effective management, and cooperation between universities and public institutions.
During the partner presentations, participants shared their institutional experience and expected contributions. Tetiana Solodzhuk, Head of the Project Management Office at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, presented the university’s project management expertise and highlighted its role in supporting implementation and coordination activities within the consortium.
Representatives of Ukrainian State University named after Mykhailo Drahomanov, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University, Kryvyi Rih National University, Baltic International Academy, Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, the I. F. Kuras Institute of Political and Ethnic Studies of the NAS of Ukraine, and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University also introduced their institutions and planned contributions.
A dedicated session was devoted to the structure of the project and the content of its key Work Packages, which cover coordination and monitoring, the development of a modern educational environment, capacity building for university managers and public servants, and the analysis and implementation of European governance practices in education and research.
The meeting concluded with an open discussion on coordination mechanisms, the implementation timeline, and the expected results. Partners agreed on the first steps of cooperation and emphasised the importance of continuous communication within the consortium.
The Kick-off Meeting became not only the formal beginning of the project but also the starting point for building a shared vision of how European good governance principles can be effectively adapted to the Ukrainian higher education system. The project is expected to contribute to strengthening university management, improving interaction with public authorities, and supporting the broader transformation of governance practices in Ukraine in line with European standards.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.