On April 2, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University hosted an Information Day for the EU Erasmus+ Program, titled “Building Bridges between Ukraine and Portugal.” The event brought together representatives from educational institutions, youth organisations, centres, government agencies, and individuals working in the fields of youth and international cooperation.
Speakers included Luís Alveys, Director of the National Agency Erasmus+ in Portugal, Svitlana Shytikova, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, and Kateryna Zhdanova, Senior Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine.
Before the central part of the event began, Luís Alveys and Svitlana Shytikova met with Ihor Tsependa, the acting rector of PNU. During the meeting, they discussed the prospects for developing academic mobility, the university’s participation in new Erasmus+ projects, and the importance of international cooperation in the post-war reconstruction of Ukrainian education.
First Vice-Rector of PNU, Valentina Yakubiv, welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of international cooperation in developing Ukrainian youth and expanding educational opportunities.
“It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. Today, we are united by a shared commitment to rebuilding, enhancing, and strengthening our educational system. Our efforts extend beyond improving the quality of higher education — we also bear the critical responsibility of preparing future educators who will guide the next generations of learners. These students will, in turn, become our future applicants. I am especially pleased to welcome representatives from the city’s lyceums and secondary schools who are present with us today. I wish all participants a fruitful experience — may you acquire valuable insights, establish new partnerships, and forge meaningful connections. I sincerely hope that, by next year, we will be able to submit numerous joint projects aimed at advancing education in our region and across Ukraine. Thank you all for your participation, and I wish you a productive and inspiring day,” stated Valentina Yakubiv.
Following her remarks, Svitlana Shytikova, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, addressed the audience. She introduced the event’s speakers and provided a brief overview of the event’s objective — to foster stronger collaboration between Ukraine and Portugal within the framework of the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Luís Alveys, Director of the National Erasmus+ Agency in Portugal. In his speech, he shared Portugal’s experience in promoting youth mobility, outlined the specific aspects of implementing educational projects, and highlighted the opportunities available to Ukrainian youth organizations within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. He noted that the growing cooperation between Ivano-Frankivsk and Braga could serve as a model for effective international partnerships.
“It is a great honour to be here today and to speak about the valuable opportunities offered by the European Commission. Ukraine is currently enduring challenging circumstances — the ongoing war has brought destruction and immense hardship, particularly for the younger generation. We fully understand and respect your pursuit of independence, freedom, and national sovereignty. The values we defend together are fundamentally European: democracy, the rule of law, and adherence to international law. Across Europe, people continue to express solidarity with Ukraine and urge their governments to take even more decisive action in support of the country. While youth programmes may not be decisive in military or economic terms, they play a vital role in empowering young people, supporting their development, and fostering their integration into the broader European community. Implementing such projects under the current conditions is undoubtedly challenging. Nevertheless, despite these difficulties, we have succeeded in joining efforts, strengthening cooperation with youth organizations, and supporting the work of the Erasmus+ Youth Office,” stated Mr. Alveys.
“Let us remember that the absence of partners is not the problem — the real challenge lies in the absence of a strong idea,” emphasized Kateryna Zhdanova, Senior Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine.
The event programme featured several key components:
- An overview of 40 current Erasmus+ calls for proposals available to Ukrainian participants under the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme.
- A discussion on opportunities for cooperation, strategic partnerships, and the exchange of project ideas between Ukraine and Portugal.
- A presentation of European platforms and professional networks in the fields of education and youth work.
The event concluded with an engaging and dynamic discussion session, during which participants actively exchanged perspectives, proposed ideas for future initiatives, and explored potential prospects for developing joint projects.
This Information Day represented a crucial step in strengthening international cooperation between Ukraine and Portugal, creating new opportunities for young people and organisations in both countries, and laying the foundation for future collaboration within the Erasmus+ framework.
