On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, the “Digital University – Open Ukrainian Initiative” project of the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme was launched at the Taras Shevchenko  National University. The initiative as an instrument to support the higher education development in Ukraine under martial law and post-war recovery.

The European Commission has provided a Specific Window for Ukraine under the Erasmus+ Programme in response to the challenges faced by Ukrainian higher education due to full-scale Russian invasion.

As a result, under the special call 2023, the DigiUni project was selected for funding by the European Union Erasmus+ Programme.

The project team led by the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv consists of a strong international partnership of Universities & Association from France, Germany, Spain, Czechia, and Poland, 10 Ukrainian Universities together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance and Ukrainian Association of IT Professionals.

Based on EU best practices, the team will create a unified digital educational ecosystem in Ukraine that will provide continuous, high-quality, inclusive, and transparent education, regardless of the location of students and academic staff, using digital innovations in education. The project also aims to support students who continued education in Ukraine during martial law and facilitate stronger ties between Ukrainian universities, their students, and staff who were forced to leave Ukraine. Promotion of Ukrainian studies and engagement of foreign students and Ukrainians living abroad in Ukrainian education in general are in project focus too. The project will ensure synergies and close cooperation between Ukrainian partner universities to address the challenges faced by Ukrainian education during the martial law with the multiplication of the project outcomes widely to other Universities, as well as to contribute to a systematic approach to future recovery of Ukraine’s higher education.

Volodymyr BUGROV, Rector of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv presented the Erasmus+ “DigiUni” project and emphasised that future Digital University as a digital educational ecosystem in Ukraine will provide equal access to the quality higher education under martial law and post-war recovery.

Filip VAN DEPOELE, Deputy Director-General, Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission highlighted that European Commission will continue supporting Ukraine in developing its higher education as long as it is needed.

Remi DUFLOT, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine noted: “Today we presented the new Erasmus+ “DigiUni” project that opens new opportunities for Ukrainian students and the country’s education system. I am proud that the EU is constantly upgrading cooperation on higher education with Ukraine.”

Erasmus+ “DigiUni” project will contribute to the strengthening higher education reform in Ukraine, underlined Dmytro ZAVHORODNII, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation.

Valeriya ІОNAN, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine for European integration declared that Erasmus+ “DigiUni”project will promote Ukraine’s Higher Education digitalisation.

Olha BUDNYK, Advisor – Presidential Commissioner for the Presidential Foundation for Support of Education, Science and Sports focused on the importance of ensuring equal access to quality higher education under martial law and post-war recovery as a priority for Ukraine.

Background information:

For more details on the Erasmus+ Programme, please contact: Svitlana Shytikova, +380505966045, +380993322645, office@erasmusplus.org.ua, www.erasmusplus.org.ua