Project name: BRIDGES TO BELONGING: INTEGRATING UKRAINIAN STUDENTS IN EUROPEAN HEIS  2025-1-РL01-КА220-НЕD-000357344

Project objective:Enhancing inclusion, equity, and resilience in European higher education institutions by supporting the academic, psychological, and social integration of displaced Ukrainian students. Through the development and implementation of sustainable integration frameworks, educator training, and cross-border cooperation, the project aims to strengthen institutional capacity, promote inclusive practices, and create supportive environments that empower displaced students and foster the development of host communities in Poland, Greece, Lithuania, and Ukraine.

Project description: The project is aimed at supporting displaced Ukrainian students and developing inclusive educational practices in European higher education institutions. The initiative aligns with the priorities of the Erasmus+ program and the "Arrangement for Cooperation on Education between the EU and Ukraine," focusing on equity, inclusion, and resilience of universities. Due to the war, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes, including thousands of students facing difficulties continuing their studies. The project brings together universities from Poland, Greece, Lithuania, and Ukraine to develop and implement a model for the academic, social, and psychological integration of Ukrainian students into new educational environments.

Main project goals:

1.Enhancing the level of inclusion and equality in European higher education institutions;

2. Strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable integration strategies;

3. Promoting cross-border cooperation and knowledge exchange;

4. Increasing the resilience of Ukrainian higher education institutions.

The project is expected to reach 250 Ukrainian students and establish a sustainable support system that combines psychological, academic, and social assistance. Through experience-sharing between EU and Ukrainian universities, the project will contribute to building institutional capacity, fostering an inclusive culture in higher education, and strengthening the European Education Area.

In a broader context, this project demonstrates how education can be a powerful tool to overcome the consequences of war, support youth, and build a more cohesive, resilient, and humane society.

PROJECT TEAM:

1. Bulyna Antonina – Deputy Head of the International Relations Department, PhD

2. Kichera Nadiia – Assoc. Professor of the Department of Political Science, PhD

3. Lendel Myroslava – Vice-Rector, Professor of the Department of Political Science

4. Povidaichyk Oksana – Head of the Department of General Pedagogy and Higher Education Pedagogy, Professor

5. Popovych Nataliya –Assoc. Professor of the Department of Multicultural Education and Translation, Head of the Educational and Scientific Interdisciplinary Center of The Humanities “ChristLit”

6. Sviezhentseva Oksana –Head of the International Relations Department, Assoc. Professor, PhD

7. Shelever Oksana – Assoc. Professor of the Department of Psychology, PhD

Project duration: 01.09.2025-31.08.2027

The amount of the grant for Ukraine (UzhNU): €40 850,00

APPLICANT:  Akademia Finansów i Biznesu Vistula (Poland)https://vistula.edu.pl/

PROJECT PARTNERS:

Uzhhorod National University (Ukraine)www.uzhnu.edu.ua

Kauno technologijos universitetas (Lithuania)www.actionforcivilsociety.org

Athens university of economics and business - research center (Greece)www.aueb.gr

Action for the civil society (Greece)www.ktu.edu

Association "Euro Lider" (Poland)www.eurolider.org.pl