The delegation of UzhNU attended the first transnational reporting meeting within the framework of the grant project
On January 20-21, 2025, the first transnational reporting meeting was held at the University of Angers (France) within the framework of the Erasmus+ CA2 grant project ‘Teaching the basics of healthy eating in the training of healthcare professionals’ (more about the project). The event was attended by representatives of the five countries participating in the project: Ireland, Sweden, France, Romania, and Ukraine.As part of the delegation from Uzhhorod National University, the meeting was attended by Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Nadiya Boyko, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Olena Dulo, Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor Olha Kryvanych, and Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor Oleh Shvets. The conference was opened by the Vice-Rector of the University of Angers, Professor Catherine Passirani, who introduced the structure of the University of Angers and the list of specialities available to higher education students.
Sarah O'Donovan (Atlantic University of Technology, Ireland) reported on behalf of the project coordinators, who presented the reporting procedure and a list of work packages within the project, as well as shared her experience in implementing nutrition education in the Irish educational system.
Representatives of the participating countries provided a preliminary analysis of the inclusion of nutrition, dietetics, the basics of healthy eating and the use of food supplements in the curricula of their higher education institutions. Among the speakers were Anne-Marie Le Ray (University of Angers), Mikaela Willmer (University of Evele, Sweden) and George Dejio (University of Oradea, Romania).
Ukraine was represented by the coordinator of the Ukrainian group of scientists, Head of the Department of Medical and Biological Disciplines, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of Uzhhorod National University, Nadiya Boyko, who presented the state of implementation of nutrition in the educational programmes of four healthcare specialties in Ukraine, namely medicine, pharmacy, nursing and physical therapy.
‘At this stage, we are providing a preliminary analysis of the substantive and quantitative presence of nutrition in the educational trajectories of future healthcare professionals. Currently, 27 educational and professional programmes in all specialities have been developed, with up to 15 planned for each speciality. We are aware of the need to include nutrition in the educational and professional training programmes, as we clearly define the target audience and practical application of nutrition knowledge in the future professional activities of doctors and pharmacists. They will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases and eating disorders, while future nurses and physical therapists will work to improve the quality of life, well-being and functional recovery of people suffering from various diseases, not only of the gastrointestinal tract,’ summed up Nadiia Boyko.
The project started in November 2024. The preliminary analysis of nutrition education programmes was carried out by the announced working group, whose experts were responsible for a particular speciality: Nursing - O.V. Pallag, Physical Therapy - O.A. Dulo, Pharmacy - O.V. Kryvanych, Medicine - O.V. Shvets, Postgraduate Education - A.E. Dorofeev.
At the end of the conference, the participants agreed on the next steps in the implementation of the grant project. In particular, conducting focus group interviews, the results of which will be presented at future joint meetings and used to develop and implement new methodological approaches to teaching nutrition to healthcare professionals of various profiles.
We are grateful to the management and financial department of UzhNU for timely and well-coordinated administration, which contributes to the successful implementation of the tasks.
