Institute of International Education

SUUN 2026: International Training Module in Saarbrücken, Germany

In the second half of April 2026, the international training module SUUN 2026 was held at Saarland University in Saarbrücken (Federal Republic of Germany). The module was dedicated to the development and implementation of Strategic Action Plans (SAP) aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of higher education institutions, improving management practices, and fostering international cooperation.
The programme combined expert lectures, practical Idea Labs, roundtables, analytical discussions, and working sessions aimed at reflecting on, refining, and practically adapting participants’ strategic plans to the realities of their own universities. Particular attention was paid to academic leadership, intercultural interaction, institutional resilience, quality assurance in education, international mobility, and the internationalisation of higher education. Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University was represented in the programme by Iryna Myhovych, Director of the Institute of International Education and Head of the International Relations Office.
During the training module, participants analysed institutional opportunities and challenges related to implementing strategic changes and took part in the SAP Idea Lab format, where ideas were further elaborated, presented, and discussed with experts. A separate block was devoted to risk analysis in the implementation of strategic plans and the development of mitigation mechanisms, as well as to issues of quality assurance, accreditation, joint educational programmes, and the development of international university alliances.
A particularly notable event was a roundtable talk with Ms. Robin Quinville, former Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States of America in Germany. The event, organised in cooperation with DAI and CEUS, became a platform for open dialogue on current challenges in international diplomacy, the role of universities in shaping global leadership, academic diplomacy, and intercultural understanding.
Sessions dedicated to the internationalisation practices of Saarland University, mobility programmes, systems for supporting international partnerships, as well as quality assurance and the implementation of joint educational programmes within European university alliances, also attracted particular interest.
Participation in the programme became an important stage of professional development, a platform for international exchange of experience, and a step towards further improving the university’s strategic vision in the context of modern global challenges. The knowledge, practical tools, and professional contacts gained during the programme will contribute to the further development of the international activities of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University and strengthen its integration into the European educational and research area.

Participation in a Practical Workshop on Preparing Horizon Europe Proposals

Representatives of the University took part in a practical workshop dedicated to various aspects of developing competitive project proposals under the Horizon Europe programme.
On 10 February, 2026, the online practical workshop “Writing Competitive Horizon Europe Proposals (2026)” was held within the framework of the UK-UA Horizon Europe Support Initiative, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The event focused on the practical aspects of preparing competitive project proposals for the Horizon Europe programme for 2026. Participants received a step-by-step explanation of the proposal development logic, evaluation criteria, and the requirements for the Excellence, Impact, and Implementation sections.
Particular attention was paid to:
• the differences between project types: RIA (Research and Innovation Action), IA (Innovation Action), and CSA (Coordination and Support Action);
• the evaluators’ approach to assessing proposals;
• building a convincing argument in line with the call challenges and expected outcomes;
• communication, dissemination, and exploitation of results.
Representing Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University at the event were Iryna V. Myhovych, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Head of the International Relations Office, and Liudmyla A. Ovcharova, Head of the International Education Sector of the International Relations Office.
Participation in the workshop will contribute to further strengthening the University’s institutional capacity in preparing project proposals for EU programmes, expanding international partnerships, and attracting grant funding for the implementation of research and educational initiatives.

Final Attestation of Foreign Students

During January, foreign students of the second (Master’s) level of higher education successfully passed their state examinations and defended their qualification theses.
In January, the University held the final attestation of Master’s degree students. State examinations and thesis defenses were completed by citizens of the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Cyprus, Australia, and the United States of America enrolled in the following educational programmes: Psychology, Finance, Banking and Insurance, Management, Musical Art, Choreography, Sport, Physical Culture, and Computer Science and Information Technology.
During the defenses, the students demonstrated a solid level of professional training, well-developed research competencies, and the ability to present and substantiate the results of their academic work. The topics of the qualification theses were relevant and practically oriented, reflecting current trends in the respective fields.
Members of the Examination Boards highly evaluated the quality of the graduates’ preparation, their professional maturity, and their readiness for further professional activity.
The successful completion of studies by international students once again confirms the effectiveness of the University’s international cooperation and the high quality of its educational programmes.
We sincerely congratulate the graduates on obtaining their Master’s degree and wish them continued professional and academic success.

Meeting with Maria Curie-Skłodowska University

On 12 January 2026, a meeting took place with representatives of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (Lublin, Republic of Poland), with the participation of representatives of relocated higher education institutions of Luhansk Oblast. The event was organised with the support of the Luhansk Regional State Administration / Regional Military Administration and the Department of International Technical Assistance, Innovation Development and External Relations.
It is important to note that the cooperation agreement between Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University had been concluded prior to the events of 2014, when the university was still located in Luhansk. The current meeting marked an important step towards restoring and updating partnership relations, taking into account current conditions and new opportunities for international cooperation.
During the discussion, special attention was paid to the prospects for implementing joint educational, research, and cultural projects, developing academic mobility, and exchanging experience between faculty members and students. Representatives of the Department of International Technical Assistance of the Luhansk Regional State Administration also shared their experience of cooperation with international partners and presented possible initiatives for further joint implementation.
As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to formalise their intentions to restore cooperation through the conclusion of relevant memoranda and have already begun working-level communication. In addition, initial potential projects were outlined that may serve as a foundation for further joint activities.
The renewed dialogue will provide a solid basis for the development of long-term partnership and the strengthening of international cooperation of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University.

EducationUSA Event on the Implementation of International COIL Projects

On 23 December 2025, representatives of the State Institution “Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University” took part in an EducationUSA event dedicated to successful practices in the implementation of international COIL projects (Collaborative Online International Learning) in higher education institutions of Ukraine.

The online session was organised by the EducationUSA Ukraine network in cooperation with international partners and aimed at sharing practical experience in integrating COIL approaches into the educational process, developing international online cooperation, and expanding opportunities for the internationalisation of education without physical mobility.

From Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, the event was attended by Iryna V. Myhovych, Head of the International Relations Office, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, and Liudmyla A. Ovcharova, Head of the International Education Sector of the International Relations Office.

During the event, participants became acquainted with practical algorithms for identifying international partners for the implementation of COIL projects, the specific features of developing joint online courses, examples of successful interuniversity COIL initiatives, as well as the main challenges and outcomes of such cooperation. Particular attention was paid to issues of institutional recognition of COIL projects in higher education institutions, participant certification, and the integration of online collaboration results into educational programmes.

Within the framework of the event, experiences in implementing COIL projects at leading Ukrainian and international universities were presented, including examples of interdisciplinary courses aimed at developing intercultural competence, digital skills, and teamwork among students in an international environment.

Participation in the event will contribute to the further implementation of innovative formats of international cooperation at Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, the expansion of partnerships with foreign educational institutions, and the development of international online initiatives for the University’s students and academic staff.

Participation in the EU Erasmus+ Programme Information Days

On 9-10 December 2025, representatives of the State Institution “Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University” took part in the Information Days of the European Union Erasmus+ Programme in the fields of education, vocational training, youth, and sport, dedicated to opportunities and calls for proposals for 2026 for Ukraine.

The Information Days were organised by the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, as well as other national and international partners. The events were held in online and hybrid formats and brought together representatives of higher education institutions, education authorities, international organisations, and civil society organisations.

From Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, the Information Days were attended by Iryna V. Myhovych, Head of the International Relations Office, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, and Liudmyla A. Ovcharova, Head of the International Education Sector of the International Relations Office.

On 9 December 2025, participants took part in an Information Day dedicated to individual opportunities for youth, students, graduates, teachers, and youth workers. During the event, current opportunities for international academic and youth mobility were presented, along with the activities of the Erasmus Student Network in Ukraine and the specific features of participation in Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Programmes. Particular attention was paid to the practical experience of Ukrainian participants in academic and youth exchanges.

On 10 December 2025, a round table entitled “The European Union Erasmus+ Programme: Current Opportunities for Ukrainian Participants” was held, aimed at representatives of university management and international cooperation units of higher education institutions. The event addressed national priorities for Ukraine’s participation in the Erasmus+ 2026 calls, Ukraine’s path towards associated participation in the Erasmus+ Programme, the implementation of international technical assistance projects, inclusiveness in international academic mobility, as well as the role of educational information systems and networks, including Eurydice, Europass, EQF, Euroguidance, Eurodesk, and DOCU/CLUB. A separate session was devoted to the interconnection between the Erasmus+ Programme and the EU Horizon Europe Programme.

As a result of their participation in the Information Days, representatives of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University received certificates confirming professional development and the acquisition of up-to-date knowledge on the opportunities provided by the Erasmus+ Programme.

Participation in these events will contribute to the further development of the University’s international activities, the expansion of partnership networks, and the increased involvement of students and staff of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University in European Union academic and youth mobility programmes.

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DAAD Grant for Professional Development in University Management and Internationalization

Dr. Iryna V. Myhovych has received a grant to participate in the prestigious international professional development program SUUN 2026 – Higher Education Management & Internationalization. The grant is implemented with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Federal Ministry of Finance and Technology of Germany (BMFTR), and Saarland University.
The SUUN-TC program aims to enhance the competencies of higher education leaders in the areas of strategic management, university leadership, quality of education, and internationalization. It includes an internship at Saarland University (Universität des Saarlandes) in Germany to develop practical strategies for international cooperation and experience exchange, familiarization with innovative models of higher education internationalization, as well as establishing academic partnerships with European universities.
Saarland University is one of Germany's leading research universities, located in Saarbrücken, founded in 1948 as a symbol of European integration and international academic cooperation. The university occupies a special place in the European educational space due to its strategic proximity to France and Luxembourg, making it a natural hub for cross-border education and scientific research. The institution is distinguished by its exceptionally strong international orientation: over 20% of students are foreigners from 120 countries worldwide, the university offers numerous English-taught master's programs, maintains over 400 partnership agreements with universities on all continents, and actively participates in Erasmus+ programs and other European educational initiatives. This creates a unique multicultural environment where students and faculty from different countries work together on global challenges. Such internationalization experience makes Saarland University an ideal place to study best practices in university management in the context of higher education globalization.
The SUUN-TC program is part of a broader project on internationalization and higher education management, aimed at developing long-term academic partnerships and modernizing the university management system in Ukraine. Grant recipients receive not only current knowledge about international standards of higher education institution management, but also practical skills necessary for implementing changes in their institutions.
The internship at Saarland University opens new opportunities for professional growth, expanding international networking, and exchanging best practices with colleagues from other countries. This experience will contribute to further strengthening the international strategy of our university and increasing its competitiveness in the global education market.
We congratulate the esteemed Iryna Viktorivna on this important achievement and wish her successful implementation of all initiatives!