National Tempus / Erasmus+
Office in Ukraine

On November 24, 2009 Odessa hosted Tempus Information Day. The event was organized by the National Tempus Office in Ukraine (NTO) together with K.D. Ushynsky Southern Ukrainian Pedagogical University, with support of the EU Delegation in Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science, Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine and Rectors’ Council for the Southern Region. About 70 participants represented 23 higher education institutions from Southern Ukraine.

The Information Day opened with greetings by Olexiy Chebykin, K.D. Ushynsky Southern Ukrainian Pedagogical University Rector, and Svitlana Shytikova, NTO Director.

In the welcoming address, Volodymyr Luhovy, Vice-President, Academy of Pedagogical Sciences and Director of Higher Education Institute, Valeriy Malakhov, Rector, Odessa National Polytechnic University and Chair of the Rectors’ Council for the Southern Region; Olga Kotova, Head of International Agreements Unit, International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Education and Science greeted the participants, emphasized the importance of the event and highlighted its objectives.

As the European educational programs mainly focus on modernization of higher education system in accordance with Bologna process, the special session of the seminar was dedicated to implementation of Bologna principles in Ukraine and the challenges of Bologna process after Leuven. This session was conducted by Higher Education Reform Experts, a new endeavor of the European Commission aimed at promotion and acceleration of higher education reforms. First Ivan Babyn, member of Bologna Follow Up Group, member of Council of Europe Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research, Associate Professor of K.D. Ushynsky Southern Ukrainian Pedagogical University, updated the audience on the latest developments in the European Higher Education Area and major achievements of Bologna process; then Volodymyr Luhovy, Vice-President, Academy of Pedagogical Sciences outlined the major tasks of launching the National Qualifications Framework in Ukraine.

The results of the Tempus IV Second Call were presented by Olena Orzhel, NTO Coordinator, while Svitlana Shytikova, NTO Director focused on parameters, novelties, priorities, partnership requirements and selection criteria of the Third Call. She also highlighted the major recommendations on preparation of application forms and responded to numerous questions. In addition to the Tempus IV, NTO team presented two other EU higher education programs: Erasmus and Jean Monnet.

The interactive afternoon session provided room for exchange of ideas and personal experience in developing and implementing Tempus projects. Valeriy Lebid’, Odessa National Polytechnic University; Georgiy Shubartovsky, Odessa State Economic University; Andriy Bulat and Grygoriy Baran, Kherson State University; Olga Chueva, Crimean Humanitarian University; Maryna Chesnokova and Iryna Holubkova; Odessa National Marine Academy; Andriy Peternko, National Metallurgy Academy of Ukraine shared with other participants their knowledge, expertise and know-hows for project preparation.

The media coverage was organized by “Channel 5” – all-Ukrainian TV channel and Odessa Regional TV Company (38th channel). The reports on the event appeared at the telemagazine “Window to Europe” and “Forum” program.