UzhNU Hosted the International Virtual Roundtable “Sustainable Universities”
On March 6, 2026, Uzhhorod National University hosted the international virtual roundtable “Sustainable Universities,” organized as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Action and Awareness Week 2026, which took place from March 2–6. The University Global Coalition, in partnership with United Nations Academic Impact, initiated this international week.
Uzhhorod National University joined this international initiative as a member of the University Global Coalition. The event aimed to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among students, faculty, and staff at higher education institutions, as well as to foster a practical understanding of how sustainable development principles can be integrated into the educational, research, and administrative activities of universities.
The goal of the international roundtable was to deepen awareness of the role of the Sustainable Development Goals in higher education in Ukraine and around the world. The event served as an interactive platform for the exchange of experiences among faculty, researchers, and university staff, as well as for discussing current challenges and seeking innovative approaches to strengthening the sustainability and institutional resilience of universities, particularly in times of crisis and war.
The event was attended by students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, graduate students, young researchers, faculty members, and representatives of academic institutions.
The roundtable program included presentations by experts and subsequent discussions. In particular, three speakers presented: Antonina Bulyna, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Linguistics at the Faculty of International Economic Relations, and Deputy Head of the International Relations Department at UzhNU, delivered a presentation titled “The Critical (Re)Imagining Partnerships in Tertiary Education,” which examined contemporary approaches to rethinking partnerships in higher education; Taras Hriadil, Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal and Family Medicine with courses in instrumental diagnostics at UzhNU, presented a report titled “Building a Sustainability Culture among Young Scientists in Scientific Research and Startup Competitions.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Promoting Sustainable Development in Universities” (“Building a Culture of Sustainable Development among Young Scientists in Scientific Research and Startup Competitions. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Promoting Sustainable Development in Universities”). The presentation focused on fostering a culture of sustainable development among young scientists, the role of scientific research, startup initiatives, and the use of artificial intelligence in supporting sustainability principles within the university environment; Hanna Melehanych, Ph.D. in Political Science, Associate Professor at the Department of International Studies and Public Communications, Faculty of History and International Relations, and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at UzhNU, presented the paper “Sustainability and Resilience of Ukrainian Universities under Conditions of War: The Case of Uzhhorod National University.” The report highlighted the challenges of maintaining sustainability and resilience in Ukrainian universities in general and, in particular, the experience of Uzhhorod National University in ensuring sustainability and institutional resilience under wartime conditions.
Each presentation was followed by a brief question-and-answer session, and the event concluded with an open discussion during which participants had the opportunity to discuss the ideas presented, share their own experiences, and identify prospects for further cooperation.
During the event, participants discussed practical case studies, institutional strategies, and universities’ experiences in implementing sustainable development principles. Such discussions help foster inter-university dialogue, develop partnerships, and integrate sustainability principles into teaching, research, administration, and universities’ engagement with communities.
Holding such events is an important step toward strengthening the role of universities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and fostering a responsible academic environment capable of effectively responding to today’s global challenges.
The roundtable was moderated by Antonina Bulyna. The event was organized by the UzhNU Center for Sustainable Development with the support of the International Relations Department.
