Continuation of scientific traditions in the format of the X International Scientific and Practical Conference "Education and the Formation of Competitiveness of Specialists in the Context of European Integration"

The conference has a ten-year history and established scientific traditions. It was initiated by Mukachevo State University as an initiative aimed at understanding current trends in the development of education in the context of social transformations and European integration processes. Holding the anniversary event in the context of the activities of Uzhhorod University testified to the continuation of this tradition, the preservation of established academic ties and openness to new directions of scientific partnership.

The international scale of the conference is confirmed by the participation of representatives from Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Hungary and other countries. Representatives of a wide range of Ukrainian educational institutions and research institutions also joined the scientific dialogue. In total, about 150 abstracts were submitted to the conference. The mixed format of the event enabled participants to work both directly at the Mukachevo campus of the university and remotely.

Welcoming addresses to the participants were delivered by Larysa KAPITAN, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Acting Vice-Rector for Academic and Pedagogical Work of Uzhhorod University, and Ivan MYRONIUK, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Acting Vice-Rector for Research of Uzhhorod University. A greeting from Mukachevo City Mayor Andrii BALOHA was also presented.

Myroslava VOVK, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Director of the Ivan Ziaziun Institute of Pedagogical Education and Adult Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, addressed the scientific community with a video greeting. A welcoming speech was also delivered by Nataliia PAVLUSHCHENKO, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Preschool and Primary Education of Sumy State Pedagogical University. Among the honorary guests of the conference were representatives of foreign universities, in particular Professor Marian JASKULA from Jagiellonian University in Kraków and Professor Virgilijus VALEIKO from Kaunas University of Technology. Their participation testified to the interest of foreign partners in professional dialogue and the further development of academic ties.

The first plenary session covered a number of current educational issues. Kateryna HODLEVSKA, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Ivan Ziaziun Institute of Pedagogical Education and Adult Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, presented a report on innovative practices of using artificial intelligence in the educational activities of leading European universities. Volodymyr TSYFRA, Head of the Department of General Secondary Education of the Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of Mukachevo City Council, considered the transformation of the educational network of the Mukachevo territorial community and the formation of academic lyceums. Halyna VYSHNEVSKA, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Information and Socio-Cultural Activity of West Ukrainian National University, highlighted the three roles of the Ukrainian student in international projects in the context of war and European integration. Liudmyla PERMINOVA, Professor, Acting Head of the Department of Pedagogy, Psychology and Educational Management named after Professor Yevhen Petukhov of Kherson State University, focused attention on issues of developing the competitiveness of education seekers through the prism of the emergent paradigm.

The scientific programme of the first day of the conference was complemented by musical greetings from students of the Department of Musical Art of Uzhhorod University. Alina SHYNKAR and Karina BAK (class of senior lecturer Oksana HABEL), as well as Viktoriia KUPYNETS (class of lecturer Marianna SUKHOLOVA), presented their creative performances. The performances created a special atmosphere and demonstrated that university life organically combines scientific inquiry and artistic creativity.

The conference programme also included section sessions in four thematic areas, a second plenary session, a training session on professional communication of the future teacher, a master class on art-therapeutic practices and a round table to summarise the results of the work.

The Department of Theory and Methodology of Primary Education of Uzhhorod University expresses its gratitude to the co-organisers, speakers, participants and partners for their cooperation, professional dialogue and contribution to the development of modern education and science. The holding of the X International Scientific and Practical Conference confirmed the importance of inter-university interaction, international scientific partnership and joint search for answers to the challenges facing modern education. The anniversary event became evidence that the established scientific traditions continue to develop, uniting researchers and educators around common professional interests and prospects for the development of Ukrainian education in the European educational space.