The second partner meeting as part of the “Bridges of Unity” project took place in Kaunas

On August 27–28, 2026, the second transnational partner meeting within the framework of the international project “Bridges to Belonging: Integrating Ukrainian Students into European Higher Education Institutions” (Bridges to Belonging: Integrating Ukrainian Students into European Higher Education Institutions, No. 2025-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000357344).

The meeting was organized by the School of Economics and Business. Representatives from all partner organizations in the consortium had the opportunity to discuss the results achieved, coordinate further joint work, and identify the key tasks for the next phase of the project’s implementation.

The main focus of the meeting was on the implementation of the third work package (coordinated by UzhNU), aimed at developing teaching materials for instructors working with Ukrainian students at European higher education institutions.

Each partner organization presented one or two of the training modules it had developed. In total, the program comprises ten thematic modules devoted to inclusive teaching, psychosocial support, trauma-informed education, intercultural communication, language and academic integration, student engagement and mentoring, digital pedagogy, anti-discrimination, adaptive assessment, as well as crisis and conflict management in higher education institutions.

During the presentations, the partners discussed the challenges encountered while developing specific thematic blocks, agreed on approaches to structuring the materials, and proposed various formats for presenting practical exercises. Particular attention was paid to ensuring that the developed tasks were interactive, accessible, adapted to various national and institutional contexts, and suitable for practical use.

On behalf of Uzhhorod National University, Antonina Bulyna, Deputy Head of the International Relations Department, presented the modules “Trauma-Informed Education” and “Language and Academic Integration.” The UzhNU team also presented the structure of a trainer’s manual, which will include practical recommendations on planning, organizing, and conducting training; selecting and adapting exercises; step-by-step instructions for these exercises; creating a safe and inclusive educational environment; and evaluating the results of the training program.

The upcoming stages of the project’s implementation were partially discussed. Participants also addressed issues related to project management, quality assurance, monitoring of indicators, preparation of an interim report, and the subsequent dissemination of results.

The meeting in Kaunas gave the partners an opportunity to exchange experiences regarding the presentation of content and the use of methodology, and to identify next steps for creating effective mechanisms to support Ukrainian students in the European higher education space.

It should be noted that in-person meetings are of particular value to the project partners. Each partner can better convey their own identity, which helps build a solid foundation for long-term cooperation.

You can find more details about the project here: https://www.uzhnu.edu.ua/uk/cat/projects-000357344