On Monday, 26 October, the official opening of an innovative space — the educational robotics laboratory "EduRob" — took place at UzhNU's Mukachevo campus. The opening ceremony was attended by Acting Rector of UzhNU V.Smolanka, Mukachevo City Mayor A.Baloha, Acting Vice-Rectors M.Lendiel, I.Korol, L.Kapitan, V.Pihosh, and the university's teachers and students.
"The world is changing faster than traditional education, so our students need practical innovations already today. The creation of this laboratory is our response to the demands of the times and a step toward the development of digital pedagogy and robotics. The creation of this space became possible thanks to the participation of the university's teachers in the international project of the Erasmus+ programme EduRob. The project brought together 9 institutions from three countries — Ukraine, Estonia and Austria. Behind us are 8 specialised online courses from European partners and 2 study visits to Estonia and Austria. We saw with our own eyes how robotics is being integrated end-to-end into the educational process at all levels: from kindergartens and schools to powerful university STEM hubs. And today we are implementing this European experience in Mukachevo," said Professor Marianna Shvardak at the opening of the laboratory. "We have developed and begun introducing new training courses in robotics for future preschool teachers, primary school teachers, science teachers and vocational education specialists. Thanks to the project, a laboratory has been opened that received funding in the amount of 11,700 euros. These are specialised robotics kits: from screen-free algorithmics for the youngest to a smart manipulator with artificial intelligence, Micro:bit and Arduino boards for senior schoolchildren and students. Robotics and artificial intelligence are not the distant future but our daily reality. It is our duty to prepare specialists who will not chase after technologies but will confidently implement them. And from now on, what is needed for this is available at our university."
The Acting Rector of the merged Uzhhorod University, Professor Volodymyr Smolanka, addressed those present with a welcome speech. — "It is always a pleasure to be at events connected with the practical implementation of new ideas that modernise our life and make it more comfortable. I am impressed by the fact that you have taken care not only of the use of modern technical means in the educational process but also have developed educational programmes that are in demand today, that you think not only about teaching students but also about improving the qualifications of teachers, which is extremely important for the entire Mukachevo community. This shows that we are on the right path in the development of our team and that our combined efforts will produce the necessary result," noted V.Smolanka.
The importance of supporting and developing new forms of education and scientific research, especially in the technical and natural sciences spheres, and of close cooperation with international partners was discussed in their speeches by Mukachevo City Mayor Andrii Baloha and Acting Vice-Rectors of UzhNU Myroslava Lendiel, Larysa Kapitan and Ihor Korol.
The head of the working group of the international Erasmus+ project "EduRob", Tetiana Kravchenko, familiarised those present in detail with the new opportunities for education seekers that are opening up thanks to the implementation of the project.
After the official part concluded, a presentation took place of the collection of robotics kits "Robotics in Preschool Education", "Robotics in Primary Education", "Robotics in Secondary and Vocational Education", which were presented by Associate Professors Nadiia Bryzhak and Vitalii Herasimov.
The heads of Uzhhorod University also visited the separate structural unit "Humanities and Pedagogical Professional College" (head Ivan Kushnir) and met with the academic and teaching staff of the university's Mukachevo campus. During the discussion, the conversation concerned the further systematisation of the work of the single team, the organisation of the educational process taking into account the requirements of the present day and the more distant perspective, and issues of funding and material support for the functioning of the merged higher education institution were raised.
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