Anastasiia Mishchenko, a student in group IER-25 at the Educational-Scientific Institute of Economics and Law of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, participated in the prestigious E³UDRES² Bootcamp: Rising Stars of European Regions, held in the picturesque Rhön region of Germany.

The project took place from 29 June to 3 July 2026, bringing together talented students from leading universities around the world. The intensive programme focused on developing innovative solutions to address the pressing challenges facing Germany’s Rhön region. Throughout the week, participants worked on two key case studies: preserving the region’s unique ecological heritage and improving the profitability of local fruit orchards.

For Anastasiia, who is majoring in International Economic Relations (IER), the bootcamp provided an excellent opportunity to apply her knowledge of international management and marketing in a practical setting. A distinctive feature of this year’s programme was its truly global character, bringing together participants not only from European countries but also from other continents. This international perspective enabled students to approach local challenges from a wide range of angles, making the idea-generating process even more engaging and effective.

“For me, it was incredibly valuable to work in such a diverse multicultural environment. We had the opportunity to gain insights from colleagues from around the world, which opened up new approaches to solving economic challenges. Our team explored in depth how to maximise the profitability of the Rhön region’s apple orchards through the efficient use of available space and agricultural products. I believe that the ideas we developed will also prove valuable in the Ukrainian context, as European experience in agriculture and sustainable development is highly relevant to our country’s economic recovery,” shares Anastasiia Mishchenko.

Innovative solutions for sustainable development

The educational programme was based on modern teaching methodologies and included the following components:

Design thinking – participants explored a user-centred approach to developing innovative solutions, following the entire process from empathy to the creation of a functional prototype, which allowed them to clearly demonstrate the practical viability of their proposed economic models.

Environmental management – students explored approaches to preserving the biodiversity of the region, which is recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Economic optimisation – participants developed strategies to increase the profitability of traditional apple orchards through the implementation of innovative business models and modern processing technologies.

A strong emphasis was also placed on international communication and collaboration. Students from different continents exchanged experiences from their home countries, helping to develop universal strategies adapted to today’s global markets.

Anastasiia plans to incorporate the knowledge and experience gained during the bootcamp into her academic projects and future professional career. The participation of BKNUC students in international programmes of this calibre once again demonstrates their high competitiveness on the international stage and their readiness to introduce advanced European standards in Ukraine.

International Relations Office