As part of the continued cooperation of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy with the European University Alliance E³UDRES², Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy, Social and Political Sciences Oleksandra Demianenko took part in the European Civic Skills Training held at the University of Applied Sciences in the German city of Fulda.

The event focused on the elections to the European Parliament, which will take place in June 2024, as well as the role of higher education institutions in deepening the understanding of the participants of the educational process of the values ​​and principles of the European Union.

The participants of the event were representatives of 8 member universities of the European University Alliance E³UDRES² from Austria, Portugal, Romania, Latvia, Hungary, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and two associated Ukrainian partner universities of the consortium.

During three days, the participants worked on the practices of forming European civic skills in students, which essentially means the capacity for democratic participation.

As part of the training, the participants were also invited to visit the photo exhibition “Europe, Fulda and I” (EUROPA, FULDA UND ICH) at the Vonderau Museum.

Large-scale portraits of 26 residents of the city and region of Fulda (photographer – Walter M. Rammler) tell about how they are connected to the EU, their experiences and perspectives, challenges in the European Union, as well as their desires and ideas for the future of Europe. They encourage the viewer to notice European influences in our everyday life.

– Ukraine is an important partner for the European Union, and the process of European integration involves the process of rapprochement of Ukraine with the EU at all levels: political, legal, economic, social, and cultural. Fundamental human rights and freedoms, democratic principles of the state system, as well as the legal and social state are the basis of European values. That is why, the formation of respective European civic skills is and should remain an important component of education for future specialists in higher education, regardless of the chosen specialty. It is important to note that these processes take place based on our own (European) experience in combination with innovative technologies. According to the participants, this creates an atmosphere of direct participation in the activities of European institutes and institutions. Therefore, I am very grateful to my colleagues from the European University Alliance E³UDRES² for sharing experience in this field and presenting the best practices for the formation of European civic skills in students, – Oleksandra Demianenko shares her impressions.

International Relations Office