Berdyansk State Pedagogical University (BSPU)

Title of the project: Responding to the challenges of internationalization: Correction of the internationalization strategy of BSPU and deepening German-Ukrainian academic cooperation in researching the history of German-Ukrainian relations

Submitted by: Prof. Igor Lyman, Coordinator of International Relations/ Head of the Department of History and Philosophy, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University (BSPU)

City: Berdyansk

This project was implemented within the Training Course “Management of Internationalisation and German-Ukrainian Academic Cooperation 2020-2021”, led by the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), funded by the DAAD (Germany), 2020-2021

Project Goal(s):

  • Correction of the existed internationalization strategy of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University taking into account the newest trends and challenges;
  • Deepening German-Ukrainian academic cooperation in researching the history of German-Ukrainian relations.

Deliverables:

  1. Updated internationalization strategy of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University.

In progress:

  • Internationalization strategies of the represented German Universities and Ukrainian Universities participating in the project have been studied;
  • The possibilities of applying the experience of the represented German Universities and Ukrainian Universities participating in the project for correction of the existed internationalization strategy of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University have been analyzed;
  • Discussion of ideas of correction of the existed internationalization strategy at the methodical council of the University;
  • Approval of the decision of correction of the existed internationalization strategy on the meeting of the methodical council of theUniversity;
  • Gathering proposals of structural divisions of the University;
  • Preparation of the draft of the internationalisation strategy of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University.

2. Connections with history departments at German universities or other similar organisations in Germany.

3. Monograph“History of Prussian Consuls in the South of Ukraine”.

In progress:

  • Сooperation with German historians established;
  • The grant of the Alexander and Helen Kulahyn Endowment Fund (The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS)) for finishing the monograph has been obtained.

4. Archeographical book““Albums of Songs” of Ukrainian Ostarbeiters in Germany”.

In progress:

  • Сooperation with German historians established;
  • Materials of the book has been prepared for the presentation at the first exhibition “Women on the Move: Unknown stories of women migrant workers across Europe” at Trinity College Dublin in frames of the COST project “Women on the Move”.

Publications and presentations:

Challenges and Support

What were the main challenges ofthe project and how did you manage to overcome them? 

The main challenges – COVID-19 pandemic and complete absence of physical, not virtual communication in frames of the Training Programme.

What resources helped?

Thanks for the real support for activities of my project to:

1) The team of the International Office of Leibniz University Hannover.

2) “Women on the Move”, COST Action (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) – for supporting preparation presentation of materials of the book ““Albums of Songs” of Ukrainian Ostarbeiters in Germany” at the first exhibition “Women on the Move: Unknown stories of women migrant workers across Europe” at Trinity College Dublin.

3) The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies – for the grant for finishing the work on the monograph “History of Prussian Consuls in the South of Ukraine”.

4) THEA Ukraine project (DAAD, Wandelwerk, FH Münster’s Centre for Quality Assurance) – for an opportunity to write the article “Challenges in Internationalisation for Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions” (Olga Drachuk, Igor Lyman).

5) Erasmus+ KA107 – Learning Mobility of Individuals – Staff mobility for teaching and training activities between programmeand partner countries (Wyzsza Szkola Techniczna w Katowicach, Poland) – for supporting my report “Formation of the information society: Training Course on Management of Internationalization and German-Ukrainian Academic Cooperation 2020-2021»” at the International conference «Digital Economy and Information Society».

6) Ukrainian colleagues-participants of the Training Programme – for networking which provides opportunities to consult, share experiences, initiate joint projects, start collaboration in existing projects.

Lesson Learnt:

Offline is much better and effective than online!

Impact: 

Development of the corrected internationalization strategy of BSPU helped draw the attention of structural subdivisions, staff and students to the importance of international activities and internationalization as a strategic direction of the University. The corrected internationalization strategy of BSPU will be the basis for all further development of the University.

Connections with German historians will strengthen the German direction of the University’s international activities, as well as German-Ukrainian academic cooperation in researching the history of German-Ukrainian relations. Besides, thanks to the support of the COST Action project “Women on the Move” and the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies results of this German-Ukrainian cooperation will be known far beyond Germany and Ukraine.

Outlook and Sustainability:

The corrected internationalization strategy of BSPU will be implemented and will be taken into account in further work planning.

German-Ukrainian academic cooperation in researching the history of German-Ukrainian relations will be continued by publishing and later popularizing the monograph “History of Prussian Consuls in the South of Ukraine”, recently supported by the grant of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, and the archeographical book “Albums of Songs” of Ukrainian Ostarbeiters in Germany” (which will be populared in frames of the COST Action project “Women on the Move” (2020-2024). It will be a kind of synergy of Training Programme “Management of Internationalisaiton and German-Ukrainian Cooperation 2020-2021” and other projects.

Information on opportunities for international cooperation obtained within the project will be used by administration, staff and students of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University.