On September 22, 2020 partners of the project “Education Open Space for Students and Community” (EduSpace) held a coordination meeting to discuss the progress and objectives for the next half-year.

For 6 months of the project the reports on self-assessment of Donetsk State University of Management and Donetsk Law Institute of MIA of Ukraine were prepared, sociological research of needs and expectations of students of displaced higher education institutions from the Education Open Space was conducted, the concept of EduSpace was developed, presentation of the project and the Education Open Space for the Mariupol society was held. 

“Such an ambitious project was made possible by combining the potential of displaced universities with the financial support of the Mariupol City Council, the business of the region, in particular Metinvest Group and the European Union” – Svitlana Marova, Rector of DSUM.

During the coordination meeting the partners formed working groups to develop educational programs “Conflict Resolution and Mediation” and “Community Management”, which included representatives of the Donetsk State University of Management, Donetsk Law Institute of MIA of Ukraine and the University of Genoa (Italy).  Through the quarantine restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, it was decided to postpone the study visits to the University of Genoa (Italy) and the Ukrainian Catholic University (Lviv) to May 2021.

On October 9, within the framework of the project implementation, the International scientific-practical conference “Strategic Potential of State and Territorial Development” will be held, which will become another event for immersion of displaced higher education institutions into academic community of the region. Every year more and more academic staff of Mariupol universities participate in conferences, seminars, round tables organized by displaced higher education institutions and vice versa, academic staff of displaced higher education institutions are increasingly involved in the activities of other Mariupol education institutions.

The infrastructural component of the project consists of the reconstruction of the DSUM educational building № 3 (Makara Mazaya St.15, Mariupol) on the basis of which the educational space will be opened.

“Starting from June 2020, the development of the reconstruction project of the building continues. We expect that the project will be ready in November, and the construction works will be start in March 2021” – Andriy Stoyka, project manager.

Another important component of the project is the comprehensive support of Student Governance. The partners together organize the work of the Academy of Student Leaders. This year at least 6 trainings for leaders of Student Governance will be held. The first meeting within the Academy will be held on September 29.Follow the news of the project at the site