"Breaking down barriers": a scientist of the Faculty of Humanities presents the experience of cooperation with German universities

Due to quarantine restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the international scientific event took place in two stages (on November 11-12 and November 15-16) in an online format, but the above factors did not affect the results of the discussion. During the four-day intensive program, participants of the conference "Breaking down barriers –towards a more efficient exchange between Ukraine and Germany" discussed the priority areas of scientific and educational cooperation and partnership between Ukrainian and German universities, deliberated on the issues of internationalization and international activities, the implementation of innovative educational and professional programs.

Abstracts of scientific reports were sent by more than 40 participants from Germany and Ukraine. The scientific discussion was moderated by Professors Matthias Epple and Viktoriya Sokolova from the University of Duisburg-Essen (Universität Duisburg-Essen) and the Assistant Rector for International Work, Head of the Department of International Cooperation of Sumy State University Kostiantyn Kyrychenko.

Head of the Council of Young Scientists of the Faculty of Humanities, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of  Germanic Philology and Translation of the National University "Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic" Anna Pavelieva became an active participant of the international conference aimed at establishing contacts and strengthening ties between German and Ukrainian higher education institutions, scientific institutions, Councils of Young Scientists and Erasmus + offices.  

16 speakers presented the peculiarities of ensuring the quality of higher education in Ukrainian and German universities, the possibility of concluding strategic partnership agreements between interested higher education institutions of two different countries, grant opportunities for scientific cooperation between German and Ukrainian partners, funding of scientific institutions, problems of internationalization and international activities, implementation of the educational program "Bridge to Higher Education" ("The Studienbrücke program") in the University Alliance Ruhr, German-Ukrainian trainings and exchanges under the Erasmus + program, features of applying for grants for joint international events, about the experience of conducting two German-Ukrainian autumn schools of the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD in 2021.

A great interest was sparked by Andreas Weihe's report "!Brain Drain, Brain Gain or Brain Circulation?" on the intellectual emigration of Ukrainian scientists to Germany. The scientists discussed the systematic development of a strategic partnership between German and Ukrainian universities, the experience of long-term and fruitful cooperation between the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Ukrainian universities, the universities’ support for the participation of lecturers and students in international academic mobility programs. Representatives of the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) – Professors Jörn Achterberg, Elisa Braeckevelt and Mechthild Köhler spoke about financing cooperation between German and Ukrainian universities, and speakers from the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD showed a presentation on academic online exchanges between Germany and Ukraine.

Scientist Anna Pavelieva presented a report on the results of international activities and participation in academic exchange programs for lecturers and students of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation. The speaker told about the internship in Berlin, which was undergone by Associate Professor Olena Dmytrenko and shared her own experience of participating in four trainings under the Erasmus + program. She spoke about youth exchanges abroad, which three students of the specialty "Philology" participated in. Scientist also shared her experience of foreign public activities and participation of lecturers of the department in conferences, seminars and webinars, programs and activities from DAAD and Goethe-Institut in Ukraine, as well as experience of cooperation with the stakeholder of the educational and professional program "Philology" – NGO "Poltava Society of Germans Wiedergeburt".

"During the conference I learned many new cases on the implementation of international academic exchange programs, discussed opportunities for cooperation between German and Ukrainian institutions, scientific institutions, funding international activities, grant projects for German and Ukrainian scientists, and joint German-Ukrainian forums of the Council of Young Scientists.

During the conversation we exchanged contacts with colleagues from Germany to establish the possibility of scientific and educational cooperation in the future. I will definitely share the knowledge gained with colleagues and students," – commented Head of the Council of Young Scientists of the Faculty of Humanities, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Anna Pavelieva.

All speakers received memorable gifts from the organizers – collections of scientific abstracts and an eco-bag with branded souvenirs from the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Recently, philology students honored the exploit of the White Rose and discussed the figure of the German leader of the anti-Nazi struggle.

Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”