The international educational project “Basic Wellness Method Based on the Erna Weerts Concept®” was carried out at Poltava Polytechnic. Its purpose is to improve the integration of practical skills from psychology and rehabilitation into the educational process, as well as to develop effective approaches to fostering stress resistance and resilience among students.
This unique international project was conducted by Doctor of Medical Sciences, German practicing therapist Ute KÖNCKE (Münster), while Tetiana PIESHKOVA, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation, PhD in Philology, joined the program as a translator and moderator.
Participants of the initiative included students of the first (Bachelor’s) level of higher education in specialties C4 Psychology and C17 Therapy and Rehabilitation, as well as students of the second (Master’s) level in Psychology. Throughout the first and second semesters of the 2025–2026 academic year, they actively engaged in various activities, lectures, and discussions focused on identifying stress triggers, developing effective strategies to cope with anxiety, restoring internal resources, enhancing motivation, adapting to academic life, and improving communication skills.
Participants expressed sincere gratitude to Ute KÖNCKE and Tetiana PIESHKOVA for their high professional competence, initiative, and dedication. Students noted that the presented material expands the range of methods that help manage anxiety and discover additional internal resources. They also expressed special appreciation for this unique project for Ukrainian higher education institutions:
“We sincerely thank you for your courage and solidarity in delivering lectures despite all the challenges of wartime. We are grateful for your willingness to share unique experience and methodologies that help maintain health, as well as for your deep understanding of the situation and guidance of future Ukrainian specialists. Your contribution to the development of education in Ukraine is an example of true humanity and international professional solidarity. We wish you strong health, inspiration, and success in your noble work.”
In response, Ute KÖNCKE wished Ukraine a swift peace and expressed sincere hopes for future meetings and continued productive cooperation.
As a hub for implementing such educational initiatives, National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” once again confirms its status as a progressive European university that effectively combines advanced educational achievements with practical skills in various fields, particularly psychology and rehabilitation, to ensure high-quality training of competitive professionals.
