National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” continues to integrate into the European educational and scientific space, and our higher education seekers demonstrate a high level of preparation on the international arena.
Students of the “International Economic Relations” speciality of the Educational and Research Institute of Finance, Economics, Management and Law, Tetiana Holub (group 301-FM) and Maryna Kostenko (group 302-FM), took part in the prestigious academic mobility program Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) – “Innovation Co-creation Laboratory 2025: Challenges in Sustainable Food and Beverage Technologies”.
The intensive course took place from November 24 to 28, 2025, in the city of Valmiera (Latvia) at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, where the students are currently studying under the Erasmus+ credit academic mobility program. This BIP brought together students, researchers, and entrepreneurs from various European countries to address real-world business challenges in sustainable food industry technologies.
Participants worked in mixed international teams, applying the design thinking methodology. Maryna Kostenko worked on the “Bread and cookies” team, and Tetiana Holub on the “Gut Feeling” team, which worked on a case for the Latvian company Valmiermuižas alus. The task (challenge) of the team was the research and development of fermented non-alcoholic functional beverages of the new generation.
During the eventful week, the participants went through the full cycle of creating an innovative product:
• developed a unique drink recipe;
• formed a strategy for its market positioning;
• created complex marketing concepts;
• received mentorship support directly from the owner of the client company.
Coordinated teamwork, professional approach, and creativity of the Poltava Polytechnic students were highly appreciated by the international jury.
Based on the results of the final pitching, the “Gut Feeling” team won the honorary 2nd place among 10 participating teams. As a reward for the promising idea, the team received a scholarship of 1700 euros for further research and project development. In addition, the event partners, including Swedbank, honoured the prize-winners with memorable gifts.
The students note that participation in the Innovation Co-creation Laboratory posed a significant professional challenge and served as a source of inspiration for them.
“In one exciting week, we didn’t just gain new knowledge – we felt like true creators of innovations. It was an explosion of impressions: we immersed ourselves in the world of foreign products, studied the technologies of kombucha and dairy production, and also sought ways to solve environmental problems. This experience opened new horizons, taught us to think more boldly and work in a dynamic international environment”, – share their impressions, Tetiana and Maryna.
For reference, the Innovation Co-creation Laboratory (ICL) is a platform that combines science, education, and business. The organiser was the Vidzeme Open Innovation Centre in cooperation with the European University Alliance E³UDRES². This year, eight companies from the Vidzeme region presented their cases, and participants had the opportunity to apply their skills in practice as developers of innovative solutions.
We congratulate Tetiana Holub and Maryna Kostenko on this significant achievement! We are proud that Poltava Polytechnic students represent Ukraine with distinction, demonstrating a high level of professional knowledge, creativity, and leadership.
We wish you continued success in your scientific and professional endeavours!
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” actively develops international cooperation with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia), which has already laid the groundwork for several successful academic mobilities. Specifically, within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA171 program, Poltava Polytechnic associate professors Lyudmyla Svystun and Yuliia Khudolii participated in the E3UDRES2 science festival, researchers Olha Harkava and Lyudmyla Shevchenko presented their scientific work on frame structural systems of buildings and the landscape and spatial organisation of the city of Poltava at the event “ViA's Research Evening 2024”. In addition, university lecturers and students participated in the “WOOD TECHNOLOGY HACKATHON”, where, together with international teams, they developed innovative projects, gaining valuable experience and new contacts. Such fruitful interaction strengthens institutional partnerships, facilitates the exchange of advanced expertise in higher education, and integrates Poltava Polytechnic into the European scientific and educational space.
As a reminder, faculty members of Poltava Polytechnic are eligible to participate in academic mobility and internship programs. Students can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information on current internship, teaching, and academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or Poltava Polytechnic International Relations Coordinator – Anna Pavelieva, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +38-(095)-91-08-192).
