23-24 November 2023, the 3rd COOPERA Expert Workshop, combined with Steering Committee Meeting was organized in the frameworks of the EU Erasmus+ project «Integration of Dual Higher Education in Moldova and Ukraine / COOPERA» at Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM), Chișinău (Moldova).

"KROK" University was represented by the team of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Education: Andrii Lotariev, Director; Anna Drobyna, Head of the Department of International Educational Programs of ESIIE; Galina Bogachenko, Director of International Project Office of ESIIE and Svitlana Oleshchuk, Head of Projects and Programs at the Center of International Projects of ESIIE.

The extensive program included the list of issues:

• Welcoming by representetives of administration of ASEM: Nadejda VELIȘCO - General Secretary, Ministry of Education and Research, Republic Moldova; Alexandru STRATAN – Rector, ASEM; Olesea SIRBU – COOPERA`s grant coordinator, Vice-rector for International Relations and European Projects, ASEM;
• Presentation of Normative regulations regarding dual higher education in Republic of Moldova by Ala LUCA - Main consultant, Directorate of policies in the field of higher education, Ministry of Education and Research, Republic of Moldova;
• Presentation of Involvement of companies in promoting and attracting candidates to dual education by Liudmila STIHI - expert in dual VET, GIZ Moldova;
• Presentation of the main achievements and obstacles in the piloting of dual higher education programs within ULIM by Natalia SPINU - Director, European Institute for Political Studies of Moldova (IESP) and Luminița MIRON - student;
• Presentation of the main achievements and obstacles in the piloting of dual higher education programs within TUM by Viorica SUDACEVSCHI - Head of Informatics and Systems Engineering Department, TUM;
• Presentations of the main achievements and obstacles in the piloting of dual higher education programs within Ukrainian Universities: UzhNU (Tetyana BUTURLAKINA), KROK (Andrii Lotariev), KKNU (Yuliia KVITKA), ONEU (Diana ZAVADSKA);
• Project Management Session for the Project Managers of the Consortium.

Many thanks to Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM) team for organization of such an interesting and efficient event and to all partners of #COOPERA team for active participation!

In October and November 2023, Educational and Scientific Institute of International Education presented "KROK" University in a number of educational online fairs Begin Edu Fairs, which were organized by the international company Begin Group, which works with educational organizations around the world. In particular, fairs were held in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, India and Sub-Saharan Africa countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania). Representatives of International Office had the opportunity to communicate with applicants online and present the programs implemented at “KROK” University.

We are sincerely grateful to the Ukrainian State Center for International Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for the opportunity to participate in such events! And we are waiting for new international students at our University!

On November 6-10, 2023, Jan van Zwieten, Rector of the Netherlands Business Academy visited «KROK» University in the framework of Erasmus+ KA171 mobility for training.

During the visit, in addition to coming to give lectures to students, professor from Netherlands had meetings with the teams of KROK Business School, and Educational and Scientific Institute of International Education for discussion of results of MEDIATS project, implementation of new Erasmus+ project «Art of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (Mediation)/ArtNoConflict» and development of new projects.

The visit contributes to fruitful relationship between KROK University and Netherlands Business Academy.

KROK University has won a project within the framework of Erasmus+ (focus area "Virtual Exchanges in Higher Education and Youth") titled "Art of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (Mediation)/ArtNoConflict."

The project aims to provide students and young people who are not enrolled in educational institutions with access to a new level of international intercultural and inclusive education through the implementation of virtual exchanges on the art of negotiation and mediation in EU countries, Georgia, and Ukraine. This is intended to strengthen democracy, cultural diversity, and the objective resolution of issues by acquiring the best European practices.

The project's objectives include:

• Conducting training for youth workers and university representatives on developing critical thinking skills, negotiation, and mediation.
• Developing and implementing an online course on the "Art of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (Mediation)."
• Organizing a series of virtual events for students and youth.
• Establishing a sustainable intercultural communication network among EU countries, Georgia, and Ukraine.
• Reducing conflicts in Ukrainian and Georgian societies through the exchange of mediation values.

To achieve these goals, a range of activities is planned, including:

• Developing educational programs for both students and youth workers.
• Conducting virtual training, seminars, mediation simulations, negotiation workshops, and a concluding informationconference.
• Organizing virtual visits to partner universities for knowledge exchange, and more.
• Disseminating the project's values and results.

Project partners:

• Netherlands Business Academy, Netherlands - coordinator
• V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine
• KROK University, Ukraine
• Mykolas Romerius University, Lithuania
• Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University, Georgia
• Ukrainian Youth Association , Ukraine
• NGO "Youth of the World", Georgia

Beneficiaries of the project: university students, out-of-school youth, university employees, youth workers.

Congratulations to the winners! KROK University wishing a successful implementation to the project consortium!