On December 20, 2023, the consulting company CIVITTA Ukraine and the corporate accelerator Radar Tech, as one of the local coordinators of the ERASMUS FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS program in Ukraine, held an informational event at Kyiv, Ukraine.

"KROK" University was represented by the team of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Education:

• Andrii LOTAREV - Director of the ESIIE;
• Halyna BOHACHENKO - Director of International Project Office of the ESIIE;
• Svitlana OLESHCHUK – Project manager of International Project Office of the ESIIE.

The event program included the following activities:

• Presentation by CIVITTA Ukraine and Radar Tech on how to participate in the program and what is required for it;
• Online speech by Ralph Diestelhorst, project officer of the program and representative of the European Commission (EISMEA). Ralph shared details about participation for Ukrainians and important advice to make the exchange successful;
• Success stories from program graduates;
• Q&A session with organizers and program graduates;
• Networking.

Many thanks to our partners for the invitation and to the program graduates for sharing invaluable insights, which will greatly contribute to the successful implementation of the project at KROK University!

On December 21, 2023 "KROK" University as part of the Erasmus+ KA 2 CBHE Project “Integrating Dual Higher Education in Moldova and Ukraine / COOPERA” received the technical equipment.

Students majoring in Journalism (based on this major the dual education is being piloted) got a unique opportunity to combine theoretical training with real practical experience. Now the training of future journalists will be implemented with the help of media equipment, a portable television studio will help to create a qualitative media product. The COOPERA project provided opportunities for the students of "KROK" University for professional development in the field of media.

IT Center staff demonstrated the possibilities of new equipment, and invited participants to the yet another lecture room equipped for conducting the classes in a blended mode.

«KROK» University and tech giant Amazon have entered into a strategic partnership that opens the way to the future for Ukrainian students.

Under the agreement, Amazon has committed to supporting learning by providing advanced cloud technologies for academic purposes. This significant partnership will not only enrich the learning process, but also open up new horizons in the field of information technology for students. The integration of Amazon's advanced cloud technologies into the curriculum will create unique opportunities to gain skills and experience in using advanced technologies.

Director of the Center of Information Technology, Volodymyr Holovan, emphasizes: «We are confident that this partnership with Amazon will greatly enrich the educational process of our University, allowing students to learn and apply innovative solutions in the field of cloud technologies».

For students, this is not only a learning experience, but also a unique opportunity to gain practical experience with a technology leader. This will expand their opportunities in the labor market and help them to be competitive in the modern information society. A new stage in the development of education has begun, reflecting the efforts of the combined forces of «KROK» University and Amazon in shaping the future leadership.

On November 13-17, 2023, within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA 171 (mobility for teaching) academic mobility program, Maria Rastvorova, Associate Professor of the Department of Tourism at «KROK» University, visited the Faculty of Business at Haliç University (Istanbul, Turkey).

Maria Rastvorova had the opportunity to talk to the professors of Business Department - Dean of Business Management Department Prof. Dr. Zeynep Aslı ALICI, Head of Business Management Program Prof. Şahver Ömeraki Çekirdekçi and Associate Professor Dr. Sibel Demirel, with whom she discussed innovative approaches to teaching business disciplines.

During the week-long teaching mobility, Ms. Maria gave three lectures on «Destination Branding: how to make your destination popular and profitable?» for 1st, 4th year students and MBA students, as part of the following educational components: «Principles of Marketing», «International Marketing» and «Introduction to Business», as well as a lecture on «Project management in tourism within the challenges of the war» as part of «Project Management» course for 4th year students majoring in Business Administration.

«I am grateful to the Erasmus Office of Haliç University, Educational and Scientific Institute of International Education of «KROK» University and the Erasmus+ KA1 program for the opportunity to gain invaluable international experience!. I am sure that this mobility will strengthen academic cooperation between our universities and I will be glad to take part in the next international events initiated by the Educational and Research Institute of International Education!» - Maria Rastvorova shared her impressions.

Recently, as part of the Month of Ecology, a discussion panel was held with the participation of students from the KROK University's Professional College on the topic «Environmental Challenges of the Present: Ukrainian Contexts».

The event was held within the framework of the Erasmus+ project «Synergy of educational, scientific, management and industrial components for climate management and climate change prevention/CLIMAN».

The meeting was moderated by Serhii Khara, Head of the Environmental Education Department of the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park, who, together with the leaders of LOTOS, Sophia Vengrynovych and Pavlo Lebediev, and the leader of SSC, Denys Shtak, discussed with the speakers the important environmental issues that Ukrainian society is facing today. The topics of the reports were diverse and relevant.

We are grateful to all participants for their participation. We personally thank Serhii Hara for his support and significant contribution to the modern environmental education of students. We are grateful to LOTOS ECO and SSC assets for supporting students' scientific and research initiatives.

Drama School has started its work. The first event of Drama School was an adaptation training on voice training by VOSK band «The voice in you». The mentors of the meeting were Alina Matsovyta and Alina Pivak, the leaders of VOSK band Vocal Studio of «KROK» University.

A number of interesting and original activities were offered to the students, such as: reciting poetry with a voice of different emotional colors; singing in a bar; singing our native «Shchedryk» together.

All participants were extremely happy and inspired. We express our gratitude to all the participants for their sincerity, courage and positive attitude. We are extremely grateful to the awesome mentors for the wonderful event. And, of course, it will continue!

On December 06, 2023, on the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and St. Nicholas Day, Dance Theater presented the GRAND HOTEL Charity Theater and Dance Performance «KROK».

The audience was able to plunge into the atmosphere of a real theatrical performance and visit a hotel where dance and rhythm reign supreme. Employees and residents of the hotel, every corner of this place told about themselves in the language of movement. The performance was filled with interesting stories of the characters, vivid dance performances, impressive costumes and special effects. And the number of set and costume changes was hard to count.

On the KROK stage, there was a thunderstorm, rain of money, laughter, tears, a wedding, passion, and a fight (not a real one, of course), so the audience had a great opportunity to experience the full range of emotions.

We managed to raise 28,616 UAH for 110 separate mechanized battalion, which will be spent on an ECOFLOW charging station. Thank you all for helping and supporting the Armed Forces and our initiatives. Thank you for the warm atmosphere, your applause, smiles and warm words!

We are pleased to announce that KROK Business School has received full membership in one of the most prestigious global professional associations in the world, EFMD - the European Foundation for Management Development.

For many years we have been going to this moment - recognition of us as equals among equals!

Membership in this organization provides us with great opportunities for the development of the Business School as a whole, as well as for the teaching staff, the development of partnerships, research, international cooperation, the community of students, graduates.

From now on, KROK Business School can take advantage of the services offered to EFMD members, namely a wide range of targeted services for training, communication and professional development.

The successful operation of EFMD as an international network is due to the enormous contribution and involvement of all members. EFMD's priority is to support its members, facilitate the exchange of best practices and provide a safe environment for continued development and growth.

Congratulations to the entire community of the KROK Business School with a big step forward towards integration into a powerful European and global community of professionals! We hope to make full use of the opportunities open to instructors, students, graduates, and the business community.

27-29 November 2023, the 31st edition NETWORK MEETING was organized in the frameworks of the EU Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs project «Rebuilding the Future: Support actions for Ukrainian Youth Entrepreneurs / EYE TO THE FUTURE» by Eurochambres, acting as the Support Office of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, the European Commission and EISMEA, at Brussel, Belgium.

This year "KROK" University became intemediary organization to help young enrepreneurs to participate in EYE programme.

The Network Meeting aimed to:

• Bring together the various stakeholders in the EYE implementation network: (L)IOs, the EC, EISMEA, and the Support Office.
• Trained and provided information to new IOs.
• Ensured productive peer-learning and networking among the different cycles.
• Shared inspiring practices.

The 31st Networking Meeting kicked off with an official welcome from the European Commission, EISMEA, and the Support Office. Participants delved into the plenary session, gaining crucial updates on the EYE program and receiving insightful feedback on relevant topics for IOs. A Q&A session rounded out this segment, gathering feedback on the program's direction and implementation.

A significant focus was placed on exploring potential synergies with other EU relevant programs during the session. The closing session provided an opportunity for a comprehensive wrap-up of the meeting, where relevant final remarks were communicated to IOs.

Attendees had the chance to get acquainted with other IOs and share their experiences with them. Furthermore, exciting learning opportunities awaited all participants.

Many thanks to Eurochambres, acting as the Support Office of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, the European Commission and EISMEA teams for organization of such an interesting and efficient event and to all partners of #ErasmusforYoungEntrepreneurs team for active participation!

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!