The training’s aim was to get to know the possibility of creating a similar ESN community at the university, the peculiarities of ESN Kyiv's work with incoming foreign students to Ukrainian universities for exchanges, as well as to show tools and cases of implementing an effective Buddy System.
Kateryna Zhdanova, Manager of the National Erasmus + Office in Ukraine, welcomed the participants emphasizing the importance of the ESN community for universities implementing Erasmus + international credit mobility programs and accepting foreign students for exchange. The speaker highlighted the issue of improving the image and attractiveness of Ukrainian free economic zones through the introduction of the Buddy System for incoming foreign students.
In addition, the event was attended by Andrii Lotariev, Head of International Office of «KROK» University, and Halyna Bohachenko, Project Manager of «KROK» University. The speakers presented the Erasmus + project INTERADIS «International Students Adaptation and Integration».
The practical part of the event was conducted by Yelyzaveta Pidopryhora, President of ESN Ukraine and Tetiana Fedorchuk, Co-Founder of ESN Ukraine, Liaison Officer for the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighborhood ESN. During their presentations, the speakers presented the mission, vision and main tasks within the activities and cooperation with ESN Kyiv. During the practical part, the main elements and a platform for the implementation of Buddy System in free economic zones accepting foreign students for Erasmus + exchanges were presented, as well as the first steps for the development of the ESN community as volunteers in Ukrainian universities. The event was also attended by representatives of the newly created ESN Chernivtsi Candidate section, who shared their impressions on creating a community.
As a result of the event, all participants had the opportunity to meet with ESN Kyiv and learn how to create such a community at their university, what significant support they can provide to both incoming and outgoing foreign students under the EU Erasmus + Program.
