On June 25-26, 2024, Mykolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania) hosted the Fourth Summit of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) and the international scientific conference SOCIN'24 (Social Innovations for Transformative Society), which was attended by Halyna Sienohonova, a lecturer at the Department of International Business at «KROK» University.

«The European Reform University Alliance» (ERUA) is a consortium of eight European universities that aims to explore innovative approaches to research, teaching and institutional development.  As part of the European Universities Initiative (EUI), one of the key initiatives of the European Commission, ERUA aims to promote the development of the European education area and implement the European strategy for universities.

The conference was attended by representatives of the following universities:

• Paris 8 (France),
• University of the Aegean (Greece),
• New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria),
• SWPS University (Poland),
• University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain),
• University of Macerata (Italy),
• European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) (Germany),
• Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania),
• Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine),
• «KROK» University (Ukraine).

During the two-day plenary sessions of the conference, participants explored the role of social innovation, focusing on social innovations in areas such as migration, exile and refugees; democracy, human rights, inclusiveness and gender equality; transition to a sustainable environment; interculturality and multilingualism; art and borders, cross-sectoral cooperation and ethics of care. This format provided an excellent opportunity for participants not only to listen to the presentations, but also to actively participate in discussions and propose new ideas.

We sincerely thank the organizers for the invitation and all the participants of the international scientific conference SOCIN'24! We look forward to further scientific cooperation!

8 - 21 July 2024, students of KROK University took part in a mobility within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA2 project ‘Synergy of educational, scientific, managerial and industrial components for climate management and climate change prevention’/CLIMAN. The event was held at the HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

The leaders of the Student Scientific Society Denys Shtak and Oleh Pravdyvyi, as well as the leader of the LOTOS Environmental Club Sofia Vengrinovych, represented KROK University.

The students studied hydrogen and technologies related to it, as well as hydrogen and oxygen production through hydrolysis. 

The training took place in modern classrooms and specially equipped laboratories, where students practiced the knowledge they had gained in lectures. 

Various excursions were also organised, including to the German company Boreal Light, which manufactures special machines for filtering water from salts and metals and purifying it from bacteria.

This experience is extremely important for students to implement future projects, trainings, and workshops.

On July 18, 2024, a three-day training within the framework of the Erasmus+ project Art of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (Mediation) / ArtNoConflict, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, where KROK University is represented by PhD in Law, Associate Professor of the Department of State Law Disciplines of the Faculty of Law Inna Dolianovska and Associate Professor of the KROK Business School, Ph. Natalia Kalinina. The last two days of the training were devoted to discussing such issues as: how to prevent conflict? how not to deepen the conflict situation even further, with the impossibility of any reconciliation? what communication tools are best used to help the parties understand each other? finally, how to encourage the parties to hear each other to find the best solution with the help of an intermediary - a mediator? how to turn conflict into productive communication. 

These important questions will form the basis of the training programme for young people from Ukraine, Georgia, and the Netherlands, which will help them to acquire skills in non-violent communication and conflict de-escalation using mediation tools. 

The KROK University team is sincerely grateful to the training organiser - the Netherlands Business Academy and the Academy's rector, Professor Jan van Zwieten, as well as to the trainers from the NLBA and Mykolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania). Let's keep working on the project!

From 16 to 18 July 2024, the training in frameworks of the Erasmus+ project "The Art of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (Mediation)" / #ArtNoConflict is taking place in Dordrecht (Netherlands), where KROK University is presented by Inna Dolianovska, PhD in Law, Associate Professor of the Department of State Law Disciplines of the Law Faculty; and PhD Nataliia Kalinina, Associate Professor of KROK Business School. The representatives of KROK are hospitably hosted by the Netherlands Business Academy, where together with the representatives of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Kharkiv, Ukraine), Shota Rustaveli State University (Batumi, Georgia), Mykolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania) they are having 3-day training for mediators.

The first day focused on organizational matters and more. Topics discussed included the nature of conflict, its stages of development, the roles and positions of the parties involved, the emotional aspects—particularly anger—and its impact on the conflict's progression, resolution, and outcome. The day was enriched with intriguing case studies and practical exercises led by the project's trainers. In the upcoming days, the training will continue to address issues related to the project's goal of fostering an environment for effective conflict resolution among young people.