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!

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!

On October 26, 2023, a meeting of International Business Department of Educational and Scientific Institute of International Education of "KROK" University with stakeholders regarding the discussion of the educational and professional program "Management (English)" was held online in Microsoft Teams.

Stakeholders were represented by: Yuliia Kovalenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Economic Activity Management of the National Aviation University, Viktoriia Pivovar, Master of International Economics and Development Economics of HTW, Berlin, Germany, Export Manager of ESE Engineering and Software-Entwicklung GmbH, Ihor Babiyar, Commercial Director of the transport and forwarding company Cargo Logistics Service Ukraine, Nataliia Prokhorova, Procurement Manager of the commercial office of “Silpo” food chain.

During the meeting, stakeholders reviewed the educational and professional program "Management (English)", provided the recommendations on the names and content of the obligatory educational components, as well as the electives. Also the possibilities for students internships at the enterprises were discussed with business representatives.

We sincerely thank the external stakeholders for their time and valuable recommendations, which will become the basis for improving the quality of the educational and professional program "Management (English)"!