Today Erasmus + is an instrument that helps to move forward and modernize education by integration of innovative technologies into the modern educational process.

Irina Sovsun – First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine greeted participants and expressed her expectations of active participation of Ukrainian universities, their cooperation with foreign partners and establishing connections that will facilitate quality improvement of education in Ukraine. “Ministry of Education and Science decided on several aspects for productive cooperation in the context of higher education reforms” – said Mme Sovsun. And then, outlined important priorities in detail:

• projects aimed to develop educational programs, development of new study programs;
• internal system’s development mechanism of modern education, education’ quality provision based on the experience of European countries;
• organization of educational process;
• creation of modern doctoral (PhD) programs to create the environment of scientific search;
• internationalization, development of joint programs with other universities;
• to adjust students communication with labor market, students’ training, cooperation with businesses;
• adjustment of university work for further detection of part of graduates, collection of information;
• formation of personal funds, attracting additional financing.

“I am sure, that Erasmus + project will facilitate the development of Ukrainian universities and we will engage these programs more for development of modern education” – stated Inna Romanivna at the end of her speech.

Anatolii Mazaraki, Rector of Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics during his welcome speech, informed that KNUTE has big experience of cooperation with foreign universities and realization of double degree diploma programs with European higher education establishments.

Ralph Rahders, Director of Department of Higher Education’s Potential Development of Erasmus+ program (EACEA, Belgium) pointed that Erasmus+ program is known as program for students’ exchange but today it supports not only individual teachers and students but also programs of educational establishments and countries’ education. This potential’s expansion aimed to strengthen cooperation between European universities and HEIs of partner countries, modernization of HEEs in partner countries by means of cooperation projects, development of new educational methods.

In his presentation R. Rahders told about key moments of effective submission of application for Erasmus + participation: “There are several formats of participation in the program. One of them is a concept of potential development – institutional approach of universities’ cooperation that proposes their innovative approaches. This project is set to have a long term, positive influence not only on the educational establishment itself but also on the whole sector of education in partner-country and whole world. Key word here – systemacity, influence on the whole education system: internationalization amplification, modernization of education. This program is for HEEs but you can involve other institutions: student and civil organizations, companies and Chambers of commerce and industry. You need to remember that this cooperation is international, this project is multilateral.”

Julia Moro, Manager of Tempus, Erasmus+ projects (EACEA, Belgium) gave recommendations on partners engaging: “for this you need to contact national Erasmus+ office in Ukraine. There you will be told how to proceed your work, how to establish connections to build a consortium and to develop your project”. Also Mme Moro told about project budget planning, making a financial report and its duration, criteria of successful consortium: “You need to have at least 3 educational establishments from one country and same amount of partner-countries. Project has to meet national or regional priorities and to match priorities of partner-countries.”

In general, information Day gave the opportunity to all interested parties of educational establishments to get to know about basic demands on project applications, key directions of Erasmus+ 2016 and rules of applications’ submissions.

In the second part of event representatives of National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine made a presentation on the methods and practices of projects’ development in different directions. This sparked of intense discussion and almost 250 HEIs participants received full answers on different questions.