Ukrainian-German Teaching Network for a Digital Transformation of Environmental Education (Consolidation and Expansion Phase 2023)

Following the former project’s aim, the 2023 project addresses the difficulties of distance learning integrating online tools and technologies into learning and teaching practices. It also promotes the expansion of Ukrainian-German HEIs Network to ensure high quality of environmental education.

Starting from January 2023 six partner universities – Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (Eberswalde, Germany), National Transport University (Kyiv, Ukraine), Ukrainian National Forestry University (Lviv, Ukraine), Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University (Zhytomyr, Ukraine), Odesa State Environmental University (Odesa, Ukraine) and Lviv State University of Physical Culture (Lviv, Ukraine) – are jointly collaborating on a project which is targeted on the development of sustainable network for digitalisation in higher education. This project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The objective of the project is to expand the range of e-courses in environmental science degree programmes by advancing approaches and tools for e-education to contribute to the stabilisation of higher education in Ukraine. The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development serves as an interface and supports the conceptual design and implementation of high-quality digital learning material for selected courses. The concept of the project includes the use of the LMS Moodle at HNEE as well as additional equipment and technical resources available at HNEE's Digital Learning Labs.

Main tasks

• Digital courses for students are being expanded, offered and used by students of the Ukrainian partner university.

• Lecturers from the Ukrainian partner universities are involved in the courses’ development and implementation.

• Expanding professional competencies of Ukrainian lecturers with respect to distance- and e-learning concepts and tools.

• Strengthening interdisciplinary and international cooperation between partner institution.

Key Activities

• Further analyzing and evaluation of needs in digital teaching and learning competences for environmental science degree programmes in Ukraine.

• Advancing of existing courses portfolio including development of new courses for distance teaching and learning. Lecturing of developed courses at all partner universities: Adaptive Ecosystem Management, Methods of Environmental Information Processing, Corporate Social Responsibility, Geoecological Informatics, Environmental Economics, Project Management.

• Development of guidelines how to design and build up online learning materials for environmental science degree programmes using digital tools..   

• Continuous strengthening of the project team competences involving the HNEE DILeLa team.

• Workshops for Ukrainian lecturers on the topic of digital tools for improvement and transformation of educational environmental courses.