Results of the first year
Today’s video conference «Precarpathian National University – a project-educational platform for regional development» was timed to present the results of the first year of the Project and Educational Center «Agents of Changes». The event, which took place in the renovated university office «Agents of Changes», was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Roman Hreba, the university rector, Igor Tsependa, heads of territorial communities, heads of regional development institutions, including the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the Center for Local Government Development, UTC development Agencies of Prykarpattia, regional development Agencies of the region and other specialized institutions. Svitlana Kropelnytska, the head of the Project, together with the team of project specialists presented the Project and Educational Center.
Partners and invited guests were pleasantly surprised by the scale and depth of the work carried out by the team and interesting future cooperation prospects. They stated this in their speeches. With the help of pu.webex.com platform, everyone could watch the presentation in real time.
While opening the event, the rector, Igor Tsependa, emphasized on the importance of the topic, the role of the university as a scientific and educational institution in Prykarpattia, acquainted the audience with the experience of implementing project initiatives within the university.
«We are holding educational and scientific events and we are influencing the development of the region. We managed to implement a coach training project to help united communities write project plans and win them. This will generate the development of the whole region» – said Igor Tsependa.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Roman Hreba, talked about the importance of such projects in the current reforms. «Due to such projects a combination of two key reforms is carried out – educational and decentralization reform. When a Project and Educational Office is created on the basis of one of the most powerful universities in Ukraine, where local communities can teach how to manage modern projects properly – it’s amazing. I am sure that universities are to become the center of innovation, provide modern knowledge to the leaders of local communities and then our nation is definitely going places. This is a demonstrative sign that this country is the very thing to study, work and live in» – said Roman Hreba.
At the beginning of the presentation, Svitlana Kropelnytska, the head of the Project and Educational Center «Agents of Changes», reminded that her team is a structural unit of Precarpathian National University within the project «Creation of a project and education center for innovation and investment development in the region». The creation of «Agents of Changes» became possible after the victory in the competitive selection of the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Housing of Ukraine regional development projects that can be implemented at the expense of the state budget received from the European Union. In particular, under the regional development program «Innovative Economy and Investment».
The project is initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine while the customer and executor – Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
In 2018, the Project and Educational Center «Agents of Changes» began active work to increase the level of innovation and competitiveness of the region’s economy by strengthening the institutional capacity of Ivano-Frankivsk region, Svitlana Kropelnytska noted in the presentation. It provides specific information and educational assistance on development project management from the first idea to its implementation. The project meets the objectives of regional development strategies and programs. In particular, the State Strategy for Regional Development for the period up to 2020 and the Development Strategy of Ivano-Frankivsk region for the period up to 2020.
«Agents of Changes» is aimed at a wide range of individuals from United Territorial Communities (UTCs) and their residents to civil society institutions and students, graduate students and university researchers.
2018 key results were the creation of the Project and Educational Center «Agents of Changes», in particular, the project team of university specialists, the online platform and the website of «Agents of Changes». A number of thematic meetings, six trainings for trainers with the invitated high-level specialists from Ukraine and the European Union, educational trainings, workshops, seminars, round tables, webinars and online consultations were held last year. Approbation of the pilot project and information day of the project competition «Today’s creative idea – tomorrow’s reality» should also be mentioned while talking about the project. «Agents of Changes» also participated in international internships for the whole team.
An important result is the signing of cooperation agreements. These are ones with the Science Park of the Precarpathian University, with the regional branch of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, with the International Cultural and Educational Association of Chicago (USA), with the Central European Academy of Training and Certification of Bydgoszcz (Republic of Poland), with the Rzeszow Development Foundation (Republic of Poland), with the Higher Technical and Economic School named after Bronislaw Markiewicz, in Yaroslavl (Republic of Poland).
A joint project competition for students and graduate students of Precarpathian University «Today’s creative idea – tomorrow’s reality» started (together with the Association of Ukrainian Cities). Currently it is on the third stage. In February, the contestants will present their projects.
To see the presentation of the Project and Educational Center «Agents of Changes», follow the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cMrgcGvtYY2nN9OdRWZRirt2Q9v9N7CE/view?usp=sharing