Presentation of interim results of the DEFEP project to the Supervisory Board of the Uman National University of Horticulture
A meeting of the Supervisory Board of the educational institution has recently been held at Uman National University of Horticulture. The agenda included the participation of Uman National University of Horticulture in the international Erasmus+ KA2 DEFEP project “Distance Education for the Future: Best European Practices for Partners”.
Mykhailo Malyovanyi, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, reported to the audience on the participation of Uman National University of Horticulture in the project in the area of: Higher Education Capacity Development “Distance Education for Future: EU Best Practices in Response to the Demands of Modern Higher Education Students and the Labor Market”. The project “Distance Education for Future: best EU practices in response to the requests of modern higher education seekers and labor market” (DEFEP) is supported by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Ka2 Program and is being implemented by 11 partner universities from Ukraine, Moldova, Germany, Spain, and Italy. The project implementation period is 2023-2027.
Mykhailo Ivanovych noted that the project aims to introduce a sustainable and effective system of distance education as a separate and independent form of education. An innovative and comprehensive system of distance education will help to adequately adapt to future technological, behavioral, ideological changes and challenges, and its implementation in modern higher education institutions will allow to implement the principle of barrier-free access and create a safe learning environment.
In accordance with the project program, the university took part in the organization and coordination of a sociological survey of stakeholders at the university about priorities, needs and requests for distance education; joined the international forum of educators and employers “Distance Education of the Future: Challenges and Prospects; made a study visit to the University of Saarland (Germany), where they got acquainted with real examples of best practices and best practices in distance education implemented in European universities.
Mykhailo Ivanovych noted that the research work is ongoing, and the researchers are currently working on the section of the analytical report on the institutional environment of distance learning in Ukraine.
Mykhailo Ivanovych also noted that the relevance of the direction in the context of the war in Ukraine is undeniable, and the interest and involvement of not only Ukrainian higher education institutions but also foreign ones in the project proves its prospects and compliance with the requirements of today. The mission of the Uman National University of Horticulture is to provide quality educational services, including distance learning. Therefore, the university strongly supports the project and the implementation of its results in practice.
