Type of action: DAAD funding programmes

Official page of the project

Completed projects with Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany): 1. KNEU on the MO:VE Project code number 57651032 Duration (months): 6 (01.07.2022-31.12.2022) 2. KNEU MO:VE 2 Success Project code number 57677808 Duration (months): 12 (01.01.2023-31.12.2023) 3. KNEU MO:V3 Ahead  Project code number 57722934 Duration (months): 12 (01.01.2024-31.12.2024)

In a period of extreme trials and a full-scale Russian war against Ukraine, the partnership between Philipps-Universität Marburg (UM) and Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman (KNEU) has become an important factor in supporting the quality of the educational process. Thanks to cooperation, the forces of scientists, teachers and students from both countries were united and the horizon of opportunities has expanded.

The "Ukraine digital: Ensuring academic success in times of crisis" program is financed by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and supports Ukrainian higher education institutions in the implementation of digital teaching and helps Ukrainian students to continue their studies in a digital format. Ukrainian students are able to complete their studies despite the restrictions caused by the war. At the same time, German higher education institutions offer a virtual platform for Ukrainian students to continue and complete their studies in Ukraine virtually.

The war against Ukraine has had a devastating impact on the infrastructure of the Ukrainian education and higher education system. Thus, the programme focuses on the fast implementation of virtual courses. German higher education institutions are supported to enable their Ukrainian partner institutions in maintaining their virtual study programmes. In this way, students and scientists/researchers in and from Ukraine have the prospect of completing their studies despite the limitations caused by the war.

Background:

The funding programme Ukraine digital supports Ukrainian higher education institutions in maintaining, implementing, and offering their virtual courses. Consequently, Ukrainian students have the prospect of completing their studies despite the limitations caused by the war. At the same time, German higher education institutions offer a virtual platform for Ukrainian refugee students so they can continue and complete their current studies in Ukraine virtually.

Involving Ukrainian lecturers of higher education institutions who are in Germany or other European countries enables them to continue teaching virtually at their home institutions. Therefore, lessons can also be held in the national language from abroad.

Among other things, this programme maintains and creates lasting connections that are of fundamental importance for the reconstruction and future German-Ukrainian cooperation between higher education institutions.

Objectives of the program:

Objective 1: Virtual courses for students are expanded, offered, and used by students of the partnering Ukrainian higher education institutions.

Objective 2: Lecturers of the partnering Ukrainian higher education institutions, especially those who have fled, are involved in the courses.

Objective 3: The expertise for further digitalisation of the participating German and Ukrainian higher education institutions and the professionalisation of digital teaching are available and can be used for the development of further (joint) virtual courses.

Coordinators in projects from KNEU. V. Hetman is:

• Oleg Tereshchenko, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Head of the Department of Corporate Finance and Controlling
• Iryna Ivanets, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Department of Corporate Finance and Controlling, guarantor of the program "Corporate Finance"

The coordinators of Philipps-Universität Marburg projects are:

• Elisabeth Schulte, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Chairman of the Marburg Center for Institutional Economics (MACIE), Head of the Department of Institutional Economics

Cooperation between the Corporate Finance and Controlling Department KNEU) and the Management Accounting group at Marburg’s School of Business & Economics (UM) was launched in 2008. By 2021, more than 50 of our students have completed inclusive training at UMR. Some of them received diplomas from both universities. During this period, joint scientific conferences in the field of corporate finance and controlling, round tables were held, and a joint project "Development of Democracy in Finance" was implemented.

Results of cooperation for 2022

In 2022, thanks to the efforts and fruitful cooperation of professor Elisabeth Schulte, guarantor of the Corporate Finance program Iryna Ivanets, Head of the Department of Corporate Finance and Controlling Oleg Tereshchenko, managed to implement the first unique program KNEU on the MO:VE. This is a joint project between UM and Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University, which was funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within the framework of the "Ukraine Digital" funding program I is designed to improve the quality of the educational process for Ukrainian students in the face of military threats. The goals of the "KNEU ON THE MO:VE" program are to improve the digital learning experience of students, with the help of a modern learning platform ILIAS at Philipps-Universität Marburg. The results of the project implementation in 2022 are characterized by the following data:   

• developed (or improved) 7 joint online courses for Ukrainian students;
• bilingual teaching of a number of courses (in English and Ukrainian);
• access of Ukrainian students and teachers to all online opportunities of the University of Marburg through the MO:VE platform ("Marburg Online: Virtual Exchange");
• support for the educational process, thanks to Dialoge facilitators;
• 104 Ukrainian students received online scholarships in the amount of 1200 euros (total amount - 124 800 euros) and 10 students received mobility scholarships in the amount of 1211 euros per person (total amount of funds 12 110 euros);
• 737 Ukrainian students studied virtually as part of this project
• the concept of harmonization of curricula was developed in order to launch the possibility of double diploma for students of the master's program "Financial Management and Controlling" and potentially the bachelor's program "Corporate Finance";
• the memorandum of cooperation between KNEU and UM has been updated.

2023 Results

Due to the high KPIs, the project was extended to 2023 as part of the KNEU MO:VE 2 Success It was possible to expand the number of online courses offered and scale the project, in particular:

• new courses for students of the master's program "Financial Management and Controlling" were added as part of the harmonization of curricula;
• 9 bachelor's courses and 12 master's courses are posted on the joint online platform;
• in the course of the implementation of the concept of double diploma, the content of all disciplines of the master's program "Financial Management and Controlling" was agreed, the syllabus of disciplines were prepared for examination and a decision was made to recognize the academic performance of Ukrainian students by UM, which is recorded at KNEU;
• mechanisms for unimpeded transfer of credits and academic recognition have been worked out;
• 917 Ukrainian bachelors + 82 masters became participants of the project;
• 76 online scholarships in the amount of €600 were awarded to students (total amount of €45,600).

Plans for 2024

The Department of Corporate Finance and Controlling continues to actively cooperate with the University of Marburg. In particular, UM and KNEU are concentrating their efforts on the implementation of the third project KNEU MO:V3 Aheadon the development of double degree programs at the bachelor's (Corporate Finance) and master's (Financial Management and Controlling) levels. This ambitious project provides students with a real opportunity to gain additional knowledge and skills from two prestigious institutions.

As a result of the facilitation of student exchange programs, it is planned to continue student exchange programs for 2024.

In addition, it is planned:

• Improvement (development of new) joint courses, seminars and workshops with a focus on interdisciplinary and digital learning, including the use of  the ILIAS platform at Philipps-Universität Marburg for Ukrainian students;
• Implementation of joint initiatives, including the exchange of academic materials and intensification of work towards the expansion of digitalized courses for Ukrainian students.

In this time of challenges for Ukraine, it is especially important to focus on digital transformation. During the war in Ukraine, digital education, designed in accordance with European standards, becomes extremely important. It not only provides access to quality education, but also serves as a tool to support educational processes in the country. Therefore, we are grateful to our colleagues from Philipps-Universität Marburg, who are actively working and helping us to carry out the process of transformation and digitalization of Ukrainian education at the highest level.

The partnership between Philipps-Universität Marburg (UMR) and Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University (KNEU) is an example of painstaking cooperation and mutual support in difficult times. The full-scale Russian war against Ukraine has become a trigger for joining forces and deepening cooperation. Thanks to our German colleagues from Marburg, we have felt invaluable support and the opportunity to expand our scientific horizons, contributing to the development of education, research and international cooperation. Through this partnership, we open up new perspectives for future generations, students and scholars, strengthening our ties and fostering a strong educational community.