Type of action: DAAD funding programmes

Official page of the project

Implemented project Philipps-Universität Marburg (Germany):     Virtual Pathways to transnational collaboration in higher education (ViPatch)     Project code number 57681808     Duration (months): 12 (01.01.2023 -31.12.2023)

The main goal of the project:

Integration of digital technologies into the system of research and higher education in order to ensure access to quality education and the development of an international dimension in teaching and learning programs.

The DAAD funding programme IVAC supports the design of international university cooperation and worldwide mobility through virtual exchange.

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced universities and research organisations to dynamically expand their capabilities in the fields of digital learning and working. At the same time, however, it has also highlighted the great opportunities that digitalisation offers, particularly for international university cooperation. Virtual exchange represents an interactive and cooperation-based bridge to the world and serves to systematically intensify international higher education efforts and shape them around new models of (blended) mobility.

With the funding programme International Virtual Academic Collaboration (IVAC), the DAAD provided practical support to instructors and strategic support to universities in three calls for application between 2020 and 2023. The aim has been to develop and expand international higher education partnerships and worldwide mobility by tapping digital possibilities.

Objectives of the program:

Objective 1: Virtual collaboration formats are integrated into the courses offered by the participating higher education institutions and their lecturers plan to integrate them in their curricula.

Objective 2: The virtual cooperation formats enable students and lecturers to gain international experiences in order to further equal opportunity.

Objective 3: Students and lecturers apply the (further) developed digital and intercultural skills.

Objective 4: The coordinated IT services of the project participants enable the implementation of virtual collaboration formats.

Objective 5: Participants of international, virtual collaboration formats build a network and form a Community of Practice.

Coordinators in the project from KNEU. V. Hetman is:

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

The coordinators of the Philipps-Universität Marburg project are:

• Elisabeth Schulte, Ph.D., Professor, Head of the Marburg Center for Institutional Economics (MACIE), Head of the Department of Institutional Economics

The virtual exchange has proven to be a transformative tool that serves as an interactive bridge to the global community and contributes to the systematic strengthening of efforts in international higher education. By introducing new models of (blended) mobility, universities have been able to adapt and thrive in the rapidly changing landscape of digital education.

Through the Virtual Pathways to Transnational Collaboration in higher education (ViPatch) program , DAAD has provided invaluable support to KNEU teachers, contributing to the development and expansion of cooperation with German colleagues from Philipps-Universität Marburg in higher education. During the implementation of the project, it provided an opportunity for KNEU to use digital tools in innovative ways.

In the context of the current long-standing challenge associated with the full-scale war in Ukraine, the organization of interdisciplinary courses within the framework of the IVAC project has become even more important. Thanks to the possibility of using the ILIAS platform at Philipps-Universität Marburg for Ukrainian students, the Department of Corporate Finance and Controlling of KNEU and the Department of Institutional Economics of the University of Marburg have created a joint course "Introduction to Economics". This course was developed for the bachelor's level for the educational program "Corporate Finance". The next step was the creation of an interdisciplinary joint course at the master's level "Corporate Finance and Institutions" for the educational program "Financial Management and Controlling".

It is worth noting that an important advantage of these courses is the possibility of online communication between students of both universities. This opportunity allows students to exchange opinions, experiences, and cultural backgrounds, enriching cross-cultural experiences and fostering an understanding of diversity. It is also worth noting that communication through digital technologies creates a comfortable and accessible platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between students.

By encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and using digital tools, the IVAC project has not only strengthened international university partnerships, but also significantly contributed to the resilience and adaptability of higher education systems, in particular for Ukraine facing armed aggression.