PHOTO REPORT
Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region Ukraine, February 21–25, 2024
Valeriy Mikhaylenko, Taras Shevchenko National university of Kyiv, Ukraine
Ruslan Havryliuk, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine
March 22, 2024
For the eighth year in a row, the Center for Civic Initiatives of Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region Region has been welcoming participants to the winter session of the Carpathian School. Participants include students, the scientific community, and activists of civil society organizations who gathered at the end of February in the city of Kosiv for the traditional Carpathian School.
SESSION OPENING
This year the Carpathian School was conducted in a hybrid format, due to the state of war in Ukraine. The success of the event largely depended on the active participation of leading domestic universities, National Environmental Centre of Ukraine (NECU), National Nature Park (NNP) “Hutsulshchyna,” and local activists. The beginning of the session was announced by Mykola Blyzniuk, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Civic Initiatives of Kosiv Region, Ruslan Havryliuk, Head of the NECU, also National Facilitator of the Ukrainian Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, and Yuriy Stefurak, Director of the NNP “Hutsulshchyna.”
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Serhiy Zapototsky, Dean of the Geography Faculty of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Tetiana Tymochko, Chairwoman of the All- Ukrainian Ecological League, and Marina Hryniova, Rector of Volodymyr Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University – leaders of educational and public institutions investing their resources in the development of informal and professional education in local communities.
As Sergiy Zapototsky noted, the Carpathian School is actively developing, receiving recognition from leading Ukrainian universities, and laying the foundation for transboundary ecological cooperation. He emphasized the importance of further development of the “third” mission of universities, supported by the faculty. The “third mission” refers to informal and professional education initiated by researchers and students of the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology in the Kosiv and Vyzhnytsia local communities of Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions since 2016.
This initiative has found development in cooperation between institutions of higher education and powerful Ukrainian civil society organizations. The cooperation agreement between Taras Shevchenko National University and the NECU, signed this year, is one such example. School educational programs are coordinated by scientists of Taras Shevchenko National University based on similar cooperation agreements and academic mobility with partner educational institutions of Ukrainian and European universities.
Traditionally, civil society organizations actively participate in the Carpathian School activities. Participants of this session included the International Charity Organization “GreenDossier” the All-Ukrainian Ecological League, the Intellectual Forum “United Europe,” the Kosiv Branch of the Taras Shevchenko Scientific Society, the regional charity organization “Center for Civic Initiatives,” and others.
In total, 182 participants were registered to the school, with 57 present in the session hall and others joining remotely. The participants represented 18 Ukrainian regions and seven foreign countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Chekh Republik, Lithuania, Georgia and Pakistan. The School’s organizing committee developed a robust working program, which was actively collaborated on by scientists and students from leading educational institutions in Ukraine, such as Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” Lviv Polytechnic National University, and others. Active participation in the School’s work was seen from Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Bukovinian State Medical University, Lviv National Forestry University, Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, and several others, which have been long-standing partners of the Carpathian School.
Eminent scientists and specialists from Visegrad countries and Ukrainian universities, along with representatives of student and youth organizations, actively participated in the School’s activities and Round table discussions. Among the priorities of the School were the thematic areas presented the experience of the Visegrad experts in water and land recovery, climate change mitigation, heritage safeguarding, and outdoor training. The emphasis was done
on assessing the negative impact of Russian aggression in Ukraine, ensuring sustainable management of natural resources in the Carpathian Mountain, enhancing sustainable tourism, and addressing contemporary challenges and prospects for informal education in Ukraine.
This year, the team of Poltava National Pedagogical University named after V.H. Korolenko led by Marina Hryniova, Rector, joined the Carpathian School session.
Representatives of the National Nature Park (NNP) “Hutsulshchyna” played an active role in discussing biodiversity conservation issues in wartime conditions. Mr. Liubomyr Derzhipilskyi, a researcher and scientist of the Carpathian region, introduced Maria Pasaylyuk, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the NNP “Hutsulshchyna”, along with their colleagues.
PLENARY SESSION
EUROINTEGRATION OF UKRAINE AND THE CARPATHIAN CONVENTION is the title of the plenary report delivevred by Tamara Malkova, Director of the International Charity Organization “Green Dossier Information Center”. She also is Coordinator of Working Group 5 “Energy, Transport, Environment, and Climate Change” of the Ukrainian side of the Civil Society Platform Ukraine-EU. In her report, she highlighted urgent challenges for Ukraine in terms of rapprochement with the European Union both at the level of laws and at the level of rules and customs existing in society. She emphasized the importance of the Copenhagen criteria, including quality education and science, compliance with the global goals of the EU in the sphere of politics and economy.
SECTION 1. ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERIENCE OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF UKRAINE.
The section moderators, Ruslan Havryliuk and Valeriy Mykhaylenko, facilitated the section’s work in English, in a hybrid format. This session aimed at lessons learned from the foreign experts of Visegrad countries, such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia which united their educational resources within the framework of the project “Education for Sustainable Development: Transferring V4 Countries’ Experience for Ukraine’s Recovery,” supported by the Visegrad Fund. The experts represented the following institutions: the Professional Association “Water for Climate – Environmental Technologies” and the Trnava University, both from Slovakia; the Czech Institute of Heritage Interpretation, Czech Republic; and Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland.
Participants were presented with the experience of the Slovak Republic regarding measures for preserving water resources. Ivan Matušek demonstrated how such technologies slow down climate change and influence the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Mrs. Lenka Diener from Slovakia shared social technologies for communicating scientific conclusions regarding climate change and research results on the state of the environment, as well as various communication tools with non-professional audiences.
Polish expert Piotr Rybarczyk presented possible solutions for cleaning contaminated soils and air using biological methods based on phytoremediation and biofiltration. Such methods are actively implemented in Poland and other European countries.
Last not least, Michal Medek from the Czech Republic demonstrated how to educate people during leisure time and change their attitudes towards nature.
SECTION 2. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF UKRAINE
This section was represented by a powerful team of scientists, moderated by Viktor Karamushka, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Ecology at the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.” He initiated the section’s work with his presentation on “Categorization of the Environmental Consequences of Military Aggression.”
Yevhen Khlobystov, Ph.D. in Economics, Professor, and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” presented a report on the Ecological- economic dimension of the impact of russian aggression against Ukraine.
Tetiana Gardashuk, Ph.D. in Philosophy of the H.S. Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, presented the characteristics and environmental consequences of the contemporary Russian-Ukrainian war.
Victoria Sklyar, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Professor, and Head of the Department of Ecology and Botany at Sumy National Agrarian University, continued the topic by assessing the war’s impact on the environment in Sumy region.
Svitlana Boychenko, Ph.D. in Geography, Lecturer at the National University “Kyiv- Mohyla Academy,” and Senior Researcher at the S.I. Subbotin Institute of Geophysics at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, focused on the atmospheric effects of military actions in Ukraine.
Victor Havrylenko, the long-standing director of the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve named after F. Falz-Fein, Honored Environmentalist of Ukraine, presented a report on the events of the first months of the full-scale invasion and occupation of the reserve by Russian forces and its dire consequences for the most famous Ukrainian nature reserve, which remains occupied to this day.
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Within the framework of the round table, the NECU experts Dmitry Ivanov, Vitalii Gulevets, and Yulia Khristinchenko presented the key results of the project “Assessment of the environmental consequences of war for communities,” which is being implemented with the support of the Fund for Democracy and Development of the USA Embassy. The results of the NECU research group on the implementation of the SPARCs projects (Sustainable Energy Positive & Zero Carbon Communities) were presented by Yevhen Bovsunovskyi.
Vitalii Gulevets, NECU expert of the project “Assessment of the consequences of war for
DAY TWO
The second day of the school’s work started with an online plenary presentation titled “Strengthening the Education Network for Sustainable Development in the Carpathian Region” delivered by Tamara Mytrofanenko, Vienna Office of the Carpathian Convention Secretariat, Austria. She informed the participants about the role of the Carpathian Convention in science development for the Carpathians, the directions for enhancing sustainable development in the Carpathian region, and the prospects for building an informal international network called “Science for the Carpathians” (S4C).
Following the plenary, Section 3 united the Ukrainian-speaking auditorium led by two recognized professors in the Ukrainian Carpathian region and Carpathian School lecturers: Yuriy Masikevych, doctor of biological sciences, professor of Bukovinian Medical University and Myroslav Malovanyy, doctor of science, prof., head of Ecology and Sustainable Environmental Management department, Lviv National Polytechnic University, Ukraine.
SECTION 3. SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS OF THE CARPATHIANS
The the section’s work, started with a presentation delivered by Yuri Masikevich, a professor at the Bukovinian State Medical University, on the topic “Sanitary and hygienic aspects of environmental safety of the mountain ecosystem of the Eastern Carpathians.”
Following the section agenda, Miroslav Malovanyy, a professor of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine, presented a report entitled “Comprehensive strategy for the restoration of anthropogenically disturbed landscapes using substrates based on organic waste, encapsulated fertilizers, and natural sorbents.”
Oleg Mandryk, a professor at the Department of Ecology of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, and also the head of the Dniester River Basin Council, highlighted the activities of the Dniester River Basin Council and eco-innovative solutions for sustainable water resource management.
After the conclusion of the section agenda, Kateryna Shor, Project Manager at the International Charity Organization “Information Center Green Dossier,” delivered a presentation on “Sustainable Agriculture: The Case of the Carpathian Region.”
SECTION 4. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION: CHALLENGES, EXPERIENCE, PROSPECTS
Sustainable tourism in the Carpathian region was a central theme of the section led by Victoria Kiptenko, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Geography of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (in remote mode). The presentation by Zhanna Buchko, Associate Professor at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, on “Natural and cultural heritage of the Vyzhnytsia district in the context of sustainable tourism,” shed light on the conservation and protection challenges facing this unique region. Her presentation echoed the theme presented by her Czech colleague Michal Medek in the previous section.
Lyudmyla Arkhipova, Professor at Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, presented a report titled “Environmentally Friendly practices of mountain ski resorts/instruments and practices of cultural tourism in the Carpathians.”
Tetiana Bozhuk, Professor at Ivan Bobersky Lviv State University of Physical Culture, delivered a presentation on the topic “Classification of geographic names of territories (on the example of Ukrainian Marmarosh).”
Valentyn Voloshyn, representative of the civil society organization “TseGryn” and Uzhhorod National University, delivered a presentation on the topic “Sustainability of tourism in Ukraine: Current status and potential for improvement,” which was actively discussed by the participants of the section.
SECTION 5. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: CURRENT CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR UKRAINE
The concluding section of the Winter Session of the Carpathian School was moderated by Valeriy Mykhaylenko, PhD Associate Professor of the Faculty of Geography of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (in remote mode) and Mykola Blyznyuk, Sci.D., a professor at the Volodymyr Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University.
The section started with a presentation titled “Digital Green Talents for Ukraine,” delivered by Alina Sevastiuk, Public Relations Manager at Huawei Ukraine, which provided an overview of Huawei’s study on digital green skills (Twin Skills for the Twin Transition: Defining Green Digital Skills and Jobs https://www.europeandigitalskills.eu/white-paper/). She also presented the experience of using information and communication technologies for research, acoustic monitoring and environmental protection on the example of the TECH4GOOD project in the Bialowieza National Park in Poland (https://posluchajpuszczy.pl/en/).
Eugene Kulyk, Head of the Department of Vocational Education, Design, and Life Safety, V.G. Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University, delivered a presentation on “Formation of Environmental Outlook in the Context of Technological Education.”
Petro Bilenchuk, Professor at Kyiv University of Law, representing the Intellectual Forum ‘Unified Europe,’ and Mykola Maliy, Director of the legal company LLC ‘AUR- CONSULTING,’ presented on ‘Implementation of the interactive methodology V-3 in the activities of the legal clinic in conditions of martial law.
THE STUDENT POSTER CONTEST
As part of the Winter Session with support from the Visegrad Fund, a student poster contest was organized. Students from several leading universities in Ukraine prepared and presented posters dedicated to current environmental issues, including the impact of Russian aggression on the environment.
All participants of the student poster competition, who presented their posters, were awarded valuable prizes and diplomas, which were ceremoniously presented by the hosts of the Carpathian School, Ruslan Havryliuk and Mykola Blyzniuk.
ROUND TABLE. “INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARPATHIAN SCHOOL. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE”
Summarizing the results of the Winter Session of the Carpathian School, its participants noted the positive dynamics in its activities, which is manifested in the formation of a network of
universities to strengthen informal education in the Carpathian region, as well as in the broader involvement of student youth.
The scientific team and organizers of the School see further development of its scientific and educational activities through coordination and cooperation with colleagues from the Carpathian Convention countries and other EU countries, involvement of national parks from Carpathian region countries in cooperation, integration of ideas and practices of the Carpathian School into the educational process at Ukrainian universities, and using the School to present and disseminate the best practices in education and sustainable development, as well as to counter existential challenges facing Ukraine.
CULTURAL PROGRAMME
After the exhausting breakout sessions, participants had the opportunity to visit the NNP “Hutsulshchyna”.
SUMMARY
Participants of the Carpathian School noted a positive trend in the development of the university network to enhance informal education in the Ukrainian part of the Carpathian region. The Visegrad Fund project facilitated connections with colleagues from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Cooperation agreements with the NECU were signed by The Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, V.G. Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University, Luhansk National University, and the Hutsulshchyna National Park. Other universities and environmental CSOs are invited to cooperate.
The Carpathian School is actively spreading knowledge on Sustainable Development Goals in the Ukrainian part of the Carpathian region. The establishment of a Youth Branch intended to strengthen work with the students with the provision of the Academic Mobility office of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, which is also working on facilitating internal academic mobility mechanisms for students and credit recognition under the ECTS system for participants of the Carpathian School.
The Organising Committee is looking forward to expanding cooperation with the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, the Science for Carpathy (S4C) network, and strengthening the “third” mission of universities. The Committee members are actively working on developing information channels, including the creation of a website and an educational hub for students.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Future activities of the school include renew the composition of the Carpathian School organizing committee. Include international partners and the head of the Student Branch of the Carpathian School in the committee.
Strengthen cooperation with colleagues and scientists from Carpathian region countries by organizing summer and winter schools and writing grant proposals for the development of the Carpathian School.
Work on establishing a transboundary network of National Parks in the Carpathian region, involving National Parks from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, and other countries in the cooperation.
Develop information channels to highlight the activities of the Carpathian School. Encourage participants to publish the results of the Carpathian School’s work on the websites of their universities. Spread information about the educational hub of the Carpathian School. Publish a Collection of Scientific Papers of the Carpathian School based on the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The International Carpathian School – 2024 took place within the framework of the project “Education for Sustainable Development: Transferring V4 Countries’ Experience for Ukraine’s Recovery,” supported by the Visegrad Fund, Project ID #/Title: 22320172.
Міжнародна Карпатська школа – 2024 відбулась в рамках проєкту «Освіта для сталого розвитку: передача досвіду країн V4 для відновлення України» («Education for sustainable development: transferring V4 countries’ experience for Ukraine’s recovery»).
The project is co-financed by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants of the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to promote the ideas of sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
The authors would like to thank Viktor Karamushka, Associate Professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and Mykola Blyzniuk, Professor at the V.G. Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University, for providing photographs and comments on the text of the photo report.
© National Ecological Centre of Ukraine