Preamble. The International Carpathian School is an educational and volunteer project whose activities are aimed at strengthening the role of the scientific community, civil society, local communities, entrepreneurs and authorities in the development of the Ukrainian part of the Carpathian region. Its thematic directions are determined by Ukraine’s strategic documents, in particular, the achievement of the goals of the UN-2030 Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine, the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians and the State Strategy for Regional Development and the and 2021-2027. Strategy for the Implementation of the Framework Convention on Protection sustainable development of Karpatii . The Carpathian School demonstrates the new role of universities in the conditions of a globalized world and a deeper understanding of the role of science in the spheres of activity outlined by the UN Framework Environmental Agreements. The school unites a wide range of interested parties: non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, student and student youth, local communities, small and medium- sized businesses. It is expected that the efforts of all target groups will be combined and focused on improving the quality of the environment, taking into account the relevant goals in future strategies, plans and programs for the recovery of communities in the Carpathian region of Ukraine, in particular the Science for the Carpathians (S4C) network.
Organizers: National Ecological Center of Ukraine (NECU), Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University (Geography Faculty), Center for Public Initiatives (CGI), Kosiv, Ivano-Frankivsk Region.
With the assistance and participation of the Visegrad Foundation, scientists and students of partner universities and organizations of the Visegrad Four countries, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, Poltava National Pedagogical University named after V.G. Korolenko, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy National University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas, State University of Infrastructure and Technologies, Bukovyna State Medical University, Chernivtsi National University named after Yuriy Fedkovich, National Natural Parks of the Carpathian Region: “Hutsulshchyna”, “Vyzhnytskyi” and “Karpatskyi”.
Partnership: International charitable organization “Information Center “Green Dossier”, Intellectual Forum “United Europe”, Union of Designers of Ukraine.
Local partners: Kosiv branch of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, Kosiv Lyceum named after Ihor Pelypeik.
Results. The participants of the Carpathian school note the positive dynamics institutional development and educational activities, which are manifested in the following:
- A network of universities is being formed to strengthen the “third” mission – non-formal education in the Carpathian region. Agreements were signed on the cooperation of NECU with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Poltava National Pedagogical University named after V.G. Korolenko, Taras Shevchenko Luhansk National University and Hutsulshchyna NPP. Universities and public environmental organizations are invited to cooperate.
- The participants of the School announced the creation of the Youth Link of Scientists within the framework of the Carpathian School. The organizing committee is setting up a mechanism for the internal academic mobility of students to offset ECTS credits for students participating in educational activities of the Carpathian School-2024 on the basis of the Certificate program “Regional and local sustainable development” of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National Universityiii .
Further steps. Organizers together with partner organizations plan to contribute to raising the level of public awareness of the state of affairs and involving it in decision- making regarding the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathians, guided by the provisions of the State Program for the Development of Cross-Border Cooperation for 2021-2027 iv and the Protocols to the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians. For this purpose, it is planned to:
Strengthen coordination and cooperation with colleagues from the countries of the Visegrad Four and the European Union in general, by holding summer and winter sessions of Schools, preparing project proposals for the development of the Carpathian school. Establish cooperation with partner universities and public organizations of Romania, Hungary, Poland and other countries-parties of the Carpathian Convention.
To encourage and support the integration of the ideas and practices of the Carpathian School into the educational process in the universities of Ukraine and to use the platform of the School for the presentation and dissemination of the best experience in the field of education and practice for sustainable development, as well as for countering the existential challenges faced by Ukraine in the conditions of Russian aggression .
Aware of the importance of Ukraine’s European integration course for overcoming the consequences of Russian military aggression and for green recovery, strengthen cooperation with the countries of the Carpathian Convention on supporting Ukraine in the process of negotiations on joining the EU, in particular, involving students and teachers of educational institutions of the countries of the Carpathian region.
Taking into account the challenges faced by Ukraine and Europe in connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation, support the efforts of educators and researchers aimed at strengthening the resilience of the defenders of Ukraine and democracy, supporting the Armed Forces and countering invaders, researching the conditions and state of war-affected territories and objects and their restoration based on the principles of sustainable development.
Update the composition of the organizing committee of the Carpathian school. To include international partners and the head of the Student Union in the organizing committee Carpathian school.
Contribute to the formation of citizens’ understanding of the fundamental role of bio- and landscape diversity in the life of man and society; participate in the development and implementation of local action plans for ecologically balanced development. Work on the creation of a network of national natural parks in the Carpathian region, involve the national parks of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland in cooperation. 7. In order to popularize the potential of the Carpathian region, develop information channels to cover the activities of the Carpathian school in the network “Science for the Carpathians” (S4C).
First steps:
- Promote the educational hub Carpathian school.
- Ask school participants to highlight the results of the Carpathian School’s work on their own web resources.
- Publish the Collection of Scientific Papers of the Winter Session of the Carpathian School on the basis of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, as well as the Materials of the Winter Session of the Carpathian School of 2024 at the office of the Kosiv branch of the Shevchenko Scientific Society.
- To encourage systematic applied scientific research in the thematic areas of the Carpathian school and the publication of their results in specialized scientific publications.
- Participate in the organization of the Forum Carpaticum 2025 conference.
Participants of the Winter Session of the International Carpathian School-2024. Kosiv city, Ivano-Frankivsk region, February 21–25, 2024.
The International Carpathian School-2024 took place within the framework of the project “Education for sustainable development: transfer of experience of V4 countries for the restoration of Ukraine” (“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 the Visegrad Grants of the International Visegrad Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to promote the ideas of sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
- State strategy of regional development for 2021-2027 (CMU decree No. 695 of August 5, 2020)
- Strategy for the implementation of the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers dated January 16, 2007, No. 11)
- On the approval of the description of the certificate program “Regional and local sustainable development” Order Rector of KNU named after Taras Shevchenko No. 514-32 dated June 28, 2023
- On the approval of the State program for the development of cross-border cooperation for 2021-2027 (post. CMU of April 14, 2021 No. 408)