STARS EU welcomes a new strategic associated partner from Ukraine

Representatives of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University (Mykolayiv, Ukraine), took part in the STARS EU Annual Conference, where they also joined discussions with the STARS EU Commission and the Steering Committee on the next steps in cooperation between the university and the alliance.

The Ukrainian university was represented by Liudmyla Vovchuk, Head of the International Relations Office and lecturer in the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy; and Olena Filimonova, Senior Specialist of the International Relations Office. Both representatives brought strong experience in international academic cooperation, project development, and university internationalization.

Their participation in the Annual Conference created an important opportunity to further strengthen dialogue with STARS EU and explore concrete ways to deepen cooperation. The exchanges with the Commission and Steering Committee confirmed a shared interest in building closer institutional ties and expanding the university’s involvement in alliance activities.

During the meetings, Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University presented its profile, academic strengths, and experience in international cooperation. As a classical university under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, it combines a broad academic base with active engagement in international partnerships, mobility, and project work. The university has established cooperation with a wide range of higher education institutions and organizations across Europe and beyond.

Particular attention was given to the strong alignment between the university’s expertise and STARS EU’s priorities. The university presented several proposals for future cooperation linked to the alliance’s main areas of activity, including Digital Transformation, Healthy Ageing, and Social Justice. These proposals cover topics such as digital transformation in education and public health, neuroscience and neurorehabilitation, rehabilitation support for victims of blast-related injuries, equality, and the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with European standards.

The discussions also built on cooperation already developed between Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University and STARS EU. The university highlighted its strong record in international mobility and project development, including participation in Erasmus+, DAAD, and other international initiatives. This experience provides a solid basis for further collaboration through academic exchange, virtual and blended learning, joint projects, thematic networking, and shared educational and research activities.

An important outcome of the meetings was the decision of the STARS EU Commission to designate Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University as a Strategic Associated Partner of the STARS EU Alliance. The decision reflects the Commission’s appreciation of the cooperation already in place, the university’s strong regional and thematic fit with STARS EU areas of activity, and its clear commitment to further developing and intensifying cooperation with the alliance.

Next steps

This marks an important next step in the relationship between STARS EU and Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University. It underlines both the value of the cooperation established so far and the strong potential for future collaboration in areas of shared strategic interest.

The next step will be the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding between STARS EU and Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, which will provide a framework for the continued development of the partnership.

With this decision, STARS EU opens a new chapter of cooperation with a Ukrainian partner university and creates further opportunities for students, researchers, academic staff, and professional staff to engage in joint activities and knowledge exchange across the alliance.