«Implementation of environmental innovations in the field of agricultural education in the context of European integration» № 101238818 — ERASMUS-JMO-2025-HEI-TCH-RSCH

Project acronym: «AGROECOEDU»

Project duration: 1 November 2025 – 31 October 2028

Target groups: teachers, scientists, young researchers, students, pupils, business representatives, representatives of farms and territorial communities of Sumy region.

The goal of the project is to introduce environmental innovations into the sphere of agricultural education in Ukraine, taking into account the principles of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Green Deal.

Project objectives:

1. Expanding the elective component of educational programs at Sumy National Agrarian University in the specialties “Agronomy”, “Plant Protection and Quarantine”, “Ecology”, “Biotechnology and Bioengineering”.
2. Organization of a series of open lectures in English for master’s students in the specialty “Agronomy” within the framework of the double diploma program “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security” in cooperation with the Royal Agricultural University of Great Britain.
3. Development of a research direction on the greening of agro-ecosystems in Ukraine based on the EU experience.
4. Cooperation with territorial communities on the implementation of online lectures for interested parties.
5. Conducting career guidance lectures for school and college students of the Sumy region to popularize the specialties “Agronomy”, “Ecology”, “Plant Protection and Quarantine”, “Biotechnology and Bioengineering”.
6. Formation of environmental awareness and improvement of professional qualifications through the concept of Life-Long Learning.
7. Conducting open lectures and trainings for representatives of agribusiness, young farmers and newly established farms in comprehensive courses: “Ecological biotechnology”; “Ecological approaches to production technologies in agroecosystems.”

Project activities:

1. Development and preparation of educational and methodological materials in Ukrainian on the subjects “Environmental measures to ensure the stability and regulation of agroecosystems in accordance with EU requirements”, “Biological control of pests and pathogens in agrocenoses: innovative approaches and prospects in the context of European integration”, “Ecological biotechnology”;
2. Development of educational and methodological materials in English for the disciplines “Environmental measures to ensure stability and regulation of agroecosystems in accordance with EU requirements”;
3. Teaching the course in Ukrainian “Environmental measures to ensure stability and regulation of agroecosystems in accordance with EU requirements”, “Biological control of pests and pathogens in agrocenoses: innovative approaches and prospects in the context of European integration”, “Ecological biotechnology”;
4. Conducting trainings for representatives of agrarian business according to an adapted comprehensive course (target audience – specialists of the agricultural sector who establish cooperation with European partners);
5. Recording a series of lectures for representatives of farms and territorial communities of Sumy region;
6. Conducting a series of open lectures for representatives of the agricultural sector;
7. Conducting career guidance activities in the form of lectures and study tours;
8. Conducting a round table and forming topics for qualification works of students of relevant specialties;
9. Conducting a cycle of open lectures for representatives of the agricultural sector;
10. Conducting a survey, analyzing and summarizing the results of the project stages.

Expected results:

1. Education and students

Training module: development and implementation of a 120-hour module on environmental innovations.

Master’s coverage: annual training of about 100 students in the specialties “Agronomy”, “Ecology”, “Plant Protection” and “Biotechnology”.

New courses: implementation of three elective disciplines with an emphasis on EU standards and biological control.

International aspect: a cycle of English-language lectures for students of the double degree program of SNAU and the Royal Agricultural University.

2. Science and research

Publications: preparation and publication of 3 scientific articles in internationally cited publications.

Topic: research into the effectiveness of biological products, adaptability of varieties and methods for obtaining virus-free seeds.

Integration: creation of a scientific base for the greening of the Ukrainian agricultural sector based on the EU experience.

3. Business and territorial communities

Training of farmers: advanced training of about 50 representatives of agribusiness on ecological approaches in production.

Biotechnology specialists: training of 60 young specialists to work in the field of environmental safety.

Digital resources: posting a series of video lectures on online platforms of territorial communities of Sumy region for free access.

Stakeholders: involvement of at least 30 people from communities in discussing the environmental challenges of the agricultural sector.

4. Career guidance and youth

Alumni: delivering lectures to 300 school and college students over three years.

Awareness: generating youth interest in the EU Green Deal and ecological farming.

5. Long-term impact

Institutionalization: the courses will remain in the SNAU programs on a permanent basis after the grant ends.

European integration: bringing Ukrainian agricultural education closer to the standards of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Transformation: creating human resources for Ukraine’s transition to sustainable agriculture.

Vladyslav Kovalenko,
Project Coordinator,
E-mail: tovagrarne_bz@ukr.net