“Currently the main challenge for the Ukrainian higher education system is to provide continuing quality education that can be effectively delivered to students, engage with them in learning process while considering and making allowances for students’ and teachers’ well-being in order to retain hopefulness in times of despair. Education thus becomes a driver for hope and a future for all in Ukraine. Studying and reporting the needs of university teachers and students who are affected by armed conflict, theoretically substantiating such an argument and practically implementing this will provide new knowledge and insights on topics of hopefulness and resilience through education. The opportunity to continue this work will allow for a deepening of European networks, the possibility to engage academically with topics that are of utmost importance for Ukraine and have huge significance for similar education systems under pressure internationally. Furthermore, the research that will be produced is of relevance to any education situation that addresses topics to do with global citizenship education and the need to address and prepare future citizens in times of uncertainties (from war to climate crisis)”.
Olena Beskorsa is Associate Professor of the Department of Primary Education Theory and Practice at State Higher Educational Institution Donbas State Pedagogical University (Sloviansk, Ukraine). She has an experience of participating in international projects: “Enhancing Democracy Education in Ukraine, Norway and Palestine” (CPEA-LT-2017/10037), aimed at upgrading the democracy teaching methods; “Ukraine – EU: intercultural communication in education” (620354-EPP-1-2020-1-UA-EPPJMO-MODULE), aimed at developing future primary school teachers’ intercultural communication competence; “EU Practices in Media Education” (101085162 – EUPinMEd ERASMUS-JMO-2022-MODULE), aimed at strengthening citizens’ media literacy in the European Union context through implementing the academic course “European Media Education Studies” into primary school teachers’ training.