A Delegation from Karazin University Had a Working Visit to OsloMet University

From November 28 to December 1, the Rector of Karazin University, Tetiana Kaganovska, and the Dean of the School of Sociology, Olena Muradian, were on a working visit to OsloMet University in Oslo, Norway.

During meetings with the Rector, Vice-rectors, and Heads of Research Institutes at OsloMet, the parties discussed the results of collaboration, the memorandum of which was signed at the beginning of the war. They also conducted initial negotiations on expanding cooperation in the fields of sociological and humanitarian research, medicine, psychology, chemistry, physics, ecology, and the security sector.

A productive meeting also took place at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR), with which Karazin University has had successful relations in the field of sociological research since 2018.

The discussions were held in a warm atmosphere, with a sense of support and engagement in finding common solutions to the challenges faced by Karazin University, the Kharkiv community, and Ukrainian society. For the second year in a row, a school member from the School of Sociology, Associate Professor Oleksandra Deineko, has been a visiting researcher at OsloMet. Thanks to her efforts, it was evident that Karazin University is not just known but is ready for joint actions in rebuilding our university and the region.

Tetiana Kaganovska and Olena Muradian were invited speakers at the conference "Strengthening Ukraine: Knowledge Exchange for a Sustainable Future," organized by the HROMADA network (Scandinavian-Baltic Network, founded on knowledge, for the renewal of Ukraine). HROMADA consists of researchers from universities, research institutions, and analytical centers in the Baltic and Northern European countries with expert knowledge about Ukraine.

The Rector delivered a presentation on the current state of education and research at Karazin University, presenting opportunities and prospects for joint international research. Olena Muradian presented on the topic "The Role of Ukrainian Universities in Post-War Reconstruction."

It was gratifying to see a whole array of alumnae from the School of Sociology at Karazin University of different years who are now leading experts in this research network. One of our colleagues, Deputy Dean for International Cooperation of the School of Sociology, Olga Filippova, is the head of one of the directions in HROMADA. This strong representation of Karazin University did not go unnoticed by all participants of the conference.

OsloMet, which has been providing support to Karazin University from the early weeks of the war, now plays a leading role as a supplier of scientifically grounded knowledge related to the welfare state in Norway and abroad. It is a municipal university with a 22,000-strong student community, a diverse academic profile, and a clear international orientation. Through research, OsloMet successfully meets the needs of Norwegian society and the labor market, is forward-thinking, and seeks to implement new technologies and innovative solutions that improve management practices at various levels.

Together with OsloMet, we have planned ambitious steps for further cooperation and are confident that the Ukrainian-Norwegian research network under the leadership of these two leading universities is capable of achieving impactful social changes.