Karazin University Hosts TEX4YUA Kharkiv Youth Textile Forum

On September 25–26, 2025, Karazin University, together with the NGO Innovative Generation, held the International Kharkiv Youth Textile Forum as part of the TEX4YUA project.

The TEX4YUA project (Sustainable Excellence of Ukrainian Youth in the Textile and Apparel Industry) is being implemented through a partnership between the University of Borås (Sweden), Lutsk National Technical University, the NGO Innovative Generation, and the Educational and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy” of Karazin University, within the framework of the Swedish Institute Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme.

The aim of the project is to provide Ukrainian pupils, students, early-career educators, and young textile industry workers with knowledge, skills, and innovative thinking in the field of textiles in order to become competitive in the international market. It also seeks to promote innovation and to equip teaching staff with advanced pedagogical methods and research approaches.

The Kharkiv Youth Textile Forum lasted two days and included a strategic session, a fashion show, a visit to a production enterprise, and a series of workshops and training sessions.

The forum brought together representatives of universities, industry enterprises, students, teachers, and vocational training masters from institutions of professional and pre-university education in Kharkiv, Lutsk, Irpin, Kyiv, and beyond.

Participants were welcomed by Denys Kovalenko, Director of the Education and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy” of Karazin University; Iryna Shteimiller, Head of the University’s International Relations Office; Roman Nesterenko, Deputy Head of the International Relations Office of Karazin University; Oleh Lytvyn, Head of the Department of Food Technologies, Light Industry and Design of the Institute; Volodymyr Serhieiev, Head of the NGO Innovative Generation; Liudmyla Nazarchuk, Head of the Department of Light Industry Technologies at Lutsk National Technical University; and Svitlana Nechipor, Director of the Regional Center of Vocational Education in Sewing Production and Services in Kharkiv region.

Tuser Biswas, researcher and lecturer at the Department of Textile Technology, School of Textiles, Engineering and Business of the University of Borås (Sweden), and head of the TEX4YUA project, shared the project’s goals and achievements with participants and presented the opportunities of textile education at the University of Borås.

During the panel session, participants listened to keynote speakers, including:

• Tetiana Pushkarova, Development Manager at Reinventex LLC — “EU Ecodesign Regulation. The Future of Sustainable Development in the Textile and Fashion Industry”;

• Pavlo Selezien, entrepreneur — “Challenges and Opportunities of Recycled Yarn Production: The Path of a Ukrainian Knitting Enterprise Towards Sustainability”;

• Olena Parkhomenko, Project Manager and Trainer at Innovative Generation, Associate Professor at Karazin Business School — “Fashion, Economy, and Identity: The Role of Textiles in Creating Markets”;

• Yuliia Makarova, founder of the humanitarian hub Zhuravlivka — “Extending the Life of Clothing as a Path to a Sustainable Future: The Experience of the Zhuravlivka Humanitarian Hub in Kharkiv”;

• Mykola Riabchykov, Professor at the Department of Light Industry Technologies, Lutsk National Technical University — “Developing Sustainability Competences in the Textile and Apparel Industry through Cooperation with European Universities”;

• Kateryna Nedelko and Kateryna Torkut, students of the Education and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy” — “The European Experience of Sustainability in the Textile and Apparel Industry through the Eyes of Ukrainian Youth: Challenges and Solutions for Ukraine.”

Additionally, participants enjoyed a fashion show of collections created by students of higher, pre-university, and vocational education institutions.

Prof. Maryna Vasylieva, Deputy Director of the Educational and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy,” conducted a gamified training session “Crisis Situations, Trauma, and Mental Health Management” for representatives of educational institutions.

On the second day of the forum, specialists from the Institute’s Center for Innovative Educational Technologies held a series of practice-oriented workshops for both students and teachers.

An essential part of the forum was the visit to the modern knitting production enterprise of Pavlo Selezien.

An online platform with shared resources and comprehensive learning materials developed within the framework of the project is available at the provided link.