Karazin University Advances Engineering Education through the Ukrainian-Norwegian FLEX-EDU Project

From 13 to 16 October 2026, representatives of Karazin University took part in the first in-person working meeting of the international FLEX-EDU UA–NO project, held at the campus of the University of South-Eastern Norway in Kongsberg. The participants discussed practical steps towards modernising engineering education and introducing remote and hybrid laboratories at Ukrainian universities.

The Karazin University delegation included Nataliia Briukhanova, Head of the Department of Pedagogy, Teaching Methods and Education Management at the Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy Education and Research Institute; Iryna Synelnyk, Associate Professor at the same department; and Yuliia Oliinyk, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Electric Power Engineering. Oleksandr Kupriianov, the University's project coordinator, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy Education and Research Institute, and Professor, joined the discussions remotely.

Over four working days, the partners learned about their Norwegian colleagues' experience in providing remote access to laboratory equipment and using Pocket Lab kits and Arduino-based tools. During practical sessions, they explored ways to integrate experiments with digital learning platforms, discussed technical requirements for laboratories, and considered approaches to assessing students' practical competencies.

Karazin University is one of the five partners in FLEX-EDU UA–NO and leads Work Package WP01, "Capacity Building & Infrastructure", which involves analysing laboratory resources, identifying modernisation needs, and developing solutions for establishing remote and hybrid infrastructure. Two courses and their associated laboratory practicals are scheduled for renewal at the University.

The international project FLEX-EDU UA–NO — Flexible, Resilient and Personalised Higher Education Systems for Crisis and Post-Crisis Contexts — runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029 under Norway's Nansen EDU programme. It is coordinated by the University of South-Eastern Norway, with Karazin University, Sumy State University, Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, and Odesa Polytechnic National University as Ukrainian partners. The total grant funding amounts to NOK 5 million.

The project aims to modernise eight courses and introduce solutions that will enable students to complete laboratory assignments even when access to university facilities is limited. This is particularly important for ensuring continuity in engineering education during the war.

Following the meeting, the partners agreed on further steps to define technical requirements for laboratory equipment, adapt educational courses, and develop a shared laboratory environment.

Background information. The FLEX-EDU UA–NO project (Nansen EDU-2025/10115) is funded by Norway under the Nansen EDU programme, administered by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).