Karazin University participated in the "Kharkiv-Berlin Bridge" conference

At Karazin University, the online conference "Kharkiv-Berlin Bridge" took place. It was initiated by the association of sister cities Steglitz-Zehlendorf.

The event served as an important step towards creating a joint network platform for discussions and actions, establishing partnerships between institutions, organizations, and companies in Ukraine and Germany despite the conditions of the war.

The conference was supported by the Embassy of Ukraine in the FRG, the Embassy of the FRG in Ukraine, the Honorary Consulate of the FRG in Kharkiv, and Freie Universität Berlin.

At the beginning of the event, the participants were greeted by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine, Anka Feldhuzen, the Mayor of the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district, Maren Schellenberg, a Member of the European Parliament, Deputy Head of the EU delegation in the Parliamentary Committee of the Ukraine-EU Association, Viola von Cramon, the First Vice President of Freie Universität Berlin, Verena Blechinger-Tolcott, and the Advisor to the Embassy of Ukraine in the FRG, Alisa Podolyak.

Vice-Rector for Research and Teaching of Karazin University, Anton Panteleimonov, the Director of the Department for Interaction with International Agencies and Financial Institutions of the Kharkiv City Council, Olga Demianenko, and the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kharkiv, Tetiana Havrysh gave a greeting speech. 

After the plenary session, the conference continued in three main sections.

The participants of the first section, "Civil Defense/Reconstruction/ Environmental Protection/Ecology," focused on the issues of rebuilding, restoration, and architecture of destroyed objects in Kharkiv. The second section was dedicated to significant challenges in the field of ecology and environmental protection. Speakers of the third section discussed problems related to civil defense of the population, including demining.

The work of the second section, "Medical Assistance /Medical Technologies/Transfer of Medical Know-How/Psychological Support," involved discussing projects and developments in the field of medicine, medical technologies, education, and directions for the development and improvement of psychological assistance. 

The third section, "Educational Cooperation/Youth Exchanges/Culture/Social Work/Civil Society," aimed to propose options of cooperation between Karazin University and Freie Universität Berlin, as well as collaboration between NGOs, social services, and cultural institutions in Germany and Ukraine.

Within the sections, important and relevant cases were presented, both for Karazin University and for the whole Ukraine, regarding the reconstruction of infrastructure, revitalization of the agro-cluster, rehabilitation of civilians and military personnel, nuclear medicine, and other equally important aspects of life in contemporary realities.

The organization of this conference marks a new stage of cooperation between Kharkiv and Berlin, particularly between Karazin University and Freie Universität Berlin.

The association of sister cities Steglitz-Zehlendorf is greatly appreciated for this powerful support, which will result in events aimed at the restoration of Kharkiv, implementation of joint scientific, cultural, and economic projects between institutions in Ukraine and Germany, and countering the destructive consequences and challenges of military aggression while approaching the Victory of the Ukrainians!