University Representatives Participated in Events Within the AURORA Educational Project

From May 12 to 16, 2025, representatives of Karazin University — Marina Vasylieva, Deputy Director of the Education and Research Institute "Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogics Academy," and Nataliia Vynnykova, Head of the Department of International Relations at the Education and Research Institute "Karazin Institute of International Relations and Travel Business" — took part in events aimed at implementing the peacebuilding educational project initiated by the Alliance of European Universities AURORA.

The events were held at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Discussions with representatives of AURORA Alliance partner universities focused on implementing interactive methods for training international relations professionals, enriching course content with real-life case studies, and scaling simulation-based learning through an international format involving expert practitioners.

A significant achievement was the engagement of professors from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as guest lecturers for students majoring in "International Relations" within the framework of a 30-credit peacebuilding module.

The key event was the international UNESCO symposium “Be the Change”, organized in partnership with the AURORA Alliance.

Discussion topics included intercultural dialogue, social justice, the development of research for diplomacy, and prospects of the digital ecosystem.

Within the symposium, university representatives joined the session “Higher Education and Peacebuilding — Cross-Cultural and Emic Perspectives.”

Central issues addressed included the role of universities as “agents of peace,” the emic approach to the educational process, research on peace hubs, and the rethinking of academic freedom and cultural heritage as tools for reconciliation.