Karazin Delegation's Working Visit to Masaryk University (Czech Republic)

From November 4–8, 2024, as part of the project “Enhancing the Capacity of Ukrainian Academic Staff in Innovative Pedagogical-Psychological Education and Research,” representatives of the Education and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy” and the Office of International Relations participated in a training internship at Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic). The project is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and focuses on integrating the management of students' problematic behavior into the education of future teachers in Ukrainian higher pedagogical schools.

Karazin University was represented by Marina Vasylieva, Deputy Director of the Education and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy,” Professor Tetiana Bondarenko from the Department of Information and Computer Technology and Mathematics, and Roman Nesterenko, Deputy Head of the International Relations Office.

The project partners include Karazin University, Donbas State Pedagogical University, Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, Zaporizhzhia National University, V. G. Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University, and Masaryk University.

On the first day of the internship program, the results of the evaluation of Ukrainian colleagues’ experiences in implementing a new subject were presented.

The Institute showcased the implementation of the course “Psychological Features of Individual Behavior in Extreme and Crisis Situations” for undergraduate students majoring in Practical Psychology. This course aims to provide students with fundamental principles of human behavior psychology in extreme conditions, offering in-depth knowledge and practical skills aligned with modern scientific findings in extreme psychology.

The second training block focused on presenting opportunities for Ukrainian universities to participate in grant programs. Project leader Professor Lenka Hůlová provided detailed insights into current priorities, including digitalization, artificial intelligence applications, and media literacy issues.

The third day was dedicated to preparing a quantitative research project to be conducted in Ukraine and the Czech Republic within the framework of this initiative. The research, supported by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will take the form of a questionnaire for school teachers and will examine their experience working with students exhibiting problematic behavior.

The fourth day featured a lecture by Dr. Michal Černý, who shared his experience teaching pedagogical disciplines. He highlighted the challenges of education in the context of science (sample sizes, methodology reliability, research design) and practice (internationalization, digitalization, inclusion, and diversity).

The final day was devoted to evaluating the project's outcomes, discussing details of the next implementation stage, awarding certificates, and reflecting on the program. Participants also explored further collaboration between Masaryk University and Ukrainian partner universities.

The cultural program included a trip to Prague, visits to historical sites in Brno, participation in a special cultural evening featuring Ukrainian-Czech creative ensembles, and a visit to the Museum of Romani Culture.