ConnectED Conference: Strategic Partnerships for Global Academic Engagement

The International Scientific Conference “CONNECT_ED: Strategic Partnerships for Global Academic Engagement”, hosted by Sumy National Agrarian University within the framework of the DAAD-funded project ConnectED: German–Ukrainian University Network for Empowering Higher Education in Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation, brought together representatives of universities, research institutions, public authorities, and international organisations from Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, and the United States.

Over four days, the conference served as a platform for discussing the evolving role of universities in addressing environmental, societal, and geopolitical challenges. Participants explored topics related to environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable development, higher education reform, academic diplomacy, and international cooperation.

The opening sessions highlighted the growing importance of strategic academic partnerships in building resilient higher education systems. In his keynote contribution, Prof. Jan-Peter Mund, project lead of ConnectED, emphasised the need for universities to move beyond traditional forms of cooperation towards co-creation of knowledge, educational programmes, and research initiatives.

Universities must move from cooperation to co-creation if we want to build a shared future,” he noted, highlighting the role of academic networks in addressing increasingly complex global challenges.

Throughout the conference, speakers repeatedly returned to the importance of trust-based partnerships. In his opening address, Prof. Matthias Barth, President of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), reflected on the long-standing cooperation between German and Ukrainian universities and emphasised that academic partnerships rooted in trust and reciprocity remain among the most resilient forms of international cooperation.

Through every project I have witnessed, through every workshop we have hosted in Eberswalde, and through every conversation with partners who have over time become friends, I have learned the same lesson: that academic partnership, when it is rooted in trust and reciprocity, is one of the most resilient things we have. It withstands distance. It withstands crisis. And it is, quietly but powerfully, a form of soft power that helps shape a better future. - Prof. Matthias Barth.

Particular attention was devoted to the role of higher education and research in responding to environmental challenges caused by war and multiple crises. Representatives of Ukrainian universities and public authorities discussed pathways for ecological recovery, sustainable reconstruction, and the strengthening of environmental education and research capacities.

The conference also showcased numerous examples of successful German–Ukrainian cooperation in teaching, research, and institutional development. Presentations demonstrated how academic networks can facilitate knowledge exchange, support innovation, and contribute to long-term societal transformation.

An important component of the conference was the International Competition of Scientific Projects for Students and Young Scientists “Youth Intellect. Rational Use of Nature and Newest Energy-Efficient Technologies”. The competition provided a platform for emerging researchers to present innovative ideas addressing environmental, energy, and sustainability-related challenges. As a patron of the competition, the ConnectED Network supported outstanding student projects and contributed to fostering future academic collaboration among young researchers.

The final day of the conference coincided with World Environment Day and featured a round table discussion dedicated to building sustainable cooperation within the German–Ukrainian university network. Participants discussed future opportunities for collaboration, expansion of the network, joint educational initiatives, and research partnerships.

One of the key outcomes of the conference was the shared recognition that meaningful international cooperation extends beyond individual projects. Sustainable academic networks are built through long-term commitment, mutual trust, and the willingness to learn and create together.

As the conference concluded, participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening German–Ukrainian academic cooperation and continuing the dialogue initiated during the event. The discussions, ideas, and partnerships developed throughout the conference will continue to shape future activities within the ConnectED Network and contribute to advancing higher education and environmental research across borders.

A conference lasts only a few days, but the connections created during it can last for years. The ConnectED Conference demonstrated once again that academic cooperation remains one of the most powerful tools for building resilient institutions, fostering innovation, and addressing global challenges together.

🎥 Conference recordings are now available.