Updated: 1/18/2026
Online Practice‑Sharing Meetings “Social Work and Communication Assistance at an Integration Enterprise”
On 1 September 2026, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Social Work Tetiana M. Shvets, together with students of all years of the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) levels of higher education in the specialties Social Work and Social Work and Counselling, took part in an online practice‑sharing meeting titled “Social Work and Communication Assistance at an Integration Enterprise.” The online meeting was held within the project “Pathways Out of Poverty: First Aid and Career Prospects,” implemented by the Charitable Organization “Horikhovyi Dim Foundation” in partnership with WienWork integrative Betriebe und AusbildungsgmbH and supported by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection of Austria.
Participants of the workshop were particularly interested in learning about Austrian experience from representatives of WienWork (Austria) — Alexandra Zinghuber, social worker and head of a WienWork division, and Benne Martetschläger, social worker and consultant in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS).
During the meeting, participants discussed how social work can be integrated into the daily functioning of an integration enterprise, how professional training and employment support are organized, as well as issues of social counselling for deaf people and communication assistance.
The participants expressed their gratitude to the organizer — the Horikhovyi Dim Foundation — for providing an opportunity to engage in such an enriching exchange of experience between Ukrainian and international social work professionals.
Participation of a student of specialty 231(bachelor's) in an international educational project:
Summer school «Mindrise: The Respite, Recovery & Resilience Camp»
An extraordinary journey has come to an end - participation in the international camp «Mindrise: The Respite, Recovery & Resilience Camp», which took place in the city of Płock (Poland) from 20.07.2026 to 30.07.2026.
In this journey, together with psychology students and under the leadership of D. S. Domanchuk, a 4th-year student of the first (bachelor's) level of higher education, specialty "Social Work", Rostyslav Yevsiukov, participated.
These two weeks became a time of deep professional rebooting, learning, and inspiration for the future social worker.
Most sincere gratitude to everyone who made this important trip possible during such a difficult time:
- To the organizers from the Republic of Poland — for the incredible hospitality, a rich program that combined theory with art and music therapy, unique excursions to Warsaw and Toruń, as well as for organizing the meeting with the leadership of the city of Płock.
- To the Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration — for the comprehensive support of youth and educational initiatives in the Kherson region, as well as for facilitating the implementation of international humanitarian and educational projects.
- To the Rector of KSU Oleksandr Spivakovsky and Vice-Rector Alla Tsap — for the fact that despite all challenges, Kherson State University remains a leader in international cooperation. Thank you for believing in the students, opening European horizons, and constantly stimulating our professional development.
- To the Head of the socio-psychological service of KSU Iryna Shaposhnikova — for the professional direction, support of the psychological front, and care for the mental health of students, which allows for confident movement in the chosen profession.
This camp provided a unique opportunity not only to deepen theoretical knowledge and develop practical soft and hard skills, but also to exchange experience and find like-minded people among students of other higher education institutions of Ukraine. Ahead lies — the implementation of acquired resilience practices and helping those who need it most!
Together to new professional heights!
Participation of a Master’s Student in the International Educational Project
On 4–8 August 2025, Viktoriia Diatsenko, a second-year student of the second (master’s) level of higher education in the specialty Social Work, took part in a series of training sessions within the international educational project “Traumapädagogik für ukrainische Schulen” (“Trauma Pedagogy for Ukrainian Schools”). The project was implemented in cooperation with the public organizations Dialogue for Understanding e.V. (Germany) and the Agency for Educational Policy Development (Ukraine), with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and the Department of Education of Warsaw (Poland). The trainings were held in Warsaw (Republic of Poland).
The aim of the project activities was to train education professionals and teachers in the forms and methods of trauma-informed pedagogy, as well as to promote the implementation of interactive methodological tools in trauma-informed pedagogy to support mental health and develop social and communication competencies among learners.
As a result of her participation in the project activities, Viktoriia Diatsenko received a professional development certificate (1 ECTS credit).
Viktoriia Diatsenko noted that the project activities were truly interesting and useful. Participants gained theoretical and practical knowledge regarding the importance of self-recovery and recovery resources (a large number of situational cases involving work with students and their parents during war and stress were examined). The student confidently stated that the acquired knowledge and practical skills would be valuable in her professional work in an educational institution.
The Academic Council of Kherson State University in June 2025 approved the results of the international internship of teachers of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Social Work: Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Kostyuchkov S.K. and Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Shvets T.M.
The international internship took place from March 17 to April 18, 2025 within the framework of the International Spring School "Inclusion, Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship. Social Innovations for Community Development and Youth Engagement" for students, applicants, young scientists, postgraduate students, doctoral candidates, researchers, teachers, representatives of professional communities and civil society (Genoa (Italy) - Berlin (Germany) - Kyiv - Melitopol (Ukraine)). The internship resulted in obtaining certificates.
Main directions of the Spring School's work
1. The third mission and social impact of universities for the development of society.
2. European practices of social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
3. Social cohesion in Ukraine: involving youth and communities.
4. Social inclusion, its types and prospects.
5. Social responsibility of universities in overcoming crises in society.
The Spring School was held within the framework of the implementation of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project “European Studies in Social Innovation in Education” – Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence ESSIE – 101085552 – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-COE and in synergy with the projects of the Erasmus+ KA2 direction “Universities-Communities: Strengthening Cooperation” 10108307 – UNICOM — ERASMUS-EDU-2022-CBHE and the Jean Monnet Module “Practices of Social and Economic Inclusion in the EU” – Jean Monnet Module 101127466 – EPSEI – ERASMUS-JMO-2023-HEI-TCH-RSCH.
The sustainability of the Jean Monnet Chair in Social and Cultural Aspects of European Studies (SCAES) project was also supported.
The Spring School was held with the support of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine.
Module 1. Inclusion, social responsibility and entrepreneurship (European practices of social innovation and social entrepreneurship). Assessment of the third mission of universities: the experience of Italy (03/17/2025 - 03/21/2025) - study of the role of social adaptation within the framework of the implementation of the third mission for the sustainable development of communities; study of the experience of European practices in implementing the third mission of universities, in particular the University of Genoa (Genoa, Italy).
Module 2. Social Innovations for Community Development and Youth Engagement (03/22/2025-04/18/2025) – elaboration of seven distance courses presented by the organizers of the Spring International School on European practices in the field of social responsibility and inclusion, social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, ideas of social innovations and principles of community engagement for the sustainable development of universities and society.
Forms and methods of advanced training: distance.
Methods: webinars-trainings, round table, International scientific and practical conference, workshops, networking, joint design and individual implementation, independent work.
The internship program (online format) outlined participation in the following events:
1. webinar-training "European practices of implementing the third mission of universities" (Professor Diana Spulber, European expert of the team of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence "European Studies of Social Innovation in Education" ESSIE (University of Genoa, Italy);
2. webinar "Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship for Communities" (Markus Launer, Professor, Head of the Institute of Service Management (Berlin, Germany);
3. round table "Formation and Measurement of Human Capital" to discuss educational policies to strengthen the third mission of universities with the participation of experts from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine);
4. International scientific and practical conference "Social Cohesion and Youth Involvement in the Interaction of Universities and Communities" (M. Dragomanov Ukrainian State University, Ukraine) (abstracts submitted to the collection conference materials);
5. workshops of Professor Maria Nesterova, Professor Marina Delini, leading researcher Olena Orzhel on the topics of social innovations, social responsibility, social inclusion.
7 distance courses were provided for independent study (the result was passing final tests with receiving certificates for each distance course for successful completion):
1. "EU Inclusive Policy"
2. "Social Responsibility of Universities",
3. "EU Social Inclusion",
4. "Third Mission of Universities"
5. "Social entrepreneurship and innovation in university and community development",
6. "European policy of social cohesion / EU Social Cohesion Policy»
7. «Economic and Legal Bases of Integration and Community Engagement: European Experience».
Internship outcomes: obtaining new working tools from best European practices in the field of social responsibility and inclusion, social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, ideas of social innovations and principles of community engagement for the sustainable development of universities and society.
The total number of hours/credits of international internship is 180 hours (6 ECTS credits) with corresponding certificates upon completion.
