The cooperation between Lviv Polytechnic National University and the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg is carried out within the framework of «The Eastern Partnership» general initiative of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, as well as under the project of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany entitled «The development of civil society in the countries of the Eastern Partnership and Russia» / «Ausbau der Zivilgesellschaft in den Ländern er Östlichen Partnerschaft und Russland»*.
The working theme of the cooperation between the Ukrainian and German universities is «Inclusion of people with disabilities» / «Inklusion von Menschen mit Behinderung».
Major events of the Ukrainian-German cooperation:
- November 2015 — visit of the delegation from the city of Würzburg to Lviv Polytechnic; the International round table and other events on the topic of «The study of the issue of inclusion at Lviv Polytechnic»
- June 17-21, 2016 — participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the workshop «Inclusion via Education and Sport» in Würzburg;
- October 5-9, 2016 — visit of the delegation from the city of Würzburg to Lviv Polytechnic; participation of the German delegation in the International round table «Integration of the Ukrainian and world-wide experiences on the way of the development of accessibility services in the system of university education of Ukraine», with the participation of German and Canadian colleagues;
- May 5-8, 2017 — familiarization with the contemporary European experiences of inclusive education in higher education within the program of scientific internship and professional development at the University of Würzburg of the five Lviv Polytechnic representatives (Dr. Korzh, R.O., Vice-Rector; Dr. Turchyn, Y.B., Professor; Dr. Hayduk, N.M., Assoc. Prof.; Dr. Kozak, M.Y., Assoc. Prof.; and Ms. Herasym, H.Z., Senior lecturer).
October 11-13, 2017 – The International symposium “On the way to a healthy society: A humanistic dimension” was held at Lviv Polytechnic National University with the participation of national and foreign partners, including the German delegation consisting of nine representatives of Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg: Dr. Olaf Hoos, Dr. Matthias Zimlich, Enrico Göbel, Anneta Volz, Susanne Holzheimer, Juliia Looz, Laura Biuener, and Lia Dippold. As a result of the International symposium, the participants adopted its Resolution.
November 22, 2017 – The German-Ukrainian Round Table “No Limits” Partnership Network: Research & Practice Platform” was held at Lviv Polytechnic National University. In the Round Table, the representatives of Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg took part: Dr. Olaf Hoos, Director, Contact and Information Service Centre for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses; Dr. Matthias Zimlich, Instructor, Sports Centre of the University of Würzburg; Enrico Göbel, Teacher, School for visually impaired children; and Susanne Holzheimer, Officer, International Office of the University of Würzburg. Beacons for transmitting information for blind and visually impaired people were installed in the Main academic building of Lviv Polytechnic with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany and Berufsförderungswerk Würzburg organization.
November 23-24, 2017 – The International Round Table “Integration of science and practice in solving problems of inclusive education” was held at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy. Lviv Polytechnic National University and Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg were the co-organizers of the event, and representatives of both Universities participated in the plenary session, the discussion platform, and the practical training provided at the boarding school for visually impaired children in Cherkasy.
October, 2018 – at Ukrainian-Bavarian Higher Education Congress, Lviv Polytechnic was represented by Dr. Nina Hayduk, Director of International “Integration” Center for Professional Partnerships, Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences; Ms. Svitlana Hladun, Head, Department of Employment and Industrial Relations; and Dr. Nataliia Shakhovska, Head, Department of Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Computer Science and Information Technologies. The main purpose of the Congress was to initiate further cooperation in research and education, and to strengthen and deepen partnerships in these areas. Within the framework of the Congress, the experience of the cooperation between Lviv Polytechnic and the University of Würzburg in the field of inclusion of people with disabilities via education and sport was presented. The activity of “No Limits” Services of Accessibility to Learning Opportunities and the prospects for the formation of Community Health Clinic based on our University were also illustrated.
July 22-24, 2019 – The representatives of Lviv Polytechnic took part in the “Inclusive and Healthy University” Project: Dr. Roman Korzh, Dr. Nina Hayduk, Dr. Liliia Klos, Dr. Larysa Klymanska, Dr. Ihor Helzhynskii, Senior Lecturer Sofiya Stavkova, Senior Lecturer Olesia Bik, Mr. Adriyan Pavlykevych, Ms. Mariana Hasiak, and Ms. Anastasiia Bednarska. During the visit to Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg, important issues on further development of inclusive education at Lviv Polytechnic were discussed. Current achievements of Lviv Polytechnic in the field of social inclusion and inclusive education were presented. In Würzburg, the healthy university concept was illustrated by the presentations on the topics “Health Management at the University of Würzburg”, “Addiction Prevention at the Workplace”, and “Health Day”, which appeared to be the exposure of our University representatives to advanced experiences in the area of social inclusion and inclusive education.
October 24-29, 2019 – Lviv Polytechnic National University hosted the International scientific and practical conference “Partnerships for Social Change: 20 Years of Experience”. In the conference the representatives of Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg took part: Dr. Olaf Hoos, Dr. Matthias Zimlich, Dr. Andy Petko, and Dr. Lia Dippold. The conference topics included the integration of international and national experiences in developing a network of partnership cooperation; and partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration on the way of establishing Community Health Clinic at Lviv Polytechnic. Within the framework of the International Conference, The Community Get Together – “HEALTH DAY of LVIV POLYTECHNIC” was held. This event was a follow up of the German University experience. During the “HEALTH DAY of LVIV POLYTECHNIC”, its participants had an opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, i.e., zumba, basketball, on a wheelchair including, bocca as well as yoga. Consultations with a psychologist, nutritionist or dermatologist were also provided. As a result, the Conference Resolution was adopted (file).
Given the successful Ukrainian-German cooperation, the colleagues from Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg were awarded the Certificates of Honor of Lviv Polytechnic National University for outstanding personal contribution to long-term and successful cooperation between our Universities.