International Activities

The international cooperation of the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Technology, and Forestry at the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences is an important strategic direction for the development of the educational and scientific activities of the department. It aims to integrate the department into the European and global scientific-educational space, expand the academic mobility of faculty and higher education seekers, as well as implement modern approaches to training specialists in the field of ecology, natural resource management, and forestry.

The department actively develops partnerships with foreign higher education institutions, research institutions, and international organizations, participates in joint scientific projects, academic exchange programs, and internships. An important result of such cooperation is the exchange of experience in the field of ecological monitoring, biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource use, the implementation of modern environmental protection technologies, and forestry management.

Within the framework of international activities, the scientific and pedagogical staff of the department participate in international conferences, scientific seminars, and trainings, publish research results in foreign scientific publications, and involve foreign specialists in the educational process. Higher education seekers have the opportunity to join joint scientific initiatives, undergo training and internships abroad, expand professional competencies, and develop intercultural communication skills.

The development of international cooperation contributes to the improvement of the quality of educational programs, updating the content of academic disciplines in accordance with European standards, as well as forming competitive specialists capable of effectively working under modern global environmental challenges. The department consistently establishes itself as a modern scientific-educational center, open to international partnerships, innovations, and professional dialogue.

 

Participation in grant projects

-      International Ukrainian-Armenian project Erasmus+ AFISHE

The project aims to develop education in the field of aquaculture and fishing in Armenia and Ukraine.

-      International project 'Creating NetZero vision for Rivne'

Within the project, the development of a module 'Mitigation of Climate Change Impacts' for the training course was carried out and a report was prepared for modeling scenarios to achieve climate neutrality in Rivne by 2050.

- International project 'Ukrainian-German teaching network for the digital transformation of environmental education'.

The project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service and aims to modernize digital education for students and facilitate cooperation between NPPs of Ukrainian higher education institutions and lecturers and researchers from German universities.

-     International grant project HORIZON EUROPE "The Waterwise Hub: An Excellence Hub on Water in the Circular Economy"

The project creates initiatives for interaction in the science-business-government-public spiral and promotes partnership and experience exchange among participating countries in the area of best practices for water use in the circular economy.

Main areas of international activity of the department

1. Internship at the University of Debrecen (Hungary)

Topic:"Precision agriculture and sustainable use of water resources."
Period:June 24-30, 2024.

Result and significance.
Department participants successfully completed a 40-hour professional development program at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science and Environmental Management and received corresponding certificates. Within the internship, knowledge was deepened regarding the implementation of precision agriculture technologies, modern approaches to water resource management, and the use of digital tools for environmental monitoring, which has significant applied importance for the sustainable development of agricultural areas and environmental protection.

2. Internship at Mendel University in Brno (Czech Republic)

Topic:"Hydrology and water retention in the landscape."
Period:August 26 – September 1, 2024.

Result and significance.
During the internship, a 40-hour training was completed at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology. The experience gained is important for the further development of the department's scientific and educational activities in water resource management, conservation of natural ecosystems, and spatial planning of territories. Special attention was paid to nature-based approaches to water retention in landscapes, restoration of hydrological regimes of territories, and adaptation of ecosystems to climate change.

3. Internship at the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra (Slovak Republic)

Topic:Water in the city: water maintenance, wastewater treatment, and their reuse.
Period:October 21-27, 2024.

Results and significance.
As a result of the internship, a certificate was received for completing 40 hours of training at the Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering. During the training, participants familiarized themselves with modern European approaches to urban water cycle management, systems for collecting and reusing rainwater and wastewater, as well as engineering solutions aimed at enhancing the water resilience of urban areas. The knowledge gained is essential for implementing sustainable development principles and forming an ecologically safe urban environment.

Key vectors for the development of the department's international activities

1. Formation of long-term partnerships with foreign universities and research centers for joint research in the field of ecology, forestry, and natural resource management.
2. Implementation of interdisciplinary international scientific projects aimed at studying climate change, landscape degradation, biodiversity conservation, and the introduction of nature-based solutions.
3. Engagement of the department's scientific and pedagogical staff in international research groups and expert platforms on sustainable development and ecological safety.
4. Support for the participation of higher education students in international educational and scientific initiatives that combine practical training, field research, and the use of modern ecological technologies.
5. Integration of international research results into the content of educational programs and courses to update approaches to training specialists.
6. Development of joint educational modules, training sessions, and short-term courses with foreign partners on relevant topics: water management, ecosystem adaptation to climate change, and ecological land planning.
7. Increasing the department's international scientific visibility by presenting research results in international scientific communities and professional platforms.
8. Facilitating the professional development of teachers through participation in international educational programs, scientific internships, and expert exchanges.
9. Expansion of the English-speaking academic environment of the department through the preparation of educational materials and scientific publications in foreign languages.
10. Information support for international opportunities for students and teachers (training, internships, joint projects), ensuring the systematic development of the department's international activities.

Research projects and inter-institutional cooperation

Students and academic staff of the National University of Water Management and Nature Resources Use (NUWMRU, Rivne) including lecturers of the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Technology, and Forestry, are actively participating in international educational and scientific initiatives.

In particular, university representatives have joinedthe Summer School of Newcastle University (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, 2024)within the framework of the international program PEACE-R2UK (Programme to Enhance Academic Collaboration for Enabling Regenerative Reconstruction in Ukraine), funded by the grant program Universities UK International – UK-Ukraine R&I Twinning Grants.

Moreover, students and teachers participated inin the Third Practical School as part of the project #22320101 “Water Renovation in Ukraine” (summer 2024) (summer 2024), organized by Mendel University in Brno (Czech Republic). The coordinator of the project is the University of Debrecen (Hungary). The partners are:

• National University of Water Management and Nature Resources Use (Ukraine),
• Kraków University of Agriculture (Poland),
• Mendel University (Czech Republic),
• Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (Slovakia).

The project is implemented with the support of the grant programV4+ of the International Visegrad Fund.

International project 'Water Renovation in Ukraine'

As part of the implementation of the international project 'Water Renovation in Ukraine', students and faculty from NUWGP visited leading water-focused universities in the Visegrad Group countries — Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The project is co-financed by the governments of these countries as part of the grant programs of the International Visegrad Fund.

The project focuses on water resource management and ensuring their sustainable use in the context of climate change, ecological risks, and contemporary global challenges. Water is one of the most important natural resources that requires rational use and an effective management system.

As part of the program, lectures, practical classes, demonstration exercises, field and laboratory studies were conducted. Participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with modern methods of measuring, collecting, and analyzing environmental data, as well as with cutting-edge technologies for modeling and managing water resources.

Each of the partner universities represents leading research directions in their respective fields, including precision technologies in agriculture, water balance conservation of forest ecosystems, urban water resource management, and hydrology of river systems.