International Environmental Doctoral and Research Alliance EDRA (Environmental Doctoral & Research Alliance)

NUWGP has become a co-founder of the International Ecological Doctoral and Research Alliance Environmental Doctoral & Research Alliance (EDRA). The initiators of the alliance's creation were ecologist scientists who united their efforts to develop international cooperation in the field of ecology and environmental protection technologies. During the International Scientific Conference "CONNECT_ED: Strategic Partnerships for Global Academic Engagement," a significant event occurred for the development of inter-university cooperation in ecological research – the official launch of the Environmental Doctoral & Research Alliance (EDRA) and the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation among the participating universities of the Alliance.

At the request of the rector of the National University of Water Management and Nature Management, the Memorandum was signed by the Vice-Rector for Research and International Relations Natalia Savina. The document lays the groundwork for creating a shared inter-university research and educational environment, developing doctoral training, implementing joint scientific projects, expanding academic mobility, and ensuring access to modern research infrastructure.

The initiative to create the Environmental Doctoral & Research Alliance (EDRA) was launched within the ConnectED network about six months ago, aiming to form an inter-university platform for developing doctoral training and conducting research in environmental protection technologies. During this time, the initiative group participants worked on forming the Alliance's concept, defining its strategic goals, and establishing organizational principles.

The initiative group from the National University of Water Management and Nature Management included the Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Agroecology and Land Management Alla Prishchepa, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Agroecology and Land Management Olga Bedunkova, and Associate Professor of the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Technology, and Forestry Ihor Statnyk, who actively participated in developing the concept and preparing the founding documents of the Alliance.

The founding members of EDRA include nine Ukrainian higher education institutions: Dnipro Technical University, National Transport University, National University "Lviv Polytechnic," National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," National University of Water Management and Nature Management, Vinnytsia National Technical University, Sumy National Agrarian University, National University "Poltava Polytechnic named after Yuri Kondratyuk," and Ukrainian National Forestry University.

EDRA aims to unite the educational, scientific, and innovative potential of partner universities to develop joint doctoral programs, conduct interdisciplinary research, implement international projects, and prepare highly qualified specialists in the field of environmental protection.

The creation of the Alliance is an important step towards forming a strong scientific and educational community capable of effectively responding to modern environmental challenges and promoting the development of innovative environmental protection technologies. The next stage of EDRA's development will be to expand the network by engaging new Ukrainian and international partners, strengthening research cooperation, and integrating into the European scientific space.