Four academic members from the Masaryk Institute of Advanced Studies have returned from a successful development mission to teach at the Polytechnic National University in Zhytomyr that lays in central Ukraine. The aim of the trip was to personally deliver the course "Transfer of Experience in Development and Reconstruction Planning for Cities in Ukraine" to students, teachers and other interested public administrators who will play a key role in the reconstruction of war-damaged cities in Ukraine. The course was implemented as part of the project "Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer in Higher Education Institutions for the Development of Affected Areas of Ukraine" funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic under the Czech Aid programme.
The two-day intensive course, focused on planning, reconstruction and rehabilitation of war-affected settlements, attracted almost 60 participants from among students, PhD students and teachers of the National University of Zhytyomyr. A further 50 or so interested participants, including representatives of regional communities, joined online. The purpose of the course was to provide participants with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities and regions, so that upon graduation they would be ready to actively contribute to the reconstruction of their country. The course combined lectures with practical exercises, including simulation games focused on planning, prioritization and participation techniques. The atmosphere was friendly, full of discussions, sharing of experiences and consultations on current issues in Ukraine, with an emphasis on a common goal and expectations of concrete results. The programme took place despite repeated air raids. One of the participants stated that "Ukrainians are extremely grateful for the implementation of this course, as it not only brings valuable knowledge and experience, but also shows that Europe is thinking about Ukraine and planning a common future with it, which encourages the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression."
During their mission, the MIAS staff had the opportunity to get a closer look at everyday life in war-threatened Zhytomyr. In preparation for the next phases of the course, they focused on examining war damage, including the bombed-out building of the local primary school, and also familiarised themselves with the environment of the Polis National University. Here, they visited various faculties and facilities, such as the experimental facilities or the botanical and zoological gardens, which the university makes available to veterans and local residents for physical and psychological rehabilitation.
During the trip, the academics also met with the Rector of the University, Oleg Vasilyovich Skydan, with whom they discussed the possibilities of future cooperation and support for Ukrainian students. In addition to teaching at the university, there was also a meeting with the Volyn Czech Association and a tour of a local Czech microbrewery.
At the end of September, another course will be held, this time online, aimed at students of Kharkiv's Beketov University of Urban Economics, followed by other activities of the project, including a final excursion of selected Ukrainian students to the Czech Republic, where they will have the opportunity to get acquainted with examples from the practice of urban regeneration in Prague and its region.
The lectures in Zhytomyr and the upcoming online course for the University of Kharkiv are made possible thanks to the tireless work of my colleague Tetyana Davidjuk, who is providing Ukrainian interpretation, for which we are very grateful.