On November 5, the seventh final meeting of the Erasmus+ international project AFISHE began in Yerevan, at the Armenian National Agrarian University, dedicated to the completion of three years of joint work by partners from Armenia, Ukraine, Portugal, Slovakia, and Croatia. The purpose of the meeting was to summarize the results of the initiative aimed at modernizing educational programs in the field of fisheries and aquaculture, developing scientific infrastructure, and strengthening inter-university cooperation.
Sumy National Agrarian University was represented at the event by Rector Ihor Kovalenko, Assistant Rector for International Affairs Larysa Kalachevska, and Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Technology Viktoria Vechorka. The university team joined the discussion on the results of the project implementation, the introduction of new educational programs, the upgrading of laboratory facilities, and the creation of modern opportunities for students and researchers.
During the meeting, a multilateral memorandum and a number of bilateral memoranda on further cooperation between the partners were signed. These documents open up prospects for the development of new joint educational programs, the expansion of international scientific cooperation, and the introduction of double degree programs between partner universities.
“It is gratifying to note that Sumy National Agrarian University currently ranks fifth in Ukraine in terms of the number of Erasmus+ projects. This is the result of the active, systematic work of the entire team and proof that the international activities of SNAU are one of the priorities for the development of our university,” – emphasized Rector Ihor Kovalenko.
In her impressions of the meeting, Larysa Kalachevska emphasized that the start of the AFISHE project implementation coincided with the difficult year of 2022 — a time of uncertainty and challenges, when the support of international partners became particularly important. Thanks to joint efforts, the consortium not only achieved all of its goals, but also significantly strengthened the scientific, organizational, and human capacity of the universities. She also noted the professionalism and well- coordinated work of the teams from Armenia, Ukraine, Portugal, Slovakia, and Croatia, who over the course of three years became not just partners, but true friends.
The participation of SNAU in such international initiatives is of paramount importance for the development of the university. It opens up new opportunities for academic mobility, joint scientific research, improvement of laboratory facilities, training of highly qualified specialists, and formation of a strong international community. Such projects allow the university to strengthen its scientific potential, expand global cooperation, and integrate into the European educational space.
Sumy National Agrarian University expresses its sincere gratitude to the partners of the Erasmus+ AFISHE project for their long-term cooperation, trust, and support. The SNAU team returns from Yerevan with new ideas, inspiration, and a desire to further develop international cooperation in the field of agricultural education, science, and innovation.
