Representatives of Sumy State University, and in particular the Department of International Economic Relations, took part in the International Symposium Youth Engagement in Cultural Heritage (ISYECH 2026, https://hitit.edu.tr/en/isyech), which was held on April 16–17, 2026, in Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
The Department of International Economic Relations acted as a co-organizer of this international on-site academic and practice-oriented conference. In particular, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor of the department Oksana Zamora served as a member of the Organizing Committee, while Doctor of Economics, Professor Yuriy Petrushenko was a member of the Scientific Committee.
The event was organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ CHERISH project and brought together young scholars, researchers, and practitioners from different countries to discuss current challenges in the field of preservation and restoration of cultural heritage.
The SumDU delegation included PhD students Sofiia Petrenko and Artem Bondariev, SumDU student and International Relations Office staff member Daryna Hudakova, as well as academic staff members Liudmyla Khomutenko and Oksana Zamora.
During the scientific sessions, the university representatives presented the results of their research. In particular, Artem Bondariev delivered a presentation titled “The Role of Orthodox Churches in Supporting Cultural Communication in the Context of Military Operations (Using the Example of the Sumy Region)”, in which he examined the role of religious institutions in maintaining cultural communication during wartime. Sofiia Petrenko presented her research “Institutional Approaches to Managing Cultural Heritage Restoration Projects at the Local Level: Case of Strzelin Town Hall and Lessons for Ukraine”, focusing on institutional approaches to managing cultural heritage restoration projects. Daryna Hudakova delivered a presentation “Sustainable Management of Historical and Cultural Heritage in Ukraine in the Context of Russian Aggression and Post-War Reconstruction”, analyzing issues of sustainable cultural heritage management in Ukraine during the war and in the post-war recovery period. Oksana Zamora also contributed to the symposium as a member of the Organizing Committee and co-presenter within the presentation of the CHERISH project results.
Participation of SumDU representatives in ISYECH 2026 contributed to the expansion of international academic cooperation, exchange of experience, and promotion of Ukrainian research in the field of cultural heritage at the international level.
Disclaimer
The ISYECH International Symposium is organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in Youth project
“Cultural Heritage Recovery after Disasters and Conflicts: Understanding, Training, and Empowerment (CHERISH)” (No. 2023-2-TR01-KA220-YOU-000182116), funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed during the event are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
