Inna Koblianska, PhD in Economics, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations at the Academic and Research Institute of Business, Economics and Management, Sumy State University, took part in the international professional development programme UK–UA STEM PRO, hosted by the University of Warwick (United Kingdom).
The programme brought together Ukrainian researchers and academic staff to explore how world-class innovative universities operate – from organising research activities to commercialising scientific results and collaborating with industry.
Particularly valuable was access to leading scientific and innovation centres. Participants visited laboratories in chemistry, engineering and life sciences, the innovation facilities of Warwick Manufacturing Group, as well as the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre and Harwell Campus – one of the UK’s key science and technology hubs. This provided a unique opportunity to observe in practice how interdisciplinary research functions and how science, technology and entrepreneurship are integrated.
An important component of the programme was international meetings and networking – including participation in events at the Royal Society, Oxford Science Enterprises and University College London. These engagements open up new opportunities for joint research, academic mobility and inter-institutional partnerships.
A particularly significant highlight was the visit to the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom, where a meeting was held with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The discussion focused on the development of Ukrainian science in wartime conditions, international cooperation, and the role of education in the country’s post-war recovery. This meeting served as a powerful source of inspiration and reinforced the importance of integrating the Ukrainian academic community into the global research landscape.
Participation in the programme contributed to establishing new academic contacts, advancing interdisciplinary research approaches, and identifying перспективні напрями співпраці with British and international partners. The experience gained will be applied to further develop educational programmes, research initiatives, and innovation activities of the Department.
The programme was implemented by the University of Warwick with the support of the President of Ukraine’s Fund for Education, Science and Sports and British partners.
