From May 8 to 11, 2025, Associate Professors of the Department of International Economic Relations, Olena Zamora and Liudmyla Khomutenko, together with PhD student Svitlana Petrenko, represented Sumy State University at the Transnational Project Meeting held within the framework of the Erasmus+ international project “Cultural Heritage Recovery after Disasters and Conflicts – Understanding, Training, and Empowerment” (CHERISH) in Spoleto, Italy.
The CHERISH project unites partner institutions from Italy, Turkey, Ukraine, and Spain with the aim of joint efforts toward the protection and restoration of cultural heritage affected by conflicts and natural disasters. The meeting featured a rich and productive agenda, including discussions on the current progress of the project, planning of further activities, and study visits. Participants had the opportunity to visit the Santo Chiodo Restoration Laboratory, where they became acquainted with advanced restoration technologies and viewed restored artworks by prominent artists of the 15th–18th centuries. Additionally, the delegation visited the town of Norcia, which was severely affected by a powerful earthquake in 2016, resulting in damage and destruction of numerous historical cultural monuments. During the meeting, participants also planned the organization of an international symposium in Spain, which will serve as a platform for dialogue on cultural heritage preservation in Europe, bringing together researchers and civil society representatives from all partner countries.
The event was marked by a spirit of collaboration, mutual trust, and shared commitment to common goals.
Sumy State University sincerely thanks the Umbria Training Center for their warm hospitality and excellent organization, and expresses deep appreciation to all project partners for their dedication and inspiration.
