Erasmus + Youth “Different Country, A Different Life”

Project partners: Hungary, Britain, Armenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Morocco

The goal of the project is to improve the conditions for foreign students to study in another country.

Period of the survey: 20-28 January, 2020.

Project results:

• Discussion of improving the living conditions of international students;
• Coverage of the challenges they faced for a wide audience through social media, television and radio;
• Creation of an adaptation system for other countries that accept foreign students;
• Informing students about improving learning conditions and providing assistance in difficult situations.

Erasmus + Youth is a program of the European Union that opens up new opportunities for young people from different countries, creates conditions for cultural exchange, supports projects, activities and mobility in the field of education, training, youth and sports. Youth exchanges allow groups of young people from different countries to meet, work on joint projects for a certain time. Usually, within the framework of projects, seminars, training courses, events on establishing cooperation, study visits, training and exchange at the European level, implementation of joint initiatives for the development of cooperation are held.

Ukraine actively participates in Erasmus + Youth programs. Having already had considerable experience of cooperation with foreign partners, implementation of academic mobility and youth exchanges, Ukraine is rapidly developing its potential at the world level, and especially in the field of education, combining its own and European experience. Higher education institutions are constantly working to expand the horizons for students and workers, involving them in European programs, thereby providing highly qualified and competitive personnel in the global labor market.

Recently, during January 20-28, 2020, events were held in Ankara (Turkey) within the framework of the project “Different Country, A Different Life”, in which young people from Ukraine also took part. The purpose of this project is to highlight the problems faced by a foreign student abroad, as well as to determine what contributes to the student’s decision to study at a higher education institution in another country.

The applicant of the project is the Dost Foundation, on the basis of which events were actively held for three days. The participants of the project were young people from different countries, such as Armenia, Hungary, Morocco, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Each group consisted of 7 people: one leader and six participants (mostly students). On the part of Ukraine, the leader of the group was represented by the head of the department of international relations of the ” Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky Hryhoriі.Skovoroda State Pedaagogical. University, Ukraine” – Oksana Kovtun.

Within the framework of this project, many activities were held aimed not only at finding out and finding ways to overcome obstacles for students studying abroad, but also at cultural enrichment of participants. During the first day, acquaintances were held among the participants, games and events were held that would contribute to the creation of a harmonious friendly atmosphere in the team and would set everyone up for fruitful work. The results of the analysis of needs, problems and proposals obtained in the course of field studies conducted by young people with international education were presented. Participants exchanged their own experiences, discussed important problems, challenges and obstacles facing the student during their studies. Over the next three days, the events were held on the basis of the Dost Foundation. Participants had the opportunity to give interviews about their own experience, talk about the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad, highlight important problems and talk about studying at their own university.

During the working trip, cultural events dedicated to the presentation of each country were held every evening. This led to cultural development, enrichment of knowledge about each partner country, its traditions, culture and education. The results of research on the quality of education for international students in their country, statistics, conditions of stay, opportunities and probable obstacles to study for the student were disseminated. At the same time, excursion programs were held around the city of Ankara. Participants had the opportunity to see historical places such as: Ankara Castle, Museum of the War of Independence, Republican Museum, Museum of Science and Technology METU, etc.

The project “A Different Country – A Different Life» ” provided an opportunity to draw attention to the obstacles and challenges facing every foreign student. Further work of each group is to disseminate the gained international experience in their own country, contributing to overcoming common problems that arise in foreign students. The participation of Ukrainian youth in the project has become a significant contribution to the study of the challenges faced by students while studying abroad. The success of the Ukrainian side became possible thanks to the support of the rector of the ” Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky Hryhoriі Skovoroda State Pedagogical University” – Academician Viktor Kotsur.