EESF Erasmus+ project

Project Erasmus+ CBHE “Empowering Educators for Sustainable Future: Enhancing Teacher Training Capacity for Ukraine’s Recovery” (EESF)

Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav is a partner in the international Erasmus+ KA2 (Strand 1) project No. 101237551 “Empowering Educators for a Sustainable Future: Enhancing Teacher Training Capacity for Ukraine’s Recovery” (EESF).

The initiative is aimed at modernising the teacher education system in Ukraine through the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and alignment with European standards. The project responds to contemporary challenges caused by the consequences of the war and contributes to the development of a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-oriented teacher education system. It strengthens the capacity of Ukrainian universities to provide high-quality education capable of addressing socio-economic, environmental, and pedagogical challenges.

The overall objective of the project is to modernise the Ukrainian teacher education system by integrating Education for Sustainable Development and aligning pedagogical education with European standards, which is particularly important in the context of post-war recovery.

The project aims to:

• develop a resilient, inclusive, and innovative model of teacher education;
• strengthen the institutional capacity of higher education institutions;
• address regional disparities in access to high-quality teacher education;
• enhance the professional competences of pre-service teachers and in-service educators in the field of sustainable development;
• mainstream gender equality as a standard of university policy;
• create enabling conditions for innovative teaching, research, and inter-university cooperation

The project envisages the implementation of a structured multi-level approach, encompassing improvements in national policies, strengthening institutional capacities of universities, and ensuring access to modern teacher education across different regions of Ukraine. Within the framework of EESF, a standardised Education for Sustainable Development programme will be developed, digital resources and teaching materials will be created, and professional development programmes for students of pedagogical specialisations and practising teachers will be implemented. Particular attention is paid to reducing inequalities between urban and rural communities, ensuring equal access to quality teacher education, and embedding the principles of inclusiveness.

An important component of the project is the development and institutionalisation of a University Gender Equality Strategy, aligned with EU policies and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5). Universities will also establish SDG University Labs as innovative spaces for research, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the practical implementation of sustainable development principles.

The project aligns with the priorities of Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), contributes to the digital transformation of education, strengthens international partnerships, and supports Ukraine’s integration into the European Education Area.

Key project objectives include:

• development of a modern ESD curriculum;
• creation of innovative learning materials and digital resources;
• implementation of professional development programmes for teachers;
• development of partnership networks between EU and Ukrainian universities;
• elaboration of university gender equality strategies;
• development of sustainability competences and civic responsibility;
• establishment of mechanisms for evaluation and scaling-up of project results

Consortium partners:

• Dragomanov Ukrainian State University (Coordinator, Ukraine)
• Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav (Ukraine)
• National University of Ostroh Academy (Ukraine)
• Uzhhorod National University (Ukraine)
• University of the National Education Commission in Krakow (Poland)
• Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain)
• Mendel University in Brno (Czech Republic)
• Association of Sustainable Development Experts (ASDE)