Educational program 

The program is developed in the form of four courses, specifically tailored for each target group. The training program covers a total of 80 hours of study: 

• 40 hours of in-person sessions in Krakow 
• 40 hours of online sessions.

The program consists of three modules: 
Program Module 1 – Good Governance and Democratic Institutions, 
Program Module 2 – Democratic Culture, Civic Identity, and Engagement, 
Program Module 3 – EU Governance and European Citizenship.

The language of instruction by European experts is English, with simultaneous translation. 

Within the EDC “Education for Democratic Citizenship” project, aimed at promoting a culture of democracy in Ukrainian higher education institutions, participants of the first target group — university faculty members — are actively implementing their microprojects. These initiatives aim to disseminate democratic culture at the local level and develop civic maturity competencies among students and educators. All microprojects are scheduled to be completed by September 2026; however, as of April 2026, participants are already demonstrating initial qualitative and quantitative results.

Key Results – April 2026

Hanna Davydenko, Open International University of Human Development “Ukraine”

•  Conducted a survey on bullying prevention within the university. 
•  Organized training sessions for faculty and students. 
•  Developed materials for an online course, which is pending publication on the educational platform. 

Kseniya Gnatovska, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University

•  Approved the University Gender Plan for 2025–2026. 
•  Updated the curriculum of a course by adding a module on gender equality. 
•  Conducted an expert session with representatives of leading universities in Kyiv and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to promote active dialogue on strengthening gender equality tracks in education and Ukraine’s Eurointegration efforts. 

Stepanova Nataliia, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy

•  Introduced courses into educational programs: “Emotional Intelligence Development in Primary School Students” (43 participants, 4th-year Bachelor students) and “Civil Society and Media Literacy” (22 participants, 2nd-year Bachelor students). 
•  Prepared a teaching manual for publication: Democracy in Action: Intercultural Education in Primary School, aimed at future teachers. 

Olha Prosina, Higher Educational Institution “University of Educational Management”

•  Implemented professional development programs attended by 75 faculty members: 
  1. Teacher as a Citizen: Developing Civic Maturity in the Educational Environment — focused on building faculty competencies and internal positioning as carriers of democratic culture. 
  2. Adult Education as a Strategy of the Third University Mission: Adaptation, Development, Partnership — emphasized the university’s role in societal transformation through adult education. 
•  The project is based on the concept of civic maturity, encompassing knowledge of democracy, value orientations (dignity, freedom, solidarity), and readiness for responsible societal participation. 

Olena Chumachenko, Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University

•  Implemented courses: Current Issues in Civil Society Development (Master’s level) and Development of Youth Civic Identity (Bachelor’s level). 
•  Updated the course History and Civic Education with modules on Democratic Values and Civic Participation, Human Rights, Local Self-Government, and Critical Thinking and Media Literacy. 
•  Conducted interactive classes, discussions, debates, and simulation exercises. 
•  Organized a national scientific-practical conference addressing reforms in the educational sector. 

Mariia Mandryk-Melnycuk, Bukovinian State Medical University

•  Integrated civic education components into the course Academic Integrity and Anti-Corruption Mechanisms. 
•  Developed three professional schools for physicians: Gender Policy during Armed Conflicts, Accessibility as a Principle of Quality Healthcare, and Ethical Regulation of the Medical Profession. 
•  Participated as a speaker and mentor in national and international conferences, including a certification mentoring program for women leaders. 

Svitlana Lekhnitska, Bogomolets National Medical University

•  Developed a terminological corpus for a multilingual civic education manual. 
•  Implemented modules on Communication and Media Literacy and Professional Responsibility and Civic Awareness. 
•  Conducted trainings and debates addressing violence prevention and fostering a culture of responsibility and support. 

Oleg Chertov, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”

•  In January 2026, salaries of teaching staff increased by 30–40% as part of a large-scale reform of educator remuneration. 
•  The Education and Science Workers’ Union of Ukraine played a key role as the main negotiator with the Cabinet of Ministers.

 These initiatives demonstrate how faculty microprojects contribute to the dissemination of democratic culture, the development of civic maturity, and active engagement of universities in societal transformation. The EDC project continues to support participants in implementing their microprojects, which will serve as a model for integrating democratic principles into the educational environment in Ukraine by September 2026.

Prepared by: Hanna Ryzhenko, affiliated researcher at Linnaeus University, one of the developers of the EDC project