The implementation of the project «Jean Monnet transcarpathian center for studying european development strategies» has been started at Uzhhorod National University

 This was evidenced by a grant agreement sent from the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (Brussels) on October 14 this year.

The official opening - presentation of the project took place in the premises of the Rector's Office on October 20. It is noteworthy that it took place on the days when UzhNU was to solemnly celebrate the 75th anniversary of its creation. And although the celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been postponed, those present at the project presentation emphasized that the results of its implementation will undoubtedly be dedicated to the anniversary of Alma Mater.

The event was attended by members of the project team, representatives of the university administration and financial and economic service, employees of the Educational and Research Institute of European Integration Studies, which initiated the creation of the Jean Monnet Center at Uzhhorod National University, students of the Faculty of History and International Relations.

The university rector, scientific support expert of the project prof. Volodymyr Smolanka moderated the event. He stressed the urgency and importance of the creation and operation of the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence at Uzhhorod National University. As the geographical location of the university provides excellent logistics for research in neighboring EU member states. The Rector expressed confidence that the implementation of the project will have a significant impact on the development of the university, the growth of its competitiveness.

Project Manager, Director of Educational and Research Institute of European Integration Studies Assoc. Prof. Ivan Artyomov described the main activities of the 2 Transcarpathian Center. First, it is a study of the European Union's strategies for developing effective forms of work to ensure security in society, developing ways to improve the quality of human capital. He also touched upon the issue of full- fledged and successful integration of Ukraine into the European educational and scientific space, which he will deal with as a teacher-researcher.

Candidate of Sociological Sciences, team member Assoc. Prof. Petro Tokar, who will act as the director of the Center, outlined its future structure: a creative laboratory of systems research and a training office. He stressed the importance of the newly established Center for the establishment the cooperation between scientific and academic institutions under the auspices of the Jean Monnet Program and Ideas, to conduct research in the field of European integration, including the Ukrainian Association of European Studies, Jean Monnet Centers of Excellence in the universities in Kyiv, Lviv, Poznan, Budapest, at the Department of Jean Monnet (Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan) and others.

Assoc. Prof. Vitaliy Andreyko described the work program of the team for the development and testing of new disciplines on European and Euro-Atlantic integration, improving their teaching in his speech. Oksana Sviezhentseva, Head of the Department of International Relations, a member of the project team spoke about the need to develop a concept for improving the efficiency of European studies while introducing innovative approaches.

Lyudmyla Sereda and Olena Tovt discussed various aspects of organizational work on the project implementation in their speeches.

Project manager Ivan Artyomov summed up the meeting by the statement that there is a responsible and important work ahead. Currently, we are talking about the arrangement of the premises in which the Center will be located, the production of banners, etc.