THE REGULAR KICK-OFF MEETING OF JEAN MONNET MODULE PROJECT 101238988 – EU_NITRA_UKR: FROM EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

On November 27, 2025, the official kick-off meeting of the project 101238988 – EU_NITRA_UKR “Nitrate pollution prevention for health environment: European experience of the Nitrates Directive implementation for a Ukrainian circular economy” was held at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP).

The meeting was attended by members of the project and administrative groups, a representative of the Agrobiological Dean's office, scientific and pedagogical staff of the Department of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry and Water Quality. The invited speaker was the representative of The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Office - Head of the Right to a Safe Environment Division of the Department for Monitoring Social and Economic Rights, Secretariat of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Julia MIROSHNYCHENKO.

The project is implemented under the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module program (ERASMUS-JMO-2025-HEI-TCH-RSCH) in the form of a one-time grant, the duration of which is 3 years. The project coordinator is Associate Professor of the Department of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry and Water Quality Larysa VOITENKO, the project group includes the head of the department, Associate Professor Tatiana USHCHAPIVSKA, Associate Professor Olha KRAVCHENKO and Associate Professor Nadiia PROKOPCHUK. The academic coordinators and support for the implementation of the project agreed to be the Vice-rectors of NUBiP of Ukraine Oksana TONKHA, Oleksandr LABENKO, Olena GLAZUNOVA, Heads of structural divisions of NUBiP of Ukraine, and employees of the department.

The participants of the meeting discussed and approved the main aspects:

- Project goals and objectives: The project is aimed at adapting the 35-year experience of EU countries in implementing Council Directive 91/676/EEC on nitrates to Ukrainian realities. Particular attention is paid to the development of educational and methodological support and conducting educational activities for the training of students of agronomic, environmental and biotechnological specialties, schoolchildren, who should become drivers of the implementation of the right of Ukrainians to a healthy environment free from nitrate pollution within the framework of the concept of a circular economy in the agricultural sector.

- Implementation of the project educational component: It is planned to develop an educational package (seminars, b-learning course, debates, webinars and an online quiz for schoolchildren aged 16-18); conduct a summer practical workshop with field testing of nitrates in surface and groundwater;

- Dissemination of project results: dissemination of results among the academic and professional community (round tables, conferences); conducting university-society dialogue (stakeholder engagement, social media, career guidance events in schools with demonstration experiments). We place particular hope on cooperation with the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, whose representatives have a sincere desire for cooperation and comprehensive support for the implementation of the project. During the meeting, considerable attention was paid to risks and strategies for their mitigation. The grant agreement provides for the possibility of applying Article 35 (force majeure) provided that the grantor EACEA (European Education and Culture Executive Agency) is immediately informed. 

       Vice-Rector Oleksandr LABENKO and Head of the International Projects Department Oleksandr SOSHENSKYY provided the project group members with valuable recommendations on organizing communication and reporting with EACEA, maintaining internal reporting.

       Deputy Dean Volodymyr ZAVGORODNII paid attention to the practical implementation of educational activities within the project, suggesting a good step - next academic year, with the assistance of the dean's office of the Agrobiological Faculty, to include the course “EU Nitrates Directive for the Ukrainian Agricultural Sector: Challenges and Solutions” in the list of elective disciplines of the curriculum for training agronomists.

       At the end of the meeting, the participants approved a checklist of priority tasks: development of detailed calendar plans; launch of an internal communication channel; preparation of internal protocols and communication plans; creation of project pages in social networks and on the university website; start of work on educational materials.

The project started at a difficult time for Ukraine, but the team demonstrated high motivation, cohesion and readiness to adapt. We are convinced that by working together we will make a significant contribution to bringing the Ukrainian agricultural sector closer to European environmental standards, protecting the health of the population, and strengthening the European vector of Ukraine’s development.

We thank all participants of the kick-off meeting for their constructive work and dedication to the common cause.

WE ARE BRINGING VICTORY CLOSER ON OUR FRONT!

Larysa Voitenko, project coordinator of the EU_NITRA_UKR project

Tatiana Ushchapivska, Olha Kravchenko, Nadiia Prokopchuk – members of the project group

Department of Analytical and Bioinorganic Chemistry and Water Quality

National University of Life Resources and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine