Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine Visit Ostroh Academy
November 22, 2024
On November 22, Christophoros Politis, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, visited the National University of Ostroh Academy.
He was accompanied by Olena Ursu, the NaUOA graduate, the Head of the UNDP Democratic Governance team; Mariia Hutsman, the Head of the Inclusive Development, Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme; Olha Kashevska, the UNDP project coordinator in Rivne Oblast, as well as the representatives of the Rivne Regional Military Administration and the Territorial Community of the Town of Ostroh.
The visitors discussed the projects developed by the scientists of the NaUOA.
In particular, Oksana Mararenko presented two projects on psychological support for veterans and people affected by military operations in Ukraine.
The project "Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Veterans and Persons Who Suffered from Military Actions through the Formation of Metacognitive Monitoring" involves conducting a study of the process of social and psychological rehabilitation of persons who participated in military actions or suffered from them through the formation of metacognitive monitoring to identify its sufficient components, their relationship with the effectiveness of the process of psychological recovery and psychotherapy.
The project "Foreign Veterans, PTSD and Moral Injury" aims to research mental health issues, including moral suffering/trauma related to stressful situations and military operations. The project results will provide valuable information on preparing for future military conflicts and wars.
Vitalii Lebediuk, Head of the School of Political Analytics "Polis", presented the main aspects and interim results of the project "Development of a Methodology for (Self-Assessment of Community Readiness for the (Re)Integration of Female and Male Veterans and Their Families". The project will develop a scientifically based methodology for assessing the readiness of communities to return veterans and support their families. It aims to devise tools for communities to create and implement effective policies to support the veteran community.
Associate Professor of the Department of Journalism and PR Management Zoriana Hodunok presented the project "Human Rights Topic Implemented in the Educational Process of the OA", which aims to implement human rights topics in the courses and research of students and teachers of the National University of Ostroh Academy. During the presentation, prospects for the development of this topic were also proposed, namely: holding a competition of multimedia projects on the subject of human rights observance/non-observance for students and schoolchildren; creating a permanent media resource on human rights observance in the regional mass media, developing and conducting human rights training for journalists and editors of regional mass media, and creating a regional media centre for human rights.
The possibility of their support by the UNDP was considered for the projects being discussed, and further cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the National University of Ostroh Academy was agreed upon.
After the seminar on project ideas, the UNDP representatives in Ukraine met with students in the educational programmes of 'International Relations', 'Journalism', and 'English and Second Foreign (German / French) Languages. Literature. Translation.'
Christoforos Politis spoke about his experience at the UNDP, the main competencies and knowledge required to work in the UN structures, and the most important areas and programmes that the organisation is involved in.
Olena Ursu and Mariia Hutsman presented the students with the areas they oversee at the UNDP and the opportunities for internships at the UNDP office in Ukraine.
The discussion with the students also touched upon the impact of the war on Ukrainian society, the UNDP programmes aimed at rebuilding Ukraine, projects aimed at solving environmental problems, supporting mental health, and ensuring human rights in times of war.
