Social Project “Contributing to social inclusion via engaging combatants in continuing education”

Institute of Higher Education NAES of Ukraine within the fundamental research of University-Community Engagement Department “Social inclusion in the sphere of higher education during postwar period” established the Project “Contributing to social inclusion via engaging combatants in continuing education”.

Project Partners:
Institute of Higher Education NAES of Ukraine
Higher education institutions and other education institutions, involved to the project events
Rehabilitation centres and other rehabilitation organisations

Project Aim – to facilitate social inclusion of rehabilitation centre patients via dialogue and collaboration with Ukrainian education institutions: universities, colleges, vocational schools.

Project Objectives:
The project will complement physical and psychological rehabilitation with sessions and activities delivered by Ukrainian education institutions that will:

develop, upgrade patients’ 21st century skills;
organize art therapy workshops;
motivate amputee patients to reimagine their personal and professional goals;
inform them on opportunities for further learning, upskilling, reskilling;
help establish contacts with education institutions to be selected for further learning;
provide stimuli to enter an education institution.

The long-term results expected from the above sessions will include:

for patients of rehabilitation centres:

awareness of available opportunities for personal and professional growth;
upgraded 21st century skills, first of all media literacy, critical thinking, social skills;
motivation to continue education, readiness to plan an individual career path, understanding of admission procedure;
reduced risk of social exclusion, more trust towards academia and education institutions;

for education institutions who will take part in the project:

awareness of specific characteristics and special educational needs of combatant learners, especially amputees;
upgraded skills in the delivery of educational services for diverse groups of learners;
growing commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, flexibility of education, social responsibility to upgrade educational infrastructure and educational process to accommodate learners with special needs;

for rehabilitation centres:

closer contacts with Ukrainian education institutions as potential partners;
exposure to new knowledge, wellness skills, rehabilitation techniques, new approaches to treatment.

Contacts:
Olena Orzhel +38(050)381-30-59; o.orzhel@ihed.org.ua
Nataliia Shofolova: +38(067)889-18-05; n.shofolova@ihed.org.ua
University – Community Engagement Department IHE NAES of Ukraine

Project events announcements:

On February 18, 2025, the second session in the series of “Social and Emotional Learning” for patients of the rehabilitation center took place. The session was organized and conducted by Ms Tetiana Krapivianska, a practical psychologist, Master of Psychology, expert of the international organization “Integra”, and Head of “R4R” project in Ukraine along with Ms Olena Orzhel, Senior Researcher of the Institute of Higher Education. Ms Tetiana Krapivianska has designed a training on “Effective Communication,” offering participants interesting exercises to develop active listening skills, negotiation practices, protection against manipulation, and more. Participants learned the principles of effective communication, developed the competence to actively listen to others, and practiced expressing their thoughts and feelings constructively.

On February 11, 2025, a team from the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport visited the rehabilitation center. Ms Iryna Kohut, Director of Research Institute of the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine, Doctor of Physical Education and Sports, and Ms Victoria Marynych, Head of the Doctoral and Post-Doctoral School, Candidate of Physical Education and Sports, told about the university, its infrastructure, educational programs, and study opportunities for the military and ex-combatants. They also described university inclusive programs, adaptive sports training, and research in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical culture, and sports that may be of interest to rehabilitation specialists and people undergoing long-term rehabilitation.
Colleagues from the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport are eager to continue cooperation with the rehabilitation center.
We express our sincere gratitude to Ms. Iryna Kohut and Ms. Victoria Marynych and hope for a long-term and fruitful collaboration in future.

On February 6, at the request of the rehabilitation center’s patients, our colleagues from Mariupol State University delivered the first training session on how to prepare a business plan. The charming women and experienced trainers – Anastasia Trofimenko, Coordinator of the Civic Center, and Inna Arakelova, Associate Professor of the Department of Marketing and Tourism – explained how to become successful entrepreneurs, turn dreams and ideas into startups, socially useful products, beautiful things, delicious food, and more.
We are sincerely grateful to our colleagues from Mariupol State University and hope for long-term and fruitful cooperation: the trainings should continue as there are many business ideas worth to be implemented.

Information-and-Career Orientation Session from Kyiv Professional College of Enhanced Military and Physical Training
On November 26, 2024 colleagues from Kyiv Professional College of Enhanced Military and Physical Training visited the rehabilitation center. Methodists Oksana Muts and Natalia Grankina, teacher Olena Pokrovska, war veteran, college graduate, and vocational training master Yuriy Aksenko talked about College’s educational programs, admission and study conditions, most popular professions that can be mastered during studies, and special training programs for veterans. No doubt, the patients of the rehabilitation center were most interested in the training of operators of remotely controlled devices – drones that are used in both war and peace. However, the college can offer professional training in other important areas, such as “Master of Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Systems” or “Information Processing and Software Operator,” among others.
The Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine expresses sincere gratitude to colleagues from Kyiv Professional College of Enhanced Military and Physical Training for their work and fruitful and sincere communication with military personnel.

June, 12, 2024 – Musical retreat for combatants at the rehabilitation center with the participation of the folklore ensemble “Kralytsia” of the Music Faculty of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. Responsible person – senior researcher of the Department of Social and Institutional Transformations in Higher Education of the IHE NAES of Ukraine, professor of International tourism department of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, Dr. Alla Havryliuk.

July, 30 2024 – Information session from Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University “Immersive technologies for physical rehabilitation”. Responsible person – docent of electronic equipment department, PhD Oleh Zakhozhai.

September, 10, 2024 – open online information seminar for education institution with invitation joint to project. Responsible person – Nataliia Shofolova.