Ukraine Digital
The DAAD funding program "Ukraine Digital: Studienerfolg durch praxisorientierte Onlinelehre" has been supporting Ukrainian universities in implementing digital learning and helping students continue their education in times of war since July 2022. As part of this initiative, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences implemented a joint project with Odesa National Economic University (ONEU) and Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU).
The war in Ukraine has had a negative impact on the country's infrastructure and higher education system. Despite active hostilities, Ukrainian universities continue to operate remotely. However, due to the lack of staff and outdated teaching materials for some courses, Ukrainian students could not complete their studies.
The Ukraine Digital project at the Hochschule Mittweida was aimed at overcoming the educational challenges of the war: it provided educational materials, scholarships, digital tools, professional development for teachers, and deepened academic cooperation between Ukrainian and German universities.
Ukraine Digital in the period from 2022 to 2025
The Ukraine Digital project, implemented in 2022-2025, delivered the following results:
1. Digital learning materials and online learning
We provided educational materials translated into Ukrainian in the form of presentations, notes, video lectures, and case studies. These materials were integrated into 28 academic disciplines. On their basis, teachers prepared 20 methodological developments, which were also translated into English and made accessible to students of all partner universities.
In March and April 2025, two international educational events were held, during which Ukrainian and German students worked in mixed teams on a case study in international management. This significantly contributed to strengthening academic cooperation on a practical level.
2. Scholarships
The project awarded 202 scholarships to students who stayed in Ukraine during the war. The selection was based on academic achievement and social circumstances of the students involving both partner universities.
3. Scientific activity
97 student research articles were prepared and presented at three conferences in September 2023, February 2024 and May 2025. In 2025, selected articles were published in the Ukraine Digital Scientific Journal in collaboration with the International Journal of Psychology and Strategic Communication.
4. Digital transformation of the educational process
The project introduced modern digital tools, including Kahoot!, Mentimeter, and Prezi, which contributed to more active student participation and improved learning process. Along with this, ONEU and DNU teachers took the SAP S/4HANA course, which made it possible to update the educational programs and introduce the course Enterprise Resource Planning based on SAP at ONEU. This was an important step in the transition from the outdated 1C system to the international SAP standard and strengthened the digital component of higher education.
5. Ongoing communication and feedback
For three years, the partners maintained regular communication through regular online and offline meetings. In order to improve the educational process and cooperation formats, feedback from project participants was collected after each project period.
For that purpose, a series of questionnaires were developed for students, teachers, and coordinators from both partner universities. The collected responses helped to improve the formats of events and interactions, consider the needs of different target groups, and identify potential for further development. This approach to ongoing dialogue and analysis of the participants' experience not only ensured the flexibility, quality, and relevance of all implemented activities, but also created the basis for systematic improvement of cooperation in the future.
Ukraine Digital: a partnership that goes beyond the project
During the final event of the Ukraine Digital Exchange in October 2024, delegations from all partner universities came together at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to mark the shared commitment to continued collaboration. This document officially recorded the achievements of the project and identified key areas for further cooperation: the development of academic mobility, joint research, improvement of digital education, and the creation of inter-university curricula. The signing of the MoU was not the end, but rather the starting point for a new phase of strategic partnership.
The Ukraine Digital project has proven that international academic cooperation can provide a sustainable response to crisis challenges and drive positive transformations in higher education. The results of the project – translated educational materials, updated disciplines, methodological developments, publications, scientific competitions, and partnership agreements – will have a sustainable impact and will serve as the basis for new educational initiatives.
A particular achievement was the increased interest of Ukrainian students in further cooperation with HSMW: according to the survey, 96% of participating students expressed a desire to participate in future international projects. This is evidence of building trust, creating a positive image of partnership, and increasing motivation and readiness for intercultural academic exchange.
Ukraine Digital has also contributed to the development and updating of joint curricula, as well as to creating the conditions for launching new educational courses focused on digital competencies, sustainable development, and internationalization of education.
We look forward to continuing to provide new opportunities for students that will strengthen academic cooperation and advance higher education in Ukraine and Germany, thereby reinforcing the long-term partnership strategy between our universities.