International Summer School: European Integration: Theory and Practice
During the week of 25 to 31 July, the International Summer School Conference was held at Sumy National Agrarian University on the topic of “European Integration: Theory and Practice.” Attending the conference sessions were 18 student representatives from Bulgaria’s University of Agriculture, Poland’s Warsaw University of Natural Sciences, and Ukraine’s Sumy National Agrarian University. One of the trainers was Project Manager, Julia Sakunova, from the NGO, Center for European Initiatives. In addition to CEI participation, guest speakers were leading academics, government officials, and community members.
The students attended interactive workshops and information sessions, received knowledge on European integration processes, and enjoyed international-cultural communication. Important for the participants was the sharing of experiences by the Polish and Bulgarian students with their Ukrainian colleagues about life in their countries after joining the European Union, i.e., the experience of Bulgaria after the accession to the EU (from an economic and educational aspect) and changes in agricultural policy in Poland after EU accession.
The International Summer School on European integration has allowed participants to get, not only a solid theoretical knowledge, but the opportunity to try to apply them in practice as well. In particular, young people received practical skills in developing and writing proposals and applying European interactive training techniques. In addition, CEI’s Julia Sakunova led participants in role-play activities to motivate and empower youth for a united Europe.
The International Summer School "European Integration: Theory and Practice" is the first project that SNAU organized within the network of science universities in Central and Southeastern Europe (CASEE).
