On October 7–8, 2025, the project team presented the results of the AFID project at the International Seminar “Development of an Inclusive Educational Environment Based on a Student-Centered Approach in Emergency Situations,” organized by the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the National Team of Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE team) of the EU Erasmus+ Programme, with the support of SPHERE and EACEA, and with the participation of TAM expert Dr. Jeanine Gregersen-Hermans. 

On the first day of the seminar, Iryna Zolotarova, Professor of the Department of Information Systems at Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics and member of the National Team of Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE), summarized the implementation of the AFID project and shared the key achievements of the project team in the development of an inclusive educational environment, as well as the opportunities and tools offered by the Virtual Inclusive Campus (VIC). In addition, the speaker emphasized the ideas and principles reflecting modern approaches to the creation of inclusive educational content and the design of individual learning pathways based on a student-centered approach.

     

Professor Nataliia Mazaraki, Head of the Department of International, Civil and Commercial Law at the State University of Trade and Economics, presented the specifics of selecting appropriate digital tools to ensure inclusive learning, using the course “Theory of Industrial Markets” as an example (course author: Anzhelika Herasymenko, Professor, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Relations at the State University of Trade and Economics, National Coordinator of the AFID project). 

In particular, the speaker emphasized the importance of integrating modern digital technologies to create a supportive educational environment that accommodates all students and ensures access to learning materials regardless of circumstances.

     

The second day of the seminar was dedicated to discussing pressing challenges and developing joint guidelines and recommendations for advancing an inclusive educational environment in Ukraine. In this context, Viktoriia Kharchuk, Professor of the Department of Management and International Entrepreneurship at Lviv Polytechnic National University, shared the results of research on the needs and challenges faced by learners with diverse abilities. In particular, the audience was presented with insights from discussions on the needs of students at the Maria Pokrova Lviv Special School (a public educational institution for children with hearing impairments), as well as contributions and solutions developed by the NGO “Hovory!” (which develops digital technologies to improve people’s lives), and perspectives from teachers and sign language interpreters working with students of this school. We sincerely thank the organizers for such an important and timely event and continue working together towards creating a high-quality, accessible, and supportive educational environment. On June 24–25, 2025, within the framework of the Lancaster University Education Conference 2025, a presentation titled “Designing Inclusive Educational Programmes Based on the AFID Project Experience” was delivered.