Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, PhD in Biology, Olha Strilbytska recently visited Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic) as part of an international grant project funded by the EDUC-WIDE program, supported by the European Union.

The primary goal of the EDUC-WIDE grant program is to strengthen cooperation between member institutions of the EDUC consortium and to foster the development of research infrastructures in countries such as Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. For Dr. Strilbytska, this is more than just a professional opportunity — it is a chance to contribute meaningfully to cutting-edge research in the field of neuroscience and to deepen the global understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Within the project “Analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder gene expression profiles in mice models of neuroinflammation,” Dr. Strilbytska will be able to implement the experimental component of her research thanks to access to the advanced Genomic Core Facility of Masaryk University. This institution is one of Central Europe’s leading centers for biomedical research, renowned not only for its powerful laboratory facilities but also for its commitment to fostering international scientific mobility and embracing innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.

The study will include an in-depth analysis of gene expression in mouse models of neuroinflammation, to identify genetic markers associated with the development of PTSD. This work opens the door to the development of personalized approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of PTSD — a disorder that continues to draw increasing attention from the global medical community.

Dr. Strilbytska expressed particularly warm impressions following her meeting with Dr. Boris Tichy, Head of the Genomic Core Facility — one of the most advanced scientific centers in the Czech Republic. During the meeting, they discussed current trends in biomedical research and explored opportunities for expanding cooperation between Ukrainian and Czech research institutions.

“This was an incredibly inspiring visit. Masaryk University is a truly dynamic scientific environment, where innovation and interdisciplinarity are not just buzzwords but a daily reality. Researchers and their ideas are truly valued here, and all necessary resources are available to bring even the boldest ideas to life. I would also like to sincerely thank the PhD students and staff of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology for their assistance in preparing the samples for analysis,” — shares Dr. Olha Strilbytska.

We extend our deep gratitude to the administration of our university and to the organizers of the EDUC-WIDE program for their support in enabling participation in this prestigious initiative. The opportunities provided are a step forward in individual professional development and a strengthening of international collaboration that brings Ukraine closer to full integration into the European scientific community.

We wish Dr. Strilbytska continued inspiration, meaningful discoveries, and success in realizing this important project!

The two-day EDUC-WIDE event hosted by the University of Cagliari officially opened on March 31st, 2025, at the CREA Meeting Room (Via Ospedale 121). The session began with a welcome address by Alessandra Carucci, Vice-Rector for International Affairs and EDUC-WIDE task leader, who greeted participants and set the tone for the discussions ahead.
The introduction to the two-day work started with a presentation of the provisional project ranking of the Seed Projects, based on consensus reports, budget constraints, and the involvement of EDUC-WIDE partners. Also, members of the SPEP panel shared their evaluations, highlighting key strengths and weaknesses of the projects with strong funding potential.
On April 1st, the discussions resumed with a round table dedicated to potential budget redistribution among Seed Projects and the SPEP panel finalized the project ranking during the concluding discussion session.
Professor Volodymyr Kotsiubynskyi and Associate Professor Iryna Piatnychuk took part in the event, contributing their expertise to the project evaluations and discussions.  

First Vice-Rector Valentyna Yakubiv and Head of the Research Department Iryna Hryhoruk participated in the 45th meeting of the EDUC Steering Committee, held at Jaume I University (Castellón de la Plana, Spain).

During the meeting, participants reviewed the outcomes of joint projects, shared experiences with partners, and explored new opportunities for further collaboration.

Special attention was given to strategies for the digital transformation of universities, the expansion of educational opportunities for students and faculty, and the development of new initiatives within the EDUC alliance.

Collaboration on international projects creates even greater opportunities for PNU to integrate into the European educational space and advanced digital education!

On this special day, let’s celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and achievements of women and girls in science.

Throughout history, women have made groundbreaking discoveriesтand paved the way for future generations. Today, we honor their contributions and encourage young minds to dream big, stay curious, and never stop questioning the world around them.

As part of the implementation of Work Packages 3–4, a series of events took place in 2024:

• RAEG Introduction – March 11, 2024
• 1st Meeting: Priorities – June 12, 2024
• 2nd On-site Meeting (Brno) – December 11, 2024
• Three online working meetings focused on detailing approaches and discussing interim findings
• Publication of the Action Plan
• First Draft of the Report

An additional milestone was the presentation of the initial results of the analytical research on trends in changes in national and institutional evaluation systems. The presentation was delivered for all project partners of EDUQ at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. Participants had the opportunity to review key findings regarding the evolution of approaches to quality assurance in higher education and institutional governance.

During the event, the key tasks for 2025 were discussed, including:

• Improvement of institutional accreditation criteria
• Enhancement of transparency in evaluation procedures
• Introduction of new tools to support the strategic development of higher education institutions

A significant component was the workshop, which outlined the main themes of the institutional evaluation reform strategy through a SWOT analysis. Participants jointly developed proposals for a future vision of the reform.

These activities together shape a comprehensive strategic framework for building an effective, transparent, and cohesive institutional evaluation system that is adapted to current challenges.

Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University continues to actively participate in the EDUC-WIDE project – an initiative that expands the activities of the EDUC (European Digital UniverCity) alliance. The main goal of the project is to create new opportunities for collaboration in research and innovation among participating universities.

Collaboration with partner universities provides our university’s researchers with extensive opportunities to engage in joint research initiatives. Notably, on January 27, the application period for the Seed Projects competition came to an end.

As part of the competition, 25 international research consortia were formed, eight of which include teams from Precarpathian National University, led by:

• Volodymyr Lushchak
• Marianna Matishak
• Mykola Kozlenko
• Antonina Tomashevska
• Volodymyr Shvadchak
• Oleksandr Shyichuk
• Iryna Petrovska
• Iryna Matiiash-Hnediuk

It is important to highlight that these projects cover a wide range of scientific fields – biotechnology, pedagogy, computer technologies, materials science, and law. Such interdisciplinary collaboration aligns with the principle of inclusive development, which promotes the broadest possible involvement of partners in joint research initiatives. This principle is embedded in the very concept of the project: “EmpoWering EDUC for Inclusive Development of the ERA.”

For more details about the EDUC-WIDE project, visit:

EDUC-WIDE on the PNU website

EDUC Alliance Official Website

As part of the implementation of the international project EDUC-WIDE, under Work Package No. 1, “Open Science: Analysis and Recommendations,” one of the tasks is to analyze the awareness of researchers and academic staff in Ukrainian higher education institutions regarding the role of Open Science, its core principles, digital services and applications used in the research process, and specialized scientific information search engines.

The aim is to further promote the support of university scientific communities in actively contributing to the formation of the European Research Area (ERA) and integrating the values and practices of Open Science into all key university processes.

We invite academic and teaching staff, researchers, and doctoral candidates to participate in a survey on the use of Open Science principles in conducting scientific research.

https://forms.gle/eYGBTRs4moj68v7x6

We are thrilled to announce that our scientists have joined an international consortium under the Knowledge Exchange Scheme (KES). Partnering with University of Pécs, Masaryk University, University of Cagliari, and University of South-Eastern Norway, they will be conducting groundbreaking research in genomics and bioinformatics, with a total funding of €8,300.00.

Additionally, our researchers have also teamed up with Masaryk University, the University of Cagliari, Jaume I University, and the University of South-Eastern Norway to explore innovations in micro- and nanotechnology, receiving funding amounting to €10,650.00.

We are proud of our team’s dedication to advancing knowledge and fostering international collaboration. Let’s continue pushing the boundaries of science together!