A final conference on the circular economy development project was held at WUNU
The West Ukrainian National University hosted a final conference on the project ‘Reduce. Reuse. Recycle: Environmental integration into the EU’, which was implemented within the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet programme during 2022–2025.
The project, which was implemented with the participation of the Yuriy Department of Finance, the Department of International Economics, and the Department of International Economic Relations, was aimed at promoting the idea of a circular and inclusive economy in Ukraine in the context of contemporary challenges, in particular war, post-pandemic instability, energy dependence, climate change, and technological transformations.
During the conference, the project team, whose members include Andriy Krysovatyy, Chairman of the Academic Council of WUNU, Roman Zvarych, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations, and Iryna Zvarych, Head of the Department of International Economics, summarised the results of three years of work, which included scientific research, analytics, lectures, student initiatives, and cooperation with partners from EU countries.
Addressing the students, Andriy Krysovatyy emphasised: "We launched this project in 2022, and since then we have been researching how households in Ukraine and Romania interact with the principles of the circular economy. More than 500 households were surveyed. We sought to understand how to integrate Ukraine into the European context of sustainable development and increase its energy sustainability. The project also opened up opportunities for internships with European partners. Be open to knowledge, communicate, apply what you have learned in Ukraine. Let's build a strong European state together!"
Iryna Zvarych presented video works by students who conducted practical research as part of their studies in the discipline ‘Circular Economy.’ Students studied alternatives to plastic, analysed the possibilities of recycling household waste, and sought environmentally friendly solutions to replace harmful materials.
Students from three departments participated in the project, including educational and professional programmes in Customs and Taxation, International Economics, International Management, and International Economic Relations. They researched how products are labelled, how much recycled glass and plastic they contain, and proposed their own initiatives to improve the environmental situation.
In conclusion, Andriy Krysovatyy announced a competition for students on the topic: ‘What can be done in Ternopil in the context of the circular economy?’ The main idea of the research work should be based on the principles of the circular economy: reduce (the use of harmful substances), reuse (things), recycle (materials in new products). The author of the best idea will receive a cash prize, and the start-up will be presented to local entrepreneurs.
The results of the project demonstrated the high effectiveness of an interdisciplinary approach in shaping environmental awareness and professional training of young people. The active participation of students, teachers and international partners contributed to the implementation of the key objectives of the European Green Deal in the educational space of Ukraine. The final conference confirmed that the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet project had successfully fulfilled its educational and scientific mission. It not only deepened the understanding of the circular economy concept among students and teachers, but also encouraged young people to actively participate in the transformation of the Ukrainian economy in line with European standards of sustainable development.
