New horizons in international cooperation with the support of the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine
On the initiative of Oksana Koval, Director of the Education and Research Centre for Communications at WUNU, Gediminas Bučiūnas, Senior Adviser on Prosecution at the European Union Advisory Mission in Ukraine, paid a working visit to West Ukrainian National University . Mr. Bučiūnas is a Lithuanian lawyer, prosecutor and international expert, and a Associate Professor at Vytautas Magnus University and lecturer at Mykolas Romeris University.
The event brought together representatives from West Ukrainian National University, the National Police of Ukraine and international partners to discuss current challenges in the fields of criminal justice, security and human rights, and to establish cooperation and exchange expertise in the areas of education, research and international projects.
Viktor Ostroverkhov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research, outlined the strategic directions for the development of West Ukrainian National University, emphasising the institution’s openness to international partnerships, the implementation of European standards in the training of specialists, and the expansion of cooperation in the field of interdisciplinary programmes. He emphasised the importance of the synergy between science and practice, in particular the university’s interaction with law enforcement agencies and international experts.
Mykola Dyvak, Vice-Rector for Research, highlighted the development of the university’s research activities, increased participation in international grant programmes, and the expansion of research consortia. He highlighted the university’s potential in the fields of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, data analytics and their practical application in forensic science and the public security system, and emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of law, psychology and IT.
The event was moderated by Oksana Koval, Director of the Education and Research Centre for Communications, who highlighted the university’s role as a platform for professional dialogue between the academic community, law enforcement agencies and international experts, and emphasised the potential for implementing joint educational and research programmes that combine modern approaches to criminal justice, psychology and digital technologies.
The head of the Department of International and European Law, Liudmyla Savanets, the deputy director of the ERCC, Mariia Shesterniak, the head of the International Relations Office, Yuliia Palaniuk, and representatives of the National Police of Ukraine joined the discussion – Iryna Nikolaieva and Oksana Prydruha, as well as Viktoriia Korobii, an interpreter from the International Relations Office of WUNU. The meeting participants exchanged professional views on the regional specifics of crime, current issues regarding human rights compliance, combating organised crime and cyber threats, and identified practical steps for further institutional cooperation.
During the visit, the international expert shared insights from his many years of experience working within the prosecution bodies and participating in international projects, particularly in the areas of combating organised crime, corruption and cybercrime.
The meeting participants paid particular attention to current trends in the transformation of crime, including the rise in group offences and cyber threats, which require new approaches to the professional training of specialists, enhanced inter-agency cooperation and the introduction of digital technologies into law enforcement activities.
The discussion on working with veterans and their socio-psychological reintegration was a key focus of the meeting. The expert cited examples of international practices in supporting veterans of armed conflicts, emphasising the need for comprehensive psychological support, vocational reintegration programmes and long-term government policy in the field of reintegration. Participants raised strategically important issues regarding future challenges associated with the return of Ukrainian servicemen to civilian life after the end of the war, as well as the impact of these processes on the country’s social stability and economic development. The guest shared his experience of conducting professional training for law enforcement officers at European universities, particularly in the areas of psychological training for police officers, crisis communications and negotiation. The importance of developing interdisciplinary competencies was emphasised, as well as the active use of artificial intelligence tools in countering modern challenges, particularly cybercrime.
Another key topic of discussion was the prospects for academic cooperation, the introduction of dual-degree programmes, the implementation of joint educational and research projects, and the expansion of international partnerships. Significant potential for inter-university collaboration was noted in the fields of legal psychology, cybersecurity and innovative digital solutions.
The meeting reinforced the strong international engagement of West Ukrainian National University, its institutional capacity to implement large-scale partnership initiatives, and its openness to adopting European practices in the fields of education, science and professional training.
