WUNU representatives joined the international environmental project ‘Water for Life’ in Sweden
As part of efforts to expand international cooperation and implement innovative strategies for sustainable development, staff from the International Centre for Culture and Development, along with students Khrystyna Kazmirchuk, Viktoriia Mazurenko and Viktor Slabodukh from the B11 ‘Philology’ programme at West Ukrainian National University, took part in a working visit to the city of Ronneby (Sweden). The trip, which took place from 20 to 22 April 2026, was part of the ‘Water for Life’ project, funded by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD).
The main aim of the initiative is to strengthen the partnership between Ternopil and Ronneby, focusing on environmental safety, public engagement in water management, and cross-sectoral cooperation.
The visit’s programme was packed with professional events that combined theoretical knowledge with an exploration of the practical experience of Swedish colleagues. In particular, representatives from WUNU took part in the ‘Insight Hub: Ternopil’ session, where they presented the role of the academic community and the public sector in implementing environmental initiatives. A key part of the visit was a training workshop on leadership and sustainable development led by leading experts from Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), aimed at developing skills in managing complex socio-environmental systems. In addition, participants familiarised themselves with the work of the municipality’s environmental services, visited the Blekinge archipelago to study methods of preserving natural biodiversity, and discussed tools for engaging with residents during urban planning.
This visit not only contributed to the professional development of our representatives, but also laid the foundations for further joint research and educational projects between WUNU, the municipality of Ronneby and Swedish educational institutions. Working together with representatives of Ternopil City Council and the municipal enterprise ‘Ternopilvodokanal’ during the trip proved once again that integrating the efforts of education, government and business is key to building a secure future.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Swedish partners and the organisers for the opportunity to exchange professional expertise and for their support in fostering international dialogue.
