FIFTH ECOLOGICAL SCHOOL ‘CARPATHIANS-2025’ AS A PLATFORM FOR INTER-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION

On 3–5 October 2025, students of the educational programmes ‘Public Management and Administration’ at the Western Ukrainian National University and ‘Public Administration and Business Management’ at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv took part in the fifth anniversary Ecological School of Public Management for Sustainable Development ‘Carpathians-2025’. The event was organised by Professor Hryhorii MONASTYRSKYI and Head of the Department of Public Administration and Business Management Hanna KOMARNYTSKA.

Given the current challenges facing Ukraine, the training of public administration specialists requires not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical experience, the exchange of best practices and the formation of professional networks. The Carpathians-2025 Environmental School demonstrates the importance of combining the efforts of higher education institutions to provide high-quality training for future managers.

The cooperation of students from different regions of Ukraine studying the same speciality creates a unique environment for professional development. Future public administration specialists from Ternopil and Lviv brought different experiences, views and approaches to the analysis of sustainable development issues, which greatly enriched the educational process.

The three-day educational and cognitive programme in the Boykivshchyna National Nature Park and in the communities of the Sambir district combined theoretical training with intensive practical work.

In the local communities, students from both universities worked together, analysing the processes of public service delivery at the Administrative Services Centre in Turka. Students from ZNU shared their experience of studying practices in the Ternopil region, while students from LNU shared their experience from the Lviv region, which allowed for a comparative analysis and identification of the best approaches. During meetings with the leadership of the Borinska and Turka territorial communities, participants actively discussed strategic planning issues, proposing innovative solutions based on the experience of different regions.

At local authentic tourism sites, students in inter-university groups studied the model of ecological entrepreneurship and analysed the combination of traditional technologies with modern standards. The exchange of views between students from different universities allowed them to see the problems of green tourism from different angles and formulate comprehensive recommendations.

During an excursion along the ecological trail ‘Natural and Historical Secrets of the Babynets Tract’ in the Boykivshchyna National Nature Park, students worked on practical tasks to assess the accessibility of nature conservation sites. The ascent of Mount Pikui (1,405 metres above sea level) was not only a team-building experience, but also an opportunity to assess the tourist potential of mountain routes.

The interactive educational formats demonstrated the particular value of inter-university cooperation:

The ecological quest ‘UN Global Sustainable Development Goals’ — mixed teams of students from ZNU and LNU performed tasks that required a combination of different approaches and experiences. Such interaction showed how diversity of views enriches the search for solutions.

Foresight Laboratory ‘Using the Ecological Potential of the Community’ — students from different universities worked on strategic development scenarios. Students from Ternopil brought their experience of working with communities in central Ukraine, while those from Lviv contributed their knowledge of border and mountain areas. This synergy made it possible to develop more comprehensive and realistic strategies.

Interactive workshop ‘Inclusiveness in the organisation of an ecological trail’ — inter-university groups analysed accessibility barriers, sharing knowledge about successful inclusion practices in their regions.

Discussion panel ‘The role of youth in ensuring sustainable development’ — students shared their experiences of participating in environmental projects in the Ternopil and Lviv regions, forming a common vision of youth initiatives on a national scale.

A key outcome of the School was the formation of an interregional professional network of future public administration specialists. The students did not just exchange contacts — they created a basis for long-term cooperation, exchange of experience and joint projects. Such a network will become an important resource in their future professional activities, as public administration requires an understanding of the specifics of different regions of Ukraine and the ability to coordinate between regions.

Students from both universities highly appreciated the opportunity to study together with colleagues from another region. Participants noted that inter-university interaction significantly broadened their understanding of the diversity of approaches to public administration in Ukraine and provided practical skills in teamwork in heterogeneous groups.

Teachers emphasised the importance of continuing the practice of inter-university educational events, as they shape students’ systematic understanding of public administration issues at the national level and prepare them for work in conditions of decentralisation of power.

Many participants expressed their desire to continue researching sustainable development and interregional cooperation in their coursework and dissertations.

The Carpathians-2025 Environmental School confirmed the relevance of inter-university educational projects for training competent public administration specialists capable of working on sustainable development challenges in different regions of Ukraine.

The participants and organisers of the School express their gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the opportunity to get an education, cooperate and build the future of Ukraine!