Partnerships for the goals - Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University

TSATU collects data on progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals at the international level and promotes the dissemination of best practices and cross-sectoral dialogue in support of sustainable development goals. The university’s activities cover a wide range of interactions with external actors at the international, national and local levels regarding sustainable development goals.

Cooperation between TSATU and regional non-governmental organizations and the government on SDG policy in 2024

TSATU representatives are directly involved in and contribute to the development of sustainable development goals policy based on cooperation with authorities and the public sector in identifying problems and challenges, developing policies and strategies, monitoring and reporting on interventions, and ensuring adaptive management. Examples of TSATU’s contribution to policy development include the implementation of a number of measures, namely:

National political representation was ensured by the participation of a TSATU master’s student in the Ukrainian Youth Forum 2024 ‘Free to Dream!’, which was attended by the President of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and the Prime Minister. The participation of university representatives in this high-level event is a direct contribution to the formation of national youth and recovery policy (SDGs 4, 16, 17);
Representatives of TSATU contribute to policy development and the implementation of adaptive management by strengthening the capacity of key actors who influence the formation of recovery and SDG-related policies. In particular, the participation of university lecturers in the workshop “Ethics and Gender Sensitivity in Research” within the framework of the UA Transformation Lab project — a joint initiative of the Institute for European Politics (Berlin), Cedos, the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, and the New Europe Center — is carried out with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office. The project aims to strengthen Ukrainian think tanks and civil society organizations, deepen their cooperation with local authorities, and provide them with the necessary tools to effectively contribute to recovery and European integration processes. TSATU’s contribution to strengthening partnerships in the field of SDGs lies in enhancing the capacity of civil society (think tanks and NGOs) to influence recovery and European integration policies (SDGs 5, 16, 17);
The contribution of TSATU scientists to the development of educational policy (SDG 4) at the national government level is carried out by involving them in the expert activities of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. TSATU’s faculty members are active participants in meetings of the expert group on Ukrainian and foreign literature organised by the State Scientific Institution ‘Institute for the Modernisation of Educational Content’ to grant educational publications the seal of approval of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. In addition, TSATU lecturer T. Kolisnichenko has been included in the Scientific and Methodological Commission 7 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine ‘Engineering, Production and Construction’ for the development of educational standards (SDGs 4, 17). Cooperation with the non-governmental organization ‘Innovative Horizons of Ukraine’ contributes to the introduction of innovative teaching methods in higher education (SDGs 4, 8). In cooperation with TSATU, ‘Innovative Horizons of Ukraine’ conducts advanced training for higher education faculty, implements joint projects on language policy in Ukraine, discusses directions for the introduction of innovative technologies and principles of sustainable development in higher education, etc.;
Monitoring of the environmental policy by TSATU academic staff is implemented by involving students majoring in Ecology in discussions with representatives of the State Environmental Inspection of the Southern District on the use of the EcoZagroza web resource and by involving students in public inspection control. This activity is the university’s contribution to monitoring environmental policy and ensuring adaptive management (SDGs 13, 15, 16). In addition, the expert activity of M. Hanchuk, Head of the Department of Geodesy and Land Management, on the environmental consequences of hostilities and illegal activities of the Russian occupants, which pose a threat of soil desertification and mass fish mortality, contributes to the formation of environmental restoration policy (SDGs 15, 16);
Expert assessment of agricultural policy is implemented through the participation of TSATU management in joint meetings of Zaporizhzhia agrarians with the Committee of Entrepreneurs of the Agricultural Sector of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In particular, in 2024, a joint discussion was held at the meeting on the draft Strategy for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas as a tool for bringing the agricultural policies of Ukraine and the EU in line (SDGs 2, 11, 15, 17). TSATU researchers are members of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Public Organisation ‘Zaporizhzhia Information and Consulting Centre ’Agro-Tavriia“. (SDGs 8, 9, 15). The Centre provides consulting services on the implementation of innovative solutions in the fields of agriculture, food technology engineering, and youth entrepreneurship. The Centre also provides consulting services on entrepreneurial activity and implements international projects to support the development of the agricultural sector and engineering and technical education.

Inter-sectoral dialogue on SDGs in 2024

TDATU’s activities are aimed at initiating and participating in open communication platforms that bring together representatives of government, business, the scientific community and the public sector to discuss and seek joint solutions for achieving the SDGs.

Examples of international cross-sectoral dialogue in the ‘Government-Business-Science’ format include the participation of the Vice-Rector of TSATU in a working meeting of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration with the executive committees of the State of Pennsylvania to establish a partnership through direct dialogue for the development of cooperation in the fields of energy, education, innovation and agriculture (SDGs 2, 4, 7, 9, 17), as well as the meeting between the guarantors of educational programmes and the management of TSATU with a representative of the Higher School of Occupational Safety Management in Katowice (Poland) on double degrees, which is a dialogue on the integration of Ukrainian education into the European space (SDGs 4, 17).

Representatives of TSATU are active participants in the regional dialogue in the format ‘Government-Business-Science’. In particular, the participation of the rector and scientists in online meetings ‘Dialogue between Government and Business’ with the participation of the Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration is a direct contribution of TSATU to the development of regional economic strategy (SDGs 5, 8, 9, 17). TSATU researchers took part in a meeting of the Zaporizhzhia Region Entrepreneurs Council, which brought together representatives of business, executive authorities and NGOs to discuss the challenges of wartime and strategies for jointly countering the threats facing entrepreneurs (SDGs 8, 16, 17). With the aim of organizing joint activities, exchanging experience, providing opportunities for professional development of lecturers and internships for students of the educational programs Public Administration and Management and Management, as well as implementing joint initiatives, cooperation has been established with the Andriivka Village Military Administration, and a corresponding cooperation agreement has been signed (SDGs 4, 8, 16, 17).

The dialogue between TSATU and non-governmental organisations is implemented on the basis of relevant joint activities. The participation of scientists in a round table within the framework of the UNDP project ‘Strengthening Membership Business Associations of SMEs in Ukraine’, where issues of regulating support for SMEs, developing infrastructure and stimulating innovation were discussed, demonstrates direct dialogue to achieve SDG 8 and SDG 9. In cooperation with the NGO ‘Youth Online’ and on the basis of a signed memorandum, the programme ‘Mini-grants for education in Zaporizhzhia’ was implemented — TSATU scientists received materials for the production of printed materials in Braille for people with visual impairments as part of the initiative ‘Step towards a barrier-free information space’ (SDGs 4, 17). TSATU students took part in a discussion on the role of young people in rebuilding the state during the youth forum ‘The Role of Young People in the Restoration of Ukraine,’ which took place in Kyiv as part of the project ‘Dialogues of Victory: Youth Participation in the Restoration of Ukraine.’ The forum was organised by the non-governmental organisation ‘Youth Platform’ with the support of UNDP Ukraine, which has an impact on the achievement of SDGs 4, 16 and 17.

Dialogue with business was conducted through the signing of cooperation agreements and the organisation of joint events. In particular, the university signed a cooperation agreement with Izatex Invest Group LLC to conduct research, implement research results in practice, and improve qualifications (CSR 4, 9, 17). As part of the AgroKebets educational project, a series of meetings was held between students and teachers with an expert from PÖTTINGER UKRAINE LLC (SDGs 4, 15, 17) and the ideologist of the AgroKebets project, Alex Lissitsa (CEO of IMC). During the meetings, participants discussed topical issues of innovation in soil cultivation, EU agricultural policy, and the European Green Deal (SDGs 2, 4, 13, 17). During the “ZAPORIZHZHIA. BUSINESS NEW WAYS 2024” event, held by the Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TSATU scholars took part in a discussion of support tools and grants for businesses engaged in foreign economic activity, as well as urgent issues of ensuring exports and imports under martial law (SDGs 9, 16, 17). Online meetings between applicants to the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and a representative of MAVISTA regarding the organisation of student internships in Germany in the fields of Agronomy, Food Science and Hotel and Restaurant Management form the basis for discussing issues of youth employment and mobility based on cooperation with international companies (SDGs 4, 8, 17).

International cooperation on data collection for Sustainable Development Goals

The development of international partnerships is one of the university’s priorities, as stated in the TSATU Internationalisation Strategy for 2021-2025 and the TSATU Development Strategy for 2023-2030. TSATU is an academic partner and active participant in international cooperation on data collection and measurement for the SDGs. The university’s participation promotes international cooperation on data through the exchange of research and expertise, as well as comparative analysis. TSATU’s contribution to international cooperation on data in 2024 was carried out in the following ways:

Co-organisation of international platforms. TSATU is a co-organiser of the II International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Globalisation and Development of Innovative Systems: Trends, Challenges, Prospects’. The participation of over 200 scientists from six countries ensured the exchange of new scientific data and innovative experience for the development of the economy and innovative systems (SDGs 8, 9, 17).
Monitoring global challenges. Long-term cooperation with universities in Kazakhstan ensures the dissemination of international experience in the field of sustainable development, ESG and agribusiness. Participation of TSATU master’s and doctoral students in the International Winter School on ‘Sustainable Development and ESG: Global Challenges, National Priorities, Effective Solutions.’ The event provides for the exchange and comparative analysis of national data and best ESG practices, which is a form of contribution to international data cooperation. The training was implemented under the patronage of Farabi University (Kazakhstan), and renowned foreign scientists from the USA, Indonesia, Thailand, Serbia, China, Uzbekistan and Ukraine were invited to teach at the school, namely:

Professor Michael Brody, American University, Washington, D.C. (USA);
Professor Yossini Deliana, Padjadjaran University (Indonesia);
Professor Oleksandr Kalinin, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine);
Professor Rawipim Chaweesuk, Kasetsart University (Thailand);
Professor Lela Ristić and researcher Miloš Dimitrijević, University of Kragujevac (Serbia);
Head of POWERCHINA in Kazakhstan, *Yu Hao (China);
Associate Professor Ibragim Ganiyev, Samarkand Branch of Tashkent State University.

The speaker of the school was Nataliia Dziuba, a TSATU PhD student, head of the HRM Business Academy, owner of the Booster Development consulting company, a certified CMC consultant, and business trainer at ECF.

The training facilitated the exchange and comparative analysis of national data and best ESG practices among participants from various countries (USA, Indonesia, Serbia, China, etc.), serving as a contribution to international cooperation in the field of data.

Creation of new scientific data. TSATU researchers are active participants in the search for progressive solutions in the field of food technology. The Estonian scientific publishing house Scientific Route OÜ has published a collective monograph entitled ‘Food technology progressive solutions’, edited by Olesia Priss, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Food Technology and Hotel and Restaurant Business at TSATU. In addition to TSATU researchers, the edition was co-authored by researchers from Ukrainian higher education institutions in Lutsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kyiv, Kherson, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, and the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The research provides new scientific data on technologies aimed at food security and loss reduction, which is a direct contribution to SDG 2 and SDG 12.
Data on social sustainability. TSATU lecturers represent the interests of internally displaced persons and young people who promote their own initiatives for the benefit of local communities. While participating in the international project ‘BLUE HEARTS’ (Erasmus+) in Bucharest (Romania), V.V. Lemeshchenko-Lagoda, a lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages at TSATU, underwent training with the aim of further implementing the project’s successful practices at the university, which contributes to the formation of a productive environment for internally displaced persons to develop strategies for resilience, integration into new conditions and personal development. The project is being implemented by the NGO ‘Young Agents of Change’ in partnership with NGOs from Lithuania, Romania and Poland, with the support of the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. The training is aimed at monitoring social needs and collecting data among displaced persons in order to develop a resilience strategy (SDGs 10, 16).

Cooperation to achieve best practices in achieving SDGs

The university’s activities are aimed at analysing, adapting and implementing successful international experience (best practices) in the field of SDGs through research and cooperation. TSATU leverages international connections to review comparative approaches and further implementation of this knowledge. In 2024, several examples of successful adaptation of best practices were implemented in the following areas:

Adaptation of Crisis Response Practices.The participation of researchers in the 14th International Webinar “Preparedness and Accessibility in Emergencies/Disasters”contributes to the exchange of knowledge and the implementation of global experience in disaster preparedness, with particular attention to people with disabilities (SDGs 3, 11);
Diversification of the Rural Economy.The participation of researchers in the international training program “Diversification of the Rural Economy through the Network of Public Tourism Advisory Centers”(Tallinn University, Estonia) promotes the dissemination of best practices to raise awareness about opportunities for diversifying the rural economy through tourism in the context of recovery (SDGs 8, 11, 17);
Academic Integrity and Publications.The implementation of the course“Academic Literacy in Preparing World-Class Scientific Publications” (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) enables the adoption of European standards for scientific publishing and research ethics (SDGs 4, 16, 17);
Integration into the Global Educational Environment.TSATU has joined the initiative of the Mayor of Cambridge and the Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration to establish a partnership with King’s College, University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). The parties have agreed on promising areas of cooperation in the field of student self-government, training of students and internships for TSATU teachers in Cambridge, in particular within the framework of a summer school and online training in advanced practices (SDGs 4, 8, 16);
Professional development. Direct study of international practices has been introduced on the basis of partnerships in the field of professional development for teachers. In particular, programmes have been implemented to introduce European standards into TSATU’s internal policies:

international internships on ‘Fundraising and the basics of grant activities’ and ‘Informal education and academic integrity’, organised by the Research Institute of the Lublin Science and Technology Park and the International Foundation of Scientists and Educators (IESF), contributes to the implementation of European standards (SDGs 4, 16, 17) in TSATU’s internal policies;
implementation of a personal project entitled ‘Modern technologies and approaches to blended, hybrid and online foreign language teaching’ by V. Lemeshchenko-Lagoda, lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages, based on an individual grant supported by the European Union under the House of Europe programme. The project involves sharing the experience gained among lecturers and teachers based on the results of training courses from the British organisation NILE (Norwich Institute for Language Education) (SDGs 4, 17);
dissemination of experience in implementing innovative global practices in food technologies through the implementation of the ‘NoveFood-2024’ professional development programme at TSATU in collaboration with programme partners from leading higher education institutions (KhNTU, NUBiP, DBTU, DSAEU, LNTU) has created conditions for the exchange of new knowledge and the direct adaptation of best practices into the educational process (SDGs 2, 4, 8, 17);
dissemination of modern achievements in science and technology based on the implementation of the TechnoMay-2024 professional development programme at TSATU in collaboration with programme partners from leading higher education institutions (KhNTU, NUBiP, ChPNU, LNUNM) contributes to the dissemination of practices for using modern engineering achievements (SDGs 4, 8, 9, 17).

International cultural exchange. V. Lemeshchenko-Lagoda, lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages of TSATU, participated in the international online project ‘Bavarian Horizons – Cultural Bridges between Ukraine and Bavaria’ (Germany), which took place on 4-29 November 2024. The project covered various areas of Ukrainian-Bavarian cooperation (SDGs 4, 11, 17);
Directly contribute to the adaptation of practices in various areas of the international mobility and internship programme, namely:

in the field of tourism and hospitality through the participation of academic staff of the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Business in the III National Tourism Summit to discuss the strategy for the recovery of tourism in the country (SDGs 8, 11);
in the field of adaptation of European educational innovations through internships for TSATU teachers within the Erasmus+ VEHUB4YOU project (University of Foggia, Italy and RISEBA University, Latvia) to study innovations in education (SDGs 4, 9);
in the field of AI integration into education and science through the participation of Marketing Department academic staff in the training course ‘Artificial Intelligence in Scientific and Educational Marketing’ (Estonia) with the subsequent implementation of the acquired knowledge in the teaching activities (SDGs 4, 9).

TSATU develops partnerships with civil society and non-governmental organisations to implement projects aimed at addressing social, environmental or economic issues that are in line with the SDGs.

Joint initiatives between TSATU and non-governmental organisations help support socially vulnerable groups, women and internally displaced persons. Thanks to cooperation with the SpivDiya Charitable Foundation, TSATU students took part in a training therapy programme entitled “A Thousand Days of Mental Health. Resilience. Why is it important to plan in times of uncertainty?”, which is a unique example of partnership for achieving SDG 3 and providing social support to participants in the educational process.

A group of 23 women and girls from TSATU mastered the basics of providing first psychological aid and worked on practical exercises and techniques that can be applied in everyday life during a training workshop held at TSATU on the initiative of the charitable organisation ‘Charitable Foundation ’Strong Ukraine” (with organisational support from UN Women and OneUkraine gGmbH, which is implementing the project in Ukraine). The training has the name corresponding to the name of the project — “Empowering women to be agents of change in cities affected by war. Empowering women through offline support groups and psychoeducational training, as well as coaching to activate women’s participation in peacebuilding initiatives at the regional level in cities affected by war”(SDGs 3, 5, 16).

Based on cooperation with the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Melitopol City Council of the Zaporizhzhia region, M. Oleksandr, a lecturer at the Department of Physical Education and Sports of TSATU, is a co-organiser of sporting events to support internally displaced persons (SDGs 3, 16).

TSATU student Vlada Shmalii took part in the ‘Forum of Community Leaders. United for Victory’, which was organised by the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine) with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the ‘Media Centre’ project of the Association of Resilient Communities. One of the goals of the event is to help maintain ties with residents in temporarily occupied territories (SDG 16).

Based on the cooperation between TSATU and the Zaporizhzhia Information and Consultation Centre ‘Agro-Tavriia’, a DigiTech laboratory was opened to strengthen the digital infrastructure of the institution. The project ‘DigiTech: Improving Access to Engineering and Technical Education for Youth’ is implemented within the framework of the ‘Dream and Act’ programme, which is implemented with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and executed by IREX. The project aims to increase the accessibility of engineering and technical education for young people, in particular by overcoming gender stereotypes in the technical field (SDGs 4, 5, 8, 9).

TSATU provides with a structured Annual Sustainable Development Report, which includes both quantitative and qualitative performance indicators for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating transparency and consistent reporting practices. The 2023 Report and the 2024 Report on the university’s impact on the achievement of sustainable development goals are published in open access for a wide range of interested parties.

Availability of specialized courses (degree-awarding or elective) that address sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The university teaches a new generation of specialists to implement the principles of sustainable development in their professional field.

TSATU’s academic and educational and scientific programmes include compulsory and elective courses that explore the specifics of sustainable development. The following educational programmes are key to training specialists who are knowledgeable about SDG practices: Ecology, Food Technology, Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Geodesy and Land Management, Ecology, Economic Consulting and Business Economics, Public Management and Administration, Horticulture and Viticulture, Tourism, and Civil Defense. The fundamental principles of sustainable development are explored in the following elective disciplines: Social Responsibility, Innovative Technologies in Industries (separately for each industry within the specialisation), and Civil Protection. In addition, the university offers more than 100 courses related to specific aspects of the impact on the achievement of sustainable development goals:

Agrarian policy and information provision of agricultural production
Agrarian service and information support
Agroecology
Agrometeorology
Agronomic audit
Academic integrity and protection of intellectual property rights
Analysis and assessment of environmental risks
Life safety and basics of labor protection
Safety of food raw materials and food products
Safety of engineering systems and equipment
Bioactive food components and health
Biogeography
Bioindication and biomonitoring
Biological resources and their characteristics
Biometrics in crop production
Biotechnological processes and equipment
Construction of irrigation systems
Wind energy
Genetics and selection of agricultural crops
Geography of tourism and country studies
Geodesy and land management
Geoinformation systems in ecology
Geology with the basics of geomorphology
Geopolitics and national security
Hygiene and sanitation of food production
Hydrobiology with the basics of hydrology
Hydromelioration
Global food systems
Soil science with the basics of geology
State land management expertise
State policy and governance
State and regional administration
State land cadastre and land management examination
State control over the use and protection of land
Environmental safety
Environmental examination
Environmental audit
Environmental management
Ecology of biocenoses
Human ecology
Ecology of plants
Energy conservation and use of renewable energy sources
European integration
Balanced use of nature and modern means of environmental protection
Land management
Engineering infrastructure of territories
Innovations in socio-economic development
Innovative engineering of food enterprises
Innovative development of agricultural production
Innovative development of enterprises
Innovative technologies (by industry)
Innovation in socio-economic development
Institutional support of public authority
Commercialization of the results of scientific research
Methods of expert monetary valuation of lands
Methods of control of food production
International requirements for the safety and quality of food products
Microbiology, sanitation and hygiene of food establishments
Local self-government
Modeling and forecasting of the state of the environment
Security monitoring and expertise
Monitoring and land protection
Health and dietary nutrition
Basics of democracy
Basics of energy management and energy audit
Basics of resort science and recreation
Basic principles and requirements of the EU regarding food products
Environmental protection
Environmental impact assessment
Land valuation and registration of land plots
Public relations
Political consulting
Renewable energy sources and energy saving
Problems of production, transmission and conversion of electrical energy
Conducting population and biocenotic studies
Industrial ecology
Public policy
Public management and administration
Public performance
Rational use and protection of lands
Recreology and recreational complexes of the world
Reclamation of disturbed areas
Agricultural reclamation
Agricultural microbiology
Smart technologies in crop production
Social ecology
Socio-political studies and philosophy
Sustainable development
Standardization and product quality management
Sustainable development strategies
Technoecology
Training course “Leaders of change”
Training course: Public orientation
Environmental project management
Management of land resources
Project management in conditions of sustainable development
Territorial development management
Management of man-made and environmental safety
Management of finances of territorial communities
Urboecology

In 2024, the university organised a range of educational awareness-raising events on the SDGs for a wide range of stakeholders (the community, IDPs, local residents, etc.). The events covered a variety of topics:

to support and employ IDPs. TSATU students co-organised a Job Fair for IDPs in the Zaporizhzhia region, an event that provided IDPs with access to employment opportunities, training and legal/expert advice (SDGs 4, 8, 10);
to improve the information literacy of IDPs. The implementation of the mini-grant ‘Step towards a barrier-free information space’ for internally displaced persons (IDPs) with visual impairments is aimed at providing vulnerable groups of the population with adaptive information and communication materials that provide direct education and support (SDGs 4, 10).
to raise awareness among children and young people, student Kateryna Vlasyk joined the volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, organises and conducts game-based training sessions and master classes on first aid for children (SDG 3, 16);
for media education of communities. TSATU lecturer Denys Katiukha gave an interview to Ukrainian Radio, where he highlighted important topics of volunteering, the challenges of relocated businesses, the prospects for regional development, and the role of tourism as a key driver of economic growth in the territories.

Community education is facilitated by the implementation of the academic movement ‘Visiting Professor’ at TSATU, which creates conditions for free access to expert knowledge for a wide range of listeners. In 2024, guest lectures were held on the following topics:

Within the framework of studying individual disciplines, in particular ‘Sustainable Development Strategy’ at TSATU, a unified standardised testing system has been introduced for students based on the results of the course. For formal assessment, a final test is used, covering the interdisciplinary links between the SDGs and their application in professional activities, to assess the level of understanding of sustainable development concepts. An international assessment of awareness of the SDGs was carried out during the training of TSATU master’s and doctoral students at the International Winter School on “Sustainable Development and ESG: Global Challenges, National Priorities, Effective Solutions” included a final assessment of the achievement of program outcomes in the field of SDGs for the issuance of certificates, demonstrating the ability of students to master international ESG and SDG concepts.