● Funding: The project is financed under the Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary - Slovakia - Romania - Ukraine Programme:
- Total budget: EUR 803,765.42.
- EU grant: EUR 723,388.87.
● Implementation period: April 15, 2025 - April 14, 2027.
○ European Union technical assistance donor:
Leading authority: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
○ Lead project partner:
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (Košice, Slovakia).
○ Project partners:
1. State University “Uzhhorod National University” (Uzhhorod, Ukraine).
2. Institute of Development of Carpathian Region (Uzhhorod, Ukraine).
○ Project beneficiary:
Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration (Uzhhorod, Ukraine).
The main goal of the project: development of environmental competencies and dissemination of environmental knowledge about the state of nature and the need for its protection, among the inhabitants of the selected cross-border regions in Slovakia, Ukraine. Outdoor educational activities can initiate interest of young generation as potential future scientists.
Specific objectives of the Project:
- Bring the nature close to people – еducational trails in a nature - create opportunity to work in nature. Hands on science and experience learning with focus on inquiry education as tool for innovative learning process, that could increase the interesting of young people in the area of ecological problem solving through knowledge-sharing activities in the field of environment and nature protection.
- Form new community of future scientists–create the network of cooperating universities in Slovakia, Ukraine aimed at educating a possible future scientist with extensive competencies and comprehensive view of ecological and environmental problems, including biodiversity protection, control of certain invasive species and their risks to human health. Cooperation of the involved educational institutions with other schools as well as thematic information campaigns /school events/ for pupils or public.
- Develop environmental, ecological competencies of all target groups with connection to digital requirements of society-creation of shared scientific databases and trainings on their use, increasing of digital skills and competencies together with language sharing within the community creating information content about the current state of biodiversity in the Latorytsia basin, its main threats, and ways to address these issues.
Why is this important?
Environmental problems are global in scope, and education helps create a collaborative, cross-border community of knowledgeable people who can work together to address these challenges. A network of laboratories supported by education can lead to a common effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Education can lead to a change in attitudes and behaviour towards the environment. By instilling a sense of responsibility and providing the tools to make more sustainable decisions, education can lead to a more environmentally conscious society. Education ensures that future generations are prepared to meet the environmental challenges they will inherit. By instilling early values for environmental protection, education helps to shape future generations to make decisions towards sustainable development.
Our expectations:
The results of the project studies implemented during outdoor activities will be published and presented in virtual laboratory databases and eco-educational events for inhabitants of the nearest regions. Network of educational institutions collaborating in the eco-educational program with focus on spreading the EFFUSE idea, which is based on environmental scientific education will be created.
