National Technical University «KhPI» took part in the QS Higher Ed Summit: Europe 2024. This authoritative summit, held in Barcelona, brought together more than four hundred leaders of European higher education. The theme of the event: «Changemakers in sustainability: New visions of Europe higher education by empowering young minds». The report of Gennadiy Khrypunov, vice-rector of NTU «KhPI», who spoke at the plenary session of the event, was devoted to the sustainable development of Kharkiv Polytechnic in the conditions of war. He presented a comprehensive program of the university with innovative, educational and scientific projects of the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», which, despite the war, allow the university to continue its successful integration into the European educational space. Among them are the DSG:2 double diploma program with the University of Magdeburg, the Innovation Campus for training IT specialists, and an international project on alternative energy. The presented report of NTU «KhPI» aroused the interest of international partners. In particular, negotiations were held with representatives of universities in Spain, Germany, Lithuania, and Hungary on cooperation within the framework of Erasmus projects on student mobility. In addition, meetings were held with potential partners for the education of foreign students.
The report «Kharkiv Polytechnic: Sustainable Development in the Conditions of War» was presented at the plenary session of the QS Higher Ed Summit: Europe 2024 – the QS Higher Education Summit: Europe 2024 «Changemakers in sustainability: New visions of Europe higher education by empowering young minds». It presented a comprehensive program that is being implemented in the educational and scientific spheres for the sustainable development of Kharkiv Polytechnic. On behalf of Yevgen Sokol, rector of NTU «KhPI», the report was presented by Gennadiy Khrypunov, vice-rector for international relations of Kharkiv Polytechnic.
In particular, at the summit, one of the main educational innovations of the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute was presented – the DSG:2 double diploma program with the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg (Germany), which started in 2022. This project was created to support Ukrainian refugees who were forced to leave Ukraine and now live in Germany or other EU countries. In October 2023, 38 first students of various specialties from Kharkiv Polytechnic started their studies under this program at a German university.
Another important component of Kharkiv Polytechnic’s sustainable development program is the international educational project «Sustainable and Renewable Energy. Fundamentals», which was started in 2022-2023 as part of a small public diplomacy grant from the US Embassy. As a result of its implementation, in May 2024, the first graduation of the master’s degree program in the new innovative educational and scientific program «Sustainable and Renewable Energy: Electrical Engineering and Microelectronics» took place at the NTU «KhPI».
In addition, together with the leading higher education institutions of Ukraine, NTU «KhPI» signed a Memorandum on the establishment of the Scientific and Educational Platform «Three Seas Initiative – Ukraine». The implementation of this agreement will help to intensify research and development, startup movement, as well as attract other universities, research institutes, business structures, etc.
A charity project for the restoration and innovative development of Kharkiv Polytechnic «Starry Sky of KhPI» is also being actively implemented. Anyone who cares about the future of NTU «KhPI» can become a participant. Everyone has a unique opportunity to light their own star in the «Starry Sky of KhPI» by transferring funds to support the university.
Despite the war, the innovative structure that unites the research department, the Startup Center «Spark» and the Science Park of NTU «KhPI» continues to successfully commercialize the results of scientific research of Kharkiv Polytechnic scientists. For the reconstruction of Kharkiv, scientists of NTU «KhPI» have also developed a comprehensive project «Kharkiv Energy Efficient».
The report at the QS Higher Ed Summit: Europe 2024 also presented a unique program for training IT specialists at the Innovation Campus of NTU «KhPI», which was awarded the world «silver» in education. It was ranked second among the best projects in Europe at the QS-Wharton Reimagine Education Awards 2022. In addition, NTU «KhPI» traditionally holds the International Scientific and Practical Conference «Information Technology: Science, Engineering, Technology, Education, Health (MicroCAD)», which has been attended by Laureates of the Nobel Prize for the third year in a row. Seventy-two educational and research projects are being actively implemented at the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, forty-eight of which are under the Erasmus academic mobility program. This allows Kharkiv Polytechnic to continue the path of innovative development and successfully integrate into the European educational and scientific space.
The presented report aroused the interest of international partners in cooperation with the NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute». In particular, Gennadiy Khrypunov, vice-rector of NTU «KhPI», held working meetings with the administration of the international relations department of such higher education institutions as: Vytatas Magnus University (Kaunas, Lithuania), IU International University of Applied Science (Berlin, Germany), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Budapest, Hungary), University of Gyor (Gyor, Hungary), Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya. Barcelonatech (Barcelona, Spain). The topic of the negotiations was the preparation of new projects under the Erasmus program, the possibility of launching double master’s diploma programs for Ukrainian students. A fruitful conversation also took place with potential partners in the education of foreign students Taylors University (Subang Jaya, Malaysia) and Separat Barat Road (Maharashtra, India), where the possibility of launching double master’s diploma programs for foreign students was also discussed.
Note:
The QS Higher Education Summit: Europe 2024 «Changemakers in sustainability: New visions of Europe higher education by empowering young minds» was held on 11-12 July 2024 in Barcelona (Spain). It was attended by more than 400 leaders of European higher education.
QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics and insights to the global higher education sector. The company’s mission is to enable motivated people anywhere in the world to realize their potential through educational achievement, international mobility and career development. QS is committed to helping higher education institutions around the world achieve excellence and global recognition through innovative and engaging conferences that showcase industry insights delivered by renowned and experienced speakers. QS is well known worldwide for its prestigious QS World University Rankings. We should note that NTU «KhPI» has been included in this list for 12 years in a row. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute» was ranked fourth among Ukrainian universities.