Oksana Poliakova, Associate Professor at the Department of Physical Education at NTU «KhPI,» became one of four delegates from Ukraine who participated in the international Erasmus+ project «Motivate Youth». As a result of the program, she obtained the qualification of a certified international mentor. During the seven-day training in the Portuguese city of Braga, the representative from NTU «KhPI», along with colleagues from seven European countries, mastered modern methods of leadership development through sports. An important practical component was an internship at the renowned football club Sporting Clube de Braga.
Following the results of the national selection process, Oksana Poliakova, an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education at the Educational and Scientific Institute of Social and Humanitarian Technologies of the Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute (NTU «KhPI»), participated in the international Erasmus+ project «Motivate Youth» Working as part of an international team brought together participants from Portugal, Ukraine, Spain, Romania, and Turkey. The project took place from April 19 to 25, 2026, in Braga, Portugal. The event’s program included intensive work in the form of master classes, workshops, and practical sessions. Participants focused on developing modern approaches to youth motivation, fostering leadership skills, and using sports as a tool for social integration. Particular attention was paid to mentoring and psychological support for young people. An important practical component of the project was an internship at the renowned Sporting Clube de Braga football club, which provided an in-depth look at European standards for organizing the training process, athlete motivation systems, and modern management approaches in sports.
Following the program, Oksana Poliakova, a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education at Kharkiv Polytechnic, earned the qualification of mentor for the «Motivate Youth». Now, these innovative methods will become part of life at NTU «KhPI». «This opens up new opportunities for the development of our student community,» Oksana emphasizes. «Starting with two mandatory project events for university students, I plan to continue implementing this knowledge into the educational and scientific processes at NTU «KhPI» Oksana Poliakova thanked the management of NTU «KhPI» for supporting faculty participation in international projects, fostering academic mobility, and creating conditions for faculty professional growth. As a result of the program, Oksana Poliakova, a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education at Kharkiv Polytechnic, obtained the qualification of mentor for the «Motivate Youth» project. Now, innovative methodologies will become part of life at NTU «KhPI». «This opens up new opportunities for the development of our student community,» Oksana emphasizes. «Starting with two mandatory project events for university students, I plan to continue implementing this knowledge into the educational and scientific processes at NTU «KhPI». Oksana Poliakova thanked the leadership of NTU «KhPI» for supporting faculty participation in international projects, developing academic mobility, and creating conditions for professional growth of lecturers.
Note:
Erasmus+ is an EU program launched in 2014 that supports education, youth, sports, and international cooperation by providing opportunities for study, internships, and knowledge exchange. The project «Motivate Youth» is Erasmus+ is an EU program launched in 2014 that supports education, youth, sports, and international cooperation by providing opportunities for learning, internships, and knowledge exchange.
The «Motivate Youth» project is a European initiative that has been co-funded by Erasmus+ since 2022 and is implemented within the framework of partnerships in the youth sector (KA220-YOU). It aims to increase youth motivation, develop their skills and social engagement through mentoring, educational tools, and international cooperation among organizations from various European countries.