On November 27, 2024, the kick-off meeting for the ReGrow project participants took place. Following a competition held by the European Commission, the Department of Industrial Engineering and Agroengineering of Khmelnytskyi National University secured the right to participate in the implementation of the project "ReGrow: Restoring Agricultural Growth in Post-Conflict Ukraine and Transitional Georgia" under Key Action 2: "Capacity Building in Higher Education" of the ERASMUS+ program. A consortium consisting of 15 participants, including 9 higher education institutions from four countries, has been formed to execute the project: Greece (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Metropolitan College), Germany (Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences), Ukraine (Sumy National Agrarian University, Khmelnytskyi National University, Polissia National University), Georgia (Georgian Technical University, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Shota Meskhia Zugdidi State University). The project duration is 36 months. The presentation of Khmelnytskyi National University and the university's project participants was given by Kateryna Skyba, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, and Vice-Rector for Research and Academic Affairs – the group leader. Project participants include V.P. Oleksandrenko, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor; A.V. Martyniuk, PhD in Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, and Head of the Department of Branch Mechanical Engineering and Agroengineering; M.M. Borys, PhD in Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the aforementioned department, and others.
The ReGrow project aims to modernise agricultural education and practical training for students. Emphasis is placed on post-conflict agricultural recovery in Ukraine through the use of precision agriculture systems to ensure the sustainable revival of the country's economy. The project's goal is to develop human potential, enhance graduates' responsiveness to labour market demands, and promote inclusive education. The project aligns with several key EU priorities:
- Green Deal: By focusing on sustainable and efficient agricultural methods of precision farming.
- Digital Transformation: By utilising advanced technologies such as GPS, data analytics, remote sensing, and digital learning platforms, the project supports digital transformation priorities.
- Sustainable Growth and Jobs: The project contributes to students acquiring the relevant skills necessary for the modern labour market, particularly in the agricultural sector. The project focuses on developing competencies that foster innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture, thus promoting economic growth and job creation.
- Quality and Relevance of Higher Education: By modernising curricula and introducing modern teaching methodologies and technologies, the project aims to improve the quality and relevance of higher education for the labour market and society.