Inclusive Leadership Training Inspires Ukrainian Academics
A 30-hour professional online development course, “Inclusive Leadership in Academia through Cultural Immersion,” held from October 28th to November 8th, has successfully concluded, empowering 40 educators and inclusion workers from Ukrainian and overseas institutions.
The course, designed to cultivate leadership qualities and EDI awareness, prepared participants to create inclusive learning environments. By delving into concepts of gender, disability, age, cultural background, and other categories of difference, participants learned to design courses that cater to diverse student needs. The key training sessions focused on:
- Leadership and EDI in Academia
- Gender and Intersectionality
- Inclusive Course Design
- Inclusive Teaching Practices through Cultural Immersion
- Promoting and Measuring Student Success
- Redesigning a Module with an Intersectional Perspective
Participants from diverse academic backgrounds, ranging from humanities to STEM fields, and representing institutions such as Mariupol State University, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Germany), Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Zaporizhzhia National University, Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, Poltava University of Economics and Trade, Uzhhorod National University, Ivan Honchar Museum National Centre of Folk Culture, attended the course.
Through interactive discussions and hands-on exercises, trainees explored innovative teaching methods, including those inspired by art and cultural immersion. They also shared their insights on course design and delivery and jointly developed inclusive teaching strategies and practices for their future courses. To recognise their dedication and active participation trainees were awarded certificates from the MSU Human Potential Development Centre.
This transformative experience has positioned participants as leaders in creating a more inclusive and equitable higher education landscape in Ukraine.
Comments from participants:
‘I appreciated the breadth of topics covered; however, the examination of inclusion in education was particularly relevant for my work’
‘During the course, I myself got rid of certain stereotypes…’
‘I realised the importance of using different mediums, or example, art, to develop empathy and understanding’
Collaborative event on Women’s Leadership
Stella Gonzalez-Arnal delivered the presentation ‘Intersectionality and Women’s Leadership at Academia and Beyond’ on 27th of May 2025 at the workshop Leadership and Community Development celebrated at the University of Hull. This workshop is part of a British Council funded project entitled ‘Community participation for the civic university: Mariupol State University, University of Hull and community partnership’ led by Dr.Katherine Wynne and funded by the British Council. The event brought together academics from University of Hull and Mariupol State University, NGOs representatives and women leaders from Mariupol currently residing in Hull. They discussed how to enhance women’s leadership and entrepreneurship in the context of displacement. This collaboration establishes a collaboration between participants in two projects funded by the British council and illustrates the close engagement between the University of Hull and Mariupol State University.
Research workshop at the University of Hull
The research workshop on trauma and post-war recovery with Mariupol State University, took place from 2-3 July 2024. This was hosted by the Global Engagement Office, University of Hull.
Academics from the University of Hull and Mariupol State University attended the event. They explored synergies for future collaboration on trauma and post-war recovery.
Dr Stella Gonzalez-Arnal delivered a presentation at the plenary meeting presentation on the 2nd of July, entitled ‘Beyond Displacement/Exile: Building a Future for Women Leaders in Academia’