Materials and News «Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities» (2025)
COMPETITION OF SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE, PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS AND STUDENT INITIATIVES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE “GREEN CAMPUS STRATEGIES” PROJECT
During June 2025, a competition for scientific excellence, pedagogical skills and student initiatives was held at Sumy State University within the framework of the international educational project Jean Monnet “Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities” (101085427 – GCAM – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH). The event brought together more than 70 participants, including 20 teachers, 20 scientists and 30 students, who presented their ideas and developments aimed at forming a “green” university environment.
Competition nominations
1. “The best research on climate neutrality and its potential for greening university life”
This category presented scientific articles and analytical works on ways to achieve climate neutrality and adapt universities to European environmental standards.
Nominees and their works
2. “Green Educational Initiatives”
University teachers presented their own educational practices and methodological developments aimed at integrating the principles of sustainable development into the educational process.
Contest participants
3. “Students for Greening Campuses”
As part of the student initiative, a poster competition on environmental topics was held, scientific papers were presented, and articles were prepared that revealed current aspects of “green” changes. Young people demonstrated creativity in combining scientific approaches and practical solutions for greening the university environment.
Student works
The competition became a platform for the exchange of ideas between teachers, researchers and students, and also contributed to the formation of a common vision of the “green future” of the university. The presented developments showed that the integration of European practices into teaching and research activities has significant potential for the transformation of the educational space of Ukraine. The event once again confirmed that universities can be “living laboratories of change”, where new ideas move from theory to practical implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A GREEN CAMPUS: EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINIAN UNIVERSITIES
On April 16, 2025, Olena CHYGRYN and Dmytro LAZNENKO held a seminar-discussion dedicated to the implementation of an environmental management system in universities.
The event was held within the framework of the Jean Monnet Module project “Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities” (101085427 — GCAM — ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH).
During the event, participants learned that universities can and should go beyond the basic requirements of environmental legislation and take on voluntary commitments in the field of sustainable development. It is for this purpose that an environmental management system (EMS) is being created, which complies with the international standards ISO 14001:2015.
The main topics of discussion were:
- benefits for the university from implementing EMS (reducing resource costs, increasing energy efficiency, improving image and competitiveness);
- the principle of continuous improvement (PDCA model: “Plan – Do – Check – Act”), which allows for systematically reducing negative environmental impact;
- approaches to managing direct (energy consumption, water, materials, waste generation) and indirect impacts (research results, professional activities of graduates);
- the role of university management in the formation and implementation of environmental policy;
- expectations of stakeholders – from students and teachers to local communities and international partners.
Special attention was paid to the formation of an environmental culture among students and staff, because it is universities that act as centers for the dissemination of knowledge and practices that contribute to sustainable development.
The event became an important step towards creating a holistic roadmap for the “green” development of Ukrainian universities, based on European practices of environmental management.
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT OF THE UNIVERSITY
On March 12, 2025, Sumy State University hosted a scientific-practical seminar within the framework of the Jean Monnet project “Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities” (101085427 — GCAM — ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH), dedicated to the assessment of the ecological footprint of universities.
Speakers – Olena CHYGRYN, Dmytro LAZNENKO.
The seminar gathered lecturers, researchers, and students to discuss:
- the methodology of calculating the ecological footprint in the university environment;
- the impact of educational institutions on the consumption of energy, water, paper, and other resources;
- international approaches to reducing environmental load in accordance with EU standards;
- practices of integrating footprint assessment results into university sustainable development strategies.
It was emphasized that the ecological footprint is an indicator of a university’s responsibility to society and nature. Regular measurement allows identifying the most resource-intensive areas of activity and developing effective mechanisms for their optimization.
The participants concluded that reducing the ecological footprint of universities is possible through:
- the development of sustainable infrastructure;
- the implementation of energy management and resource efficiency systems;
- the promotion of a “green campus” culture among students and staff.
The seminar marked another step towards integrating the best European practices into the activities of Ukrainian universities. It was highlighted that a systematic approach to ecological footprint assessment not only helps optimize university expenses but also builds a positive image of the institution as a leader in sustainable development.
PARTICIPATION IN THE WINTER SCHOOL "EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL: CHALLENGES FOR UKRAINE"
On February 27, 2025, Olena CHYGRYN participated in the Winter School “European Green Deal: Challenges for Ukraine”.
Her presentation was dedicated to the processes of achieving the goals of the European Green Deal, not only through the implementation of innovative technologies but also by fostering an environmental culture through effective communication strategies.
She highlighted examples from innovative companies that demonstrate how green marketing can educate consumers towards sustainable development. An important point emphasized was that similar approaches should also be applied within universities – from promoting waste sorting to developing “green” educational programs and student initiatives.
Within the GCAM project (Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities), ecological marketing is considered a tool for:
- spreading the values of a “green campus” among students and faculty;
- supporting the introduction of energy-efficient technologies and sustainable practices in higher education;
- creating a positive image of the university as a driver of ecological change in society.
The presentation confirmed that integrating marketing tools into the educational environment is a powerful step towards ensuring that both universities and society move in the direction of sustainable development. The Winter School became another platform for disseminating the ideas of “Green Campus Strategies” among students and researchers, laying the foundation for a “green” future of Ukrainian universities.
STUDENTS' ECO-POSTER PRESENTATIONS
As part of the project “Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities”, a presentation of student eco-posters on the topic of sustainable development and greening of university life was held on February 12, 2025, with marketing students taking an active part.
The presentation aimed to raise students’ environmental awareness and promote “green” practices on campus. Through the visual language of posters, students conveyed their vision of pressing environmental issues and proposed solutions at both the university and local levels.
Key themes of the posters included:
- Reducing plastic consumption and introducing waste separation systems.
- Rational use of energy and resources in everyday campus life.
- Green zones of the university: ideas for landscaping and creating student-friendly eco-spaces.
- Promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle among young people.
The student works sparked keen interest and became a platform for discussing new environmental initiatives that could be integrated into the university’s activities. Organizers highlighted the creativity, relevance, and social importance of the presented ideas.
The event marked another step in developing the “green” culture at SumDU and reaffirmed that students are the driving force in shaping an environmentally responsible university.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OF UNIVERSITIES: EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINE
As part of the Jean Monnet project “Green Campus Strategies: EU Experience for Ukrainian Universities” (101085427 — GCAM — ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH), a seminar on “Green Infrastructure of Universities” was held on February 6, 2025.
Speakers – Olena CHYGRYN, Yuriy BILAN
Key Topics
During the seminar, participants discussed essential aspects of developing sustainable university campus infrastructure in line with modern European practices. Special attention was given to:
- principles of energy efficiency and resource conservation in university buildings;
- creation of green areas and recreational spaces that improve the comfort of students and staff;
- integration of renewable energy sources;
- development of sustainable transport: bicycle parking, charging stations, and pedestrian zones;
- application of digital technologies to monitor resource consumption and promote environmental responsibility.
Discussions and Outcomes
The seminar emphasized that green infrastructure is an integral part of both environmental and educational policies of universities. The role of student initiatives in advancing sustainability was highlighted, along with the importance of cooperation between researchers, technical staff, and administration.
As a result of the discussion, participants proposed steps for a university roadmap on green infrastructure development, including:
- conducting an energy audit of university buildings;
- establishing a waste separation system;
- developing a campus greening plan;
- introducing a system of environmental monitoring.
Significance for the University
The seminar served as an important platform for knowledge sharing and experience exchange, reinforcing the relevance of integrating European practices into the development of “green campuses” in Ukraine.