On 9 July 2025, the kick-off online meeting of the international project “MERIT-Ukraine: Mechatronics, Energy, Robotics, and Innovation Technologies with Ukraine” (sub-project: Energy) was held. The project is supported by the new programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) “German-Ukrainian University Network” (2025–2029).
The project coordinator is Leibniz University Hannover, and the initiative is being implemented in partnership with two Ukrainian technical universities: the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” and Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Overall objectives of the Project MERIT-Ukraine:
- establish a sustainable German-Ukrainian academic partnership in Energy Technology, Power Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence;
- leverage advanced infrastructure and educationaI expertise of all partners to address urgent and socially relevant topics that are crucial for sustainable cooperation and essential for Ukraine's recovery as well as for European security and integration;
- initiate exchange within Masters' programmes in Renewable Energy, Electric Power Engineering, and Al-driven Mechatronics and Robotics, thereby facilitating academic collaboration in teaching and learning;
- support the engagement of Ukrainian students and faculties, ensuring the continuity of education despite the war and provide equal opportunities for male and female students and young researchers by offering various formats.
In the Energy sub-project, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is represented by the Educational and Research Institute of Energy Saving and Energy Management (IEE) and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Automation.
During the kick-off online meeting, the participants of the MERIT-Ukraine project were welcomed by Vice-Rector for International Relations Andrii Shysholin, who emphasised the importance of international partnerships in strengthening the quality of engineering education in Ukraine during martial law. On behalf of Leibniz University Hannover, presentations were delivered by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Ponick, leader of the Energy sub-project, and Nataliya Butych, Project Coordinator from the International Office.
The event was attended by representatives of the IEE of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute: Head of the Department of Power Supply, Olena Borychenko; Head of the Department of Automation of Electrical and Mechatronic Complexes, Sergii Boichenko; Head of the Training Centre for Energy Managers, Anatolii Cherniavskyi; Academic Mobility Coordinator at the IEE, Yuliia Chernetska, as well as teachers, scientists, and postgraduate students. The participants presented educational programmes under the speciality G3 Electrical Engineering (according to the updated list of fields of knowledge and specialities approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 21.02.2025 No. 188), and discussed the next steps for the successful implementation of the MERIT-Ukraine project.
The participation of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in the MERIT-Ukraine project is an important step towards the internationalisation of educational programmes, the strengthening of scientific cooperation between Ukrainian and German universities, and the creation of new opportunities for academic mobility for students and faculty staff.
