On 21–22 May 2026, APP hosted 16th International Scientific and Practical Conference on Sociology, Social Work and Social Welfare: Regulation of Social Problems, dedicated to the 210th anniversary of the University.
As part of the conference, a special section entitled Forced Displacement and Migration in the Context of the War Against Russia in Ukraine: A Trauma-Oriented Approach (section 1) brought together researchers, practitioners, and members of the academic community to discuss the pressing challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) and migrants during wartime. The section was moderated by Associate Professors of the Department of Sociology and Social Work at APP, Sofia Stavkova and Mariana Shkoliar, together with Olena Butylina, Associate Professor at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
Tetiana Shapovalova, Project Manager of the project The Universities’ Reaction to Big Obstructions: Building resilient higher education to respond and manage societal crises (TURBO), delivered a presentation entitled Universities as Crisis Centres of Resilience: Experience in Creating an Adaptive Educational Ecosystem for Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine. The presentation outlined an institutional model of a university as a resilience hub that combines educational activities with social integration and psychological support for IDPs. Among the project’s key outcomes, 82% of participants reported a positive therapeutic impact of the programme, while the soft skills module was identified as the most beneficial component for social integration.
Romana Myshok, Doctor of Philosophy, Senior Lecturer and member of the TURBO project team, presented the report The Use of Digital Technologies in the Professional Retraining of Internally Displaced Persons: on the Example of the TURBO Project. Her presentation highlighted the role of digital tools in expanding access to quality professional retraining opportunities for IDPs and enhancing the effectiveness of educational programmes during times of crisis.
Mariana Shkoliar and Uliana Yatsyshyn, Candidates of Political Sciences, Associate Professors, and members of the TURBO project team, delivered a joint presentation entitled The University as a Space for Reintegration: Institutional Readiness and Practical Experience in Adapting Veterans and Internally Displaced Persons. The speakers addressed the capacity of higher education institutions to foster inclusive environments that would support the reintegration of veterans and IDPs and shared practical insights gained through the implementation of the TURBO project.
The participation of the TURBO team in the conference contributed to the wider dissemination of the project’s results within the academic community, fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, and facilitated the exchange of experience among researchers and practitioners working to support internally displaced persons and veterans in wartime conditions.
This project has received funding from the European Union under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme (ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE), Grant Agreement No. 101129315.
