From October 2024 to April 2025, teachers and students at the Department of Technological and Professional Education, Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University took part in a large-scale educational initiative – the international internship program “Leadership in Academia: Strategies for Professional Growth and Leadership”.
The program was implemented with the support of Middle Tennessee State University (USA), Austin Peay State University and the educational platform “STEM with Ukraine” aimed to develop key leadership, communicative and intercultural competencies among young educators, scientists and future leaders.
The program included six online lectures in English focused on the formation of strategic thinking, the development of emotional intelligence and the ability to interact effectively in a globalized academic environment:
1. “Networking and Relationship Building” (building effective professional relationships);
2. “Growth Mindset” (forming an attitude towards continuous development);
3. “Emotional Intelligence” (awareness and regulation of emotions, development of empathy);
4. “Time Management” (methods of effective time management and personal productivity);
5. “Responsibility Delegation” (delegation of responsibilities, team interaction); 6. “Shared Experiences” (sharing experiences, reflection and analysis of best practices).
Several students who took part in the training (Iryna Lavriv, Vitaliy Oleksiuk, Diana Fidyk and Alina Dobryanska) showed a high level of academic motivation, adequate command of English and a desire for international professional growth.
The participation of Professor Ivan Nyschak was due to the need to integrate the latest pedagogical approaches into student training and expand professional competencies in accordance with the requirements of modern realities.
In general, the program became an important milestone for the professional development of young teachers and scientists, as it contributed to the development of English-language communication in an academic context, the formation of global thinking and network connections, increased psychological resilience, flexibility of thinking and self-reflection, and enhanced academic mobility as an important tool for integration into the European and global educational space.
Afterwards, the participants shared their impressions of the international internship:
Professor Ivan Nyschak: “Participating in the program “Leadership in Academia: Strategies for Professional Growth and Leadership” was an extremely valuable experience for me personaly. It was a unique opportunity not only to deepen my knowledge in the field of leadership, but also to exchange ideas with colleagues from other countries, which allowed me to broaden my understanding of current trends in higher education.
Communication with representatives of other universities was extremely inspiring. I had the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by educators in different countries and learn about innovative approaches to overcoming them. Such interaction not only broadened my professional horizons, but also outlined new ideas for integration in my own educational practice.
Overall, participation in the program was an important step in my professional development. I am confident that the knowledge and skills gained will help me not only in my personal development, but also in preparing our students for the challenges of today, which require the integration of the latest pedagogical approaches into the educational process”.
Iryna Lavriv: “This course was a real discovery for me. I realized how important it is to be able to build professional relationships, work on yourself and not be afraid to take responsibility. The topic “Emotional Intelligence” was especially useful for me, as I learned to better understand myself and others, and this already helps in everyday life and studies.”
Vitaliy Oleksiuk: “Thanks to the course, I learned how to effectively plan my time, resolve conflicts in a team, and delegate responsibilities. This is very practical knowledge that I already use when working on educational projects. Special thanks to the teachers for their support and inspiration!”
Diana Fidyk: “Participating in the program allowed me to feel like a part of an international academic community. The lectures were very informative and accessible, and communicating in English gave me confidence in my own abilities. Now I clearly see that leadership is not just a position, but a style of thinking and a way of acting.”
Alina Dobryanska: “This course was a great opportunity to broaden my horizons, get to know new people and teaching methods. Participating in such an international project is not only about learning, but also about developing confidence, independence, and critical thinking. I recommend that all students participate in such programs!”
The course platform and lecture recordings are available for viewing on YouTube-channel STEM with Ukraine and official website: https://sites.google.com/view/stemwithukraine/home.
