The Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas is implementing the project eMS  - 730 eDigiStars – “Building of digital entrepreneurial capacities of the elderly through the innovative training system” within “Interreg - Danube Transnational Programme”.

The main main objective of the project is to expand capacities of the elderly at the digital labor market for increasing self-employment, organizing qualified personnel with new digital competencies for business and social needs by ensuring the sustainability of innovation ecosystems at the territory of Danube Region. The achievement of the main aim provides the realization of the following tasks:

- to organize a sustainable ecosystem that will enable people at the age of 51+ to become providers of digital services (even basic) for employers;

- to develop and adapt the innovative training systems for the formation of digital business and social competencies;

- to create confidence of industry and business representatives to the digital competence of people at the age of 51+;

- to form digital self-employment of persons of this age category through certification and ensuring the quality of their work.

The leading partner of the project is a public organization for business development - "Innoskart" (Hungary) and 13 following partners from 8 countries: Central Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency (Hungary); PRIZNA Foundation for Improvement of Employment Possibilities (Slovenia); City Municipality of Maribor (Slovenia); Business Agency Association (Bulgaria); Bulgarian Industrial Association - Union of the Bulgarian Business (Bulgaria); Business Upper Austria – Plastics Cluster (Austria); Municipality of the capital city Prague (Czech Republic); Development Agency of Serbia (Bosnia and Herzegovina); DEXIC Innovation Centre (Czech Republic); Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas; European Centre for Socio-Professional Integration (Romania); Romanian job market (Romania); National Employment Agency (Bulgaria).

The following associated partners are involved in the implementation and adaptation of the results: Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Employment Center (Ukraine), Vocational Training Center (Hungary), Network of Employment Centers (Austria), Fifty + (Czech Republic), Employment Service of Slovenia, Maribor Regional Office (Slovenia).

The implementation of the project will last 30 months (from 01.07.2020 until 31.12.2022). In accordance with these terms, a communication plan of the project is developed and a research of stakeholders (related participants) of its implementation is practiced. Besides, long and short list of territorial and advisory groups for development of the main tools of the project is generated, negotiations with potential members of the advisory group in the Ivano-Frankivsk region are held and Declarations are signed. The employment status of people at the age of 51+, their digital competencies and existing training programs for them are also studied. On this basis, a project Strategies for the Development of Digital Competences of People at the age of 51+ in the Danube Region is developed and presented.

For a second year running the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas implements the project “Cross-Border Network of Energy Sustainable Universities” (NET4SENERGY), which aims to teach leading universities of the cross-border region HUSKROUA proactively manage the energy resources at the institutional level for overcoming climate changes.

Implementation of the project involves a number of actions, including: creation of own action plans for sustainable energy development, pilot installations on renewable energy sources with real cost savings for the institution (we have already installed a pilot system of energy monitoring and demonstration solar power plant in one of the university’s buildings), research of joint training programs, interchanges of the best practices in the field of energy efficiency and energy saving, etc.

According to the project implementation plan, mutual online visits between the project partner universities will be held during March-May 2021 (IFNTUOG; Technical University of Košice, Slovakia; University of Miskolc, Hungary; Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, North University Center of Baia Mare, Romania).

The first online visit of the University of Miskolc united almost 40 participants from four universities. IFNTUOG was represented by 13 participants, which joined the event, including students from the Institute of Information Technologies, the Institute of Architecture, Construction and Power Engineering, the Institute of Petroleum Engineering and the Institute of Tourism and Geosciences.

The event program included a presentation of the best practices of Hungary in the field of energy efficiency and energy saving; analysis of the basic concepts and terms of energy management were introduced by Ágnes Kádár. Zsolt Péter told about the peculiarities of energy consumption at the University of Miskolc. An interesting part of the event was a parallel SWOT-analysis of the project partner universities in the field of energy consumption and energy management.

Schedule of the next online visits.

The main task of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas is to provide with high quality educational services both Ukrainians and students from other countries, because almost every 30 student of the university is a foreigner.  Therefore, the main duty of IFNTUOG staff is to show maximum professionalism so that students coming from other countries feel comfortable.

Our university has modern facilities and equipment for training qualified professionals of international recognition. Technologically advanced laboratories operates in IFNTUOG, such as “SIEMENS” hardware; cement slurries; automated control and technical telecommunication systems “Phoenix-Contact”;  “Smart Technologies”; “Internet of things” and also “IT Academy”.

The university tries to make students’ life easy and comfortable, cares about good hostel conditions. Besides, IFNTUOG has facilities for internship, training and laboratory buildings and leisure center.

The university teachers help international students to adapt in a new country, better understand its citizens, learn the Ukrainian language faster through various events (excursions, evening parties, national celebrations), which they organize. International students always participate in amateur activities, all-Ukrainian competitions, flash mobs, research and cultural work not only of the university, but also of the city and the region.  For example, Franque Francisco Mpuati Ranque, a student from Angola won a third place in the contest among international students for the best photo, video or slogan about studies in Ukraine, jointly organized by MES of Ukraine and the Ukrainian State Center for International Education. A citizen of Congo, M’boro Bernard-Christian has repeatedly won all-Ukrainian dance competitions and we are proud of Bahi Gueye Gildas from Côte d’Ivoire, winner in running.

The students of the Center for International Education: Samuel Gyasi, Abdalqadir Samrang Smko and Mouliom Yasmine Mbouhouap Salamata shared their opinions about studies in IFNTUOG.

When asked “Why did you come from Ghana in IFNTUOG?”, student Samuel Gyasi answers: “I, like any other applicant, always wanted to learn from the best professionals in the country! I thought for a long time about what technical university to choose and chose this one. Now I get new knowledge here, improve skills, think about future career, learn new and very interesting Ukrainian language and meet new people.”

Abdalqadir Samrang Smko from Iraq has been living in Ivano-Frankivsk for four years. He had a dream – to become an engineer in oil and gas industry. When he found out about our university, understood that this is a chance to make a dream come true. “The university has professional staff, great opportunities to acquire practical skills and tuition fee is affordable”.

A student from Cameroon, Mouliom Yasmine Mbouhouap Salamata tells that she was choosing the university seriously. She analyzed the benefits of study at different universities, the choice was simple: “My friends often ask me, why did I choose IFNTUOG? It’s very simple: there is an individual approach to every student here, high academic standards and well-organized learning process. The university provides favorable conditions for learning: always interesting and informative classes, modern laboratories, a drilling center, etc. Teachers often motivate and support students, that is very important for foreigners. There is also positive competition between students. Moreover, you can attend various sport sections or clubs ”.

More about how foreign students live in Ivano-Frankivsk read in the article WestNews.