Good luck to the Crimean group!

We hope you will enjoy the project as much as we did.


xox
Darek, Jakov, Magda, Sarah, Sasha, Vita

Last suitcase day

The fifth day of the project welcomed us in a charming and colorful Melitopol. During the discussion with students of the State Pedagogical University we had to tackle plenty of their doubts on the slowness of the process of Ukraine’s eurointegration. Our task was to rather pluck them out from negativity and kind of self-pitting. As our inspirational speeches were greeted with a great enthusiasm most of the times, I arrived at the conclusion that our mission here has been fully completed.

I was also very much enjoying the time in Berdyansk, where we arrived late afternoon. What really attracted me during the meeting with high school students that day, was their immense activity and curiosity. They were the very first group getting enough courage to ask us inconvenient and troublesome questions. We stirred the very serious subjects, such as communism, nazism and its heritage in contemporary world. On the other hand, they were not afraid to inquire about our private experiences and hobbies. Unofficial atmosphere of the debate brought us a lot of satisfaction and – hopefully – allowed for our audience to better understand issues happening currently in Europe.

After the meetingm we had a good fortune to spend a magnificent evening at the seaside, drinking wine, chatting and laughing a lot. We left Berdyansk tired, but with great remembrances and many stories to tell.

DK

Jakov's day 4

On Thursday morning we moved to Vasylivka, a small town in the region of Zaporizhya where we met with pupils from a college. After that meeting we moved to Tokmak - a city south of Vasylivka. We met there with younger pupils from a high school. Bearing in mind our slogan  “Be Ukrainian, feel European” we started the meetings with a Euro-game. From my point of view it was really useful as we were able to get a feeling how much they knew about Europe and EU. During both meetings the pupils  had the possibility to win gifts provided they knew the answers. We were happy to learn that in both cities -Vasylivka and Tokmak kids had pretty good knowledge of Europe. In order to explain to them what Europe is all about the two of us told them an EU fairy-tale. In the school in Vasylivka we had an interesting discussion about differences between the European and the Ukrainian values. Most of us associated them with the Copenhagen criteria. It was very interesting to learn that pupils believed Ukrainian traditions were in conflict with European values. Moreover EU is considered to be a threat to the Ukrainian culture. Luckily we have succeeded to change this misperception - after the meetings teachers would come up to us to thank for showing their pupils a different perspective. 


We have also discussed the added value Ukraine could bring into the European Union and what is that Ukrainians should be proud of. We were happy to convince pupils that the European Football Championship next year will be a unique opportunity for Ukraine to present itself as a European, modern and multicultural country with very friendly and open-minded citizens. This is actually the Ukraine we got to know during our trip and we think that this picture is not well-known in Europe. 

I have the impression that every member of our group succeeded in two ways. On the one hand we provided our audiences with numerous ideas for their future. We have encouraged them to think about their future and to work hard for the changes they believe are indispensable for a happy, secure and prosperous Ukraine. We, the group, have all had extensive academic and volunteering (+internships and political involvement) background so we strongly advised them to join or set up students clubs and organizations. On the other hand each and every of us broadened their horizons. I have learnt a lot about Ukrainian problems, challenges student are facing and what would they expect from their government when it comes to Europe. 


Jakov

Study guidelines in Ukrainian

Освіта та навчання в Європейському Союзі - деякі корисні поради

Увесь ЄС

• Загальна інформація про програми: http://ec.europa.eu/education/study-in-europe/
• Для пошуку стипендії ви повинні ознайомитись з дуже складними базами даних: http://www.scholarshipportal.eu/
• Для пошуку по країнах перевірте: http://www.studyineurope.eu/
• Програма «Ерасмус Мундус» (Erasmus Mundus): http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/index_en.php

Німеччина

Новини та загальна інформація про освіту в Німеччині

• Даешь успех в Европе! http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,13238,00.html (Веб-сайт російською мовою) 
• http://www.study-in.de/de/ (Розрахунки вартості проживання, інформація про літні школи тощо. Рекомендуємо зіграти у гру-симуляцію;-)http://www.study-in.de/de/community/online-spiel/) 

Мовні здібності

• Деякі університети можуть вимагати мовний тест – “Deutsch als Fremdsprache” («Німецька як іноземна мова»). Інформацію про тест можно знайти тут: http://www.testdaf.de
• Сайт Deutsche Welle також пропонує широкий спектр підкастів – проектів для тих, то хотів би попрактикувати свої мовні навички: www.dw-world.de 
• Баварський Академічний центр для країн Центральної, Східної та Південно-Східної Європи (BAYHOST) пропонує широкий спектр стипендій для стажування, мовні курси та навчальні програми -  будь ласка, перевірте сайт: http://www-cgi.uni-regensburg.de/Einrichtungen/Bayhost/wirueberuns_ru.shtml

Стипендії

Загальна пошукова система стипендій у Німеччині: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/foerderung/stipendiendatenbank/00462.en.html

Всі основні політичні партії мають свої власні фонди, які надають стипендії: 

• Зелена партія – Heinrich-Böll-Foundation (Фонд Гайнріха Бьолля): http://www.boell.de/scholarships/scholarships.html
• ХДС (Християнсько-демократичний союз) – Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation (Фонд Конрада Аденауера): http://www.kas.de/wf/de/42.37/
• ХСС (Християнсько-соціальний союз) – Hanns-Seidel-Foundation (Фонд Ганнса Зейделя): http://www.hss.de/english/scholarships.html
• СДП (Соціально-демократична партія)- Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (Фонд Фрідріха Еберта): 

http://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung/information-in-english

• ВДП (Вільна Демократична партія) – Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation (Фонд Фрідріха Науманна): 

http://www.en.freiheit.org/Scholarship/836c734/index.html

• Лінке (Ліве крило) – Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation (Фонд Рози Люксембург): 

http://www.rosalux.de/english/scholarships.html

Для молодих випускників ВНЗ є можливість подати заявку на стипендію німецького парламенту, яка поєднує в собі академічне навчання та стажування у німецькому Бундестазі: http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/europa_internationales/internat_austausch/ips/index.html

Посольство Німеччини в Україні пропонує широкий спектр стипендій для українських студентів на літні школи, навчальні програми та конкретні академічні програми в Німеччині -  будь ласка, регулярно перевіряйте сайт: http://www.kiew.diplo.de/Vertretung/kiew/de/06/Kultur_20HP/Stipendien/Stipendien__in__Deutschland.html (доступний російською та українською мовами)

Європейський університет Віадріна у Франкфурті (Одер) пропонує стипендії для магістрських програми у галузі Європейських студій, Міжнародного бізнес-адміністрування, міжкультурної комунікації, а також програм на здобуття ступеня  магістра права, - для отримання додаткової інформації, будь ласка, перевірте на:http://www.kiew.diplo.de/Vertretung/kiew/de/06/Kultur_20HP/Stipendien/Viadrina.html

чи прямо на: http://www.europa-uni.de/en/index.html

Німецькомовний університет імені Андраші Дьюла у Будапешті пропонує стипендії для студентів зі Східної Європи з метою вивчення міжнародних відносин, міжнародного бізнесу та менеджменту, історії Східної Європи та Центральної Європи та здобуття ступеня магістра права у Будапешті, 2-річна програма, будь ласка, перевірте на: www.andrassyuni.hu

Фундація Герди Генкель пропонує стипендії на дослідження для молодих науковців або студентів аспірантів зі Східної Європи з історії чи в загальному у галузі гуманітарних наук, будь ласка, перевірте на:  http://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/home.php?nav_id=15&language=en 

Група Коімбра пропонує широкий перелік стипендій для студентів зі Східної Європи, а також організовує літні школи, будь ласка, перевірте на:  http://www.coimbra-group.eu/index.php?page=scholarships-projects 

Міжнародний Вишеградський фонд пропонує магістерські та аспірантські/кандидатські стипендії, призначені для відібраних науковців на період від 1 до 2 семестрів; українські студенти можуть подавати заявку на: http://visegradfund.org/scholarships/ukraine/

У Німеччині є кілька українсько-німецький громад. Деякі з них підтримують молодих студентів, які приїздять до Німеччини на навчання. Перевірити інформацію можна на веб-сайтах:

1. http://www.dug-kiel.net/
2. http://www.dug-rhein-neckar.de/index.php5
3. http://www.dug-ww.de/
4. http://www.dugb.de/

Фонд Роберта Боша також пропонує стипендії для студентів на окремі спеціалізації, будь ласка, перевірте на: http://www.bosch-stiftung.de/content/language1/html/1140.asp

Day 3 according to Sasha

We spent our third day in Zaporizhya – the capital of Cossack movement. An early get-up in the morning starts to be a habit. Our first target is National University - it looks really Soviet, more like a high school. Silent library fully corresponded with the spirit of our audience. Students are shy, used to the thought that nobody thinks of them. Moderating by Magda was really perfect – she succeeded in activating a very passive audience! Students became relaxed – our quiz succeeded. Issues concerning education were really important to young researchers. After having stressed them with questions concerning Europe and eurointegration we saw understanding and curiosity.

Technical University… Usually students of technical faculties are considered to be less interested in European issues. But not in this case. After only a couple of minutes we knew what they thought: 

-         Ukraine is neither European, nor an Asian country;

-         Ukrainian values are European by essence;

-         Students are really interested in studying abroad but it afraid since they don't speak foreign languages (even though they study International Economics).

And teachers – for sure they are like breaks during our conversation. It’s impossible for young friendly Ukrainians to feel free during their presence…

We need to take this into consideration…

Day 3 afterparty - Kozaks

As you will soon learn from Sasha’s report on the Day 3, on Wednesday we had two meetings with (rather) shy students of Zaporizhya. Right now we would like to let you know what we did once our opus dei had finished. 

Together with our guide - a real Kozak, who as you can see on the picture below, had his hair styled in the traditional Kozak manner (Kozaks believe that it allows for them to connect with God), we explored ins and outs of the Kozak history. Did you know that Hortytsya is not only the Vodka brand we tried in Kiev but that it is also the name of a big island (apparently the biggest river island in Europe!) in the Dnepr?

But let's stick to the sequence of events. So at the beginning our guide gave us a very thorough overview of the Kozak history and later brought us to the legendary island of Hortytsya. We were immediately stunned by the rough beauty of the place and enchanted by the view over Zaporizhya, the Dnepr river, a huge dam and many factories and industrial sites in the background. All in all, maybe not the most harmonious picture but certainly a very impressive panorama! We took far too many pictures.. Just wait to see them on our Facebook profiles. ;) 

Our guide also shared with us numerous stories and legends of the Hortytsya island. We learnt for example that Lord Potemkin had been offered the island as a gift from Empress Catherine the Great but he refused it having realized he could never truly own the freedom-loving (Kozak) place. Besides, we were outraged to learn that communists at one point wanted to install huge steel manufactures on the island. For sure it would have destroyed its unique nature! 'Those evil communists!, we chanted.

After a relaxing walk around Hortytsya our Kozak friend took us to see the famous Zaporizhya Oak and there -in front of a 700 year-old tree- he introduced us to the Kozaks’ martial art. We, the girls, were especially happy to learn a couple of very useful self-defense moves which we immediately tried on the boys: according to Kozaks the best way to defend yourself is to attack, so we can only hope that Sasha, Jakov and Darek have recovered from our attacks by now.  

A+

Sarah and Magda

Europe in a suitcase on TV

Education and studying in the European Union – useful guidelines

European Union

General information on study programs: http://ec.europa.eu/education/study-in-europe/

For scholarships you should also see the very sophisticated database: http://www.scholarshipportal.eu/

For a search by country, check: http://www.studyineurope.eu/

Erasmus Mundus: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/index_en.php

Germany

News and general information on education in Germany 

• Даешь успех в Европе! http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,13238,00.html (Website available in Russian language) 
• http://www.study-in.de/de/ (calculations of living costs, information on summer schools etc. we strongly recommend to play the simulation game ;-)  http://www.study-in.de/de/community/online-spiel/) 

Language skills 

Some universities might ask for a language test – “Deutsch als Fremdsprache”. Information on the test can be found here: http://www.testdaf.de

The Website of the Deutsche Welle also offers a wide range of podcasts – for those you would love to practice their language skills: www.dw-world.de 

Bavarian Academic Center for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (BAYHOST) offers a wide range of scholarships for internships, language courses and study programs, please check the website: http://www-cgi.uni-regensburg.de/Einrichtungen/Bayhost/wirueberuns_ru.shtml

Scholarships

For a general search engine on scholarships in Germany see: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/foerderung/stipendiendatenbank/00462.en.html

All the major political parties have their own foundations which award scholarships: 

• The Green Party – Heinrich-Böll-Foundation: http://www.boell.de/scholarships/scholarships.html
• CDU (Christian-Democratic Union) – Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation: http://www.kas.de/wf/de/42.37/
• CSU (Christian-Social Union) – Hanns-Seidel-Foundation: http://www.hss.de/english/scholarships.html
• SPD (Social-Democratic Party)- Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation: 

http://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung/information-in-english

• FDP (Free Democratic Party) – Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation: 

http://www.en.freiheit.org/Scholarship/836c734/index.html

• Linke (The Left Wing) – Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation: 

http://www.rosalux.de/english/scholarships.html

For young university graduates there is the possibility to apply for a scholarship of the German Parliament, which combines academic classes and an internship at the German Bundestag:http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/europa_internationales/internat_austausch/ips/index.html

The German Embassy in Ukraine offers a wide range of scholarships for Ukrainian students for summer schools, study programs and specific academic programs in Germany, please check regularly the website: http://www.kiew.diplo.de/Vertretung/kiew/de/06/Kultur_20HP/Stipendien/Stipendien__in__Deutschland.html

(also available in Russian/ Ukrainian)

European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) offers scholarships for M.A. programs in European Studies, International Business Administration, Intercultural Communication Studies as well in Master of Law, for further information please check on: http://www.kiew.diplo.de/Vertretung/kiew/de/06/Kultur_20HP/Stipendien/Viadrina.html

Or directly on: http://www.europa-uni.de/en/index.html

German Speaking Andrássy Gyula University Budapest offers scholarships for students from Eastern Europe in order to study International Relations, International Business and Management, Eastern European/ Central European History and Master of Law in Budapest, two years program, please check on: www.andrassyuni.hu

Gerda-Henkel Foundation offers research scholarships for young research students or PhD students from Eastern Europe in the field of history or human sciences in general, please check on the following website: http://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/home.php?nav_id=15&language=en 

The Coimbra Group offers a wide range of scholarships to students from Eastern Neighbouring Countries, also some summer schools are organized, please check on: http://www.coimbra-group.eu/index.php?page=scholarships-projects 

The International Visegrad Fund offers Master’s and Post-Master’s scholarships awarded to selected scholars for periods of 1 or 2 semesters, Ukrainian students can apply on: http://visegradfund.org/scholarships/ukraine/

In Germany, there are a few German-Ukrainian societies. In some cases they support young Ukrainian students to come to Germany for studying etc. Please check the websites:

1. http://www.dug-kiel.net/
2. http://www.dug-rhein-neckar.de/index.php5
3. http://www.dug-ww.de/
4. http://www.dugb.de/

The Robert Bosch Foundation as well offers scholarships to students for some specific fields of study, please check the website: http://www.bosch-stiftung.de/content/language1/html/1140.asp

Day 2

At our first day in Dnipropetrovsk, we had two very interesting Europe in the suitcase meetings. 

After breakfast we went off to meet with the students from the Interregional Vocational Institute for Polygraphy and Information Technologies. Our team and the students first listened attentively to a speech on European values given by the institute’s director. During the meeting, which was also for us the first European in the suitcase meeting for us as a team, we played a quiz with the students and we were surprised by the many correct answers we got to our difficult questions… so where do the happiest citizens of Europe live? In Germany, the Netherlands, Italy or Great Britain? 

Both teachers and students reminded us that the European integration process should not only offer exchange and educational programs to university students, but also to students pursuing a career as technicians, since they are the backbone of our economy. 

We especially appreciated the warm welcome of the headmaster and the Institution staff. We would like to thank them here for hosting us and we keep in mind the interesting discussions we had after the conference with you! 

Our second meeting was with students from the faculty of journalism at the Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University. Since the majority of the students were girls, we guess that especially our boys enjoyed this meeting – n’est-ce pas? It was a real pleasure and an intellectual challenge to engage in the very intense debate about the Bermuda-Triangle of Russian-Ukrainian-European relations. 

As promised we would like to post here all the information we collected on scholarships and exchange programs for university studies in the EU… even if it is not an exhaustive list, we hope that you will find it helpful! 

After a small city tour (see the pic below!) and coffee on the embankments of the Dnipr, we left for next meetings – which will take place in ZAPOROSHE…

PS: We would like to thank Arslan the Great from another ‘suitcase group’ for his very comprehensive mind map. :)

Get-together evening

All suitcases? Checked into a hotel.

Discussion on strategy for the first meeting? Held.

Final decisions - taken!

Good night Dnepropetrovsk xx

Darek, Jakov, Magda, Sarah, Sasha, Vita