Screenshots by Inna Belova
What an incredible experience it was to connect with over 80+ Ukrainian educators and students in our recent academic collaboration meeting! It was truly heartwarming to share my new book on social work research and the 12-week teaching resources designed for both BSW and MSW students.
Twenty Years of Learning, Teaching, and Growing
Having the opportunity to share two decades of experience in teaching and learning social work research felt deeply meaningful. This wasn’t just about presenting materials—it was about creating bridges between our academic communities and fostering genuine dialogue about the importance of research in social work practice.
A Rich Tapestry of Ukrainian Institutions
The diversity of participation was remarkable. We had educators and students joining from:
- Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) – with particularly strong representation
- Dniprovsky National University named after Oles Honchar – including Professor Oksana Osetrova and the Department of Social Work
- Lutsk National Technical University
- Vinnytsia Trade and Economic Institute
- Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko
The enthusiasm in the chat, with participants saying “Дякуємо щиро!” (Thank you sincerely!) and sharing their excitement, made the virtual distance feel much smaller.
Building Bridges Through Research
What struck me most was the genuine interest in the methodological approaches we discussed. The conversation about research ethics, the mandatory Canadian research ethics training, and the differences between our academic systems opened up fascinating dialogue about how we can learn from each other.
The fact that students were asking about the $6,000 UREAP research grants, the 12-week Mitacs Global Internship Program, and showing interest in collaborative opportunities demonstrates the hunger for international academic exchange and research collaboration.
The Power of Shared Resources
Providing access to research materials and making educational resources available felt like meaningful ways to support our Ukrainian colleagues. Education shouldn’t have borders, and I want to encourage anyone interested in accessing my book to reach out directly—I’m always happy to arrange discount access to support fellow educators and students. Making resources accessible is one way we can contribute to the global social work community.
Looking Forward: Collaboration and Connection
The meeting ended with discussions about future conferences, potential joint lectures, and international student exchanges. Professor Oksana Osetrova’s insights about developing new higher education standards in social work in Ukraine, and the conversations about balancing theoretical knowledge with practical research work, showed how much we can learn from each other.
Gratitude and Appreciation
First and foremost, I must extend my deepest gratitude to Cherkasy State Technological University (CSTU) for organizing this incredible guest lecture and providing the platform for me to share my knowledge with educators from Ukraine and future MSW graduates. This opportunity was truly meaningful and represents the best of international academic collaboration.
Special appreciation goes to Professors Svitlana Arkhypova and Inna Belova for their incredible work in coordinating this meeting. Their dedication to fostering international collaboration and creating opportunities for academic exchange is truly remarkable. Without their vision and hard work, this meaningful connection between Canadian and Ukrainian social work educators would not have been possible.
To all who joined—faculty members, graduate students, undergraduate students, and administrators—thank you for your time, engagement, and enthusiasm. Special appreciation goes to everyone who asked questions throughout our discussion. Your thoughtful inquiries about research methodology, ethics processes, AI in education, international opportunities, and academic collaboration didn’t just enrich our dialogue—they demonstrated the vibrant intellectual curiosity that makes these cross-cultural exchanges so valuable.
The importance of social work research cannot be overstated, and having this dialogue between Canada and Ukraine reinforces how research transcends geographical boundaries. We’re all working toward the same goal: preparing competent, ethical, and research-informed social work professionals who can make a difference in their communities.
Special thanks to everyone who participated, from Kyiv to Lutsk, from Dnipro to Vinnytsia. Your presence made this meeting truly special, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration and supporting each other’s academic journeys.
Until we meet again—до побачення!
Looking forward to our continued partnership and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for Ukrainian-Canadian academic collaboration in social work education and research.
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