Sustaining Ukrainian Higher Education in wartime
On 22 October 2025, Dr Alla Krasulia hosts this online event.
About the Speaker
Dr. Alla Krasulia is an Associate Professor at the Department of Germanic Philology, Faculty of Foreign Philology and Social Communications, Sumy State University (Ukraine) and Visiting Associate Professor at the Institute of Digital Humanities, Riga Technical University (Latvia). She is also pursuing post-doctoral research at Kyiv National Linguistic University, focusing on the theoretical and methodological foundations for developing English-language communicative competence in future translators within a digitalised learning environment.
Her academic path bridges foreign languages, digital pedagogy, and educational technologies. Alla holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technologies and a PhD in Pedagogy, and speaks English, German, Polish, and some Latvian and Portuguese – enough, as she says, “for a friendly small talk.”
Her research and teaching interests include AI in language education, digital and blended pedagogy, mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), and the use of technology to develop critical and creative thinking. She also explores educational fundraising and international project development in higher education.
In addition to her academic career, Alla spent over a decade working with IT companies such as NetCracker and MindK, serving as a Soft Skills and English Communication Trainer – an experience that shaped her applied, learner-centred approach to teaching.
Dr. Krasulia’s work has been recognised with multiple awards, including first and second prizes in the ICT4EDU “Innovations in ICT for Modern Education” competition for her pioneering course designs integrating pedagogical innovation and educational technology (2019–2021).
Her teaching portfolio includes courses in Innovative Educational Technologies in Language Pedagogy, Methodology of Teaching Translation (Psychological and Pedagogical Foundations), and E-Pedagogy and E-Didactics. She is passionate about helping students and educators develop transversal skills and global mindsets through technology-enhanced and research-based learning.
At Sumy State University, located just 30 km from the Ukrainian-Russian border, she also serves as Head of the International Relations Office, leading global cooperation and academic partnerships even amidst the challenges of war. Under her coordination, SumDU remains deeply engaged in European alliances such as E³UDRES² and NEOLAiA, and continues active participation in Erasmus+, DAAD, and Horizon Europe projects.
Since 2015, Alla has been a member of the Ukrainian Educational Research Association (UERA) board. She is an editorial board member of the Global Research and Development Journal. Alla has participated in numerous international conferences, authored and co-authored academic publications and project outputs, and actively contributes to the global dialogue on innovation and internationalisation in higher education.
For further details, please visit her profiles:
Electronic Catalogue of Sumy State University Library_Alla Krasulia
Abstract
This lecture draws on first-hand experience from Sumy State University – situated just 30 kilometres from the Russian border and 20 kilometres from the frontline – to explore how Ukrainian higher education institutions have built upon international cooperation, digitalisation, and research grants to sustain and transform academic life during wartime.
Through real examples from SumDU, the session will illustrate:
- how partnership networks such as UK_Ukraine Twinning Initiative, Erasmus+, European Universities alliances (E³UDRES², NEOLAiA), and Erasmus+, have enabled the continued affiliation of scholars dispersed across Ukraine, Europe, and beyond, facilitating co-hosting, cross-border teaching, and solidarity-based collaboration;
- how digital platforms and hybrid learning models have allowed teaching to continue even during air-raid alerts, and how early adoption of COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) in 2019 – initially a pedagogical experiment – became a vital lifeline for maintaining global connectivity;
- how joint research grants and targeted support from programmes such as DAAD, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, & etc. have underpinned research continuity, innovation in pedagogy, mental health support, and the development of essential infrastructure.
The lecture will also highlight the work of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities, a national initiative co-founded by SumDU, which unites leading institutions across the country to strengthen resilience, share resources, and promote integration with European university alliances.
The talk concludes with a forward-looking perspective on how Ukrainian universities, in close cooperation with international partners, can contribute to the future of the European Higher Education Area – not merely by rebuilding what was lost, but by innovating, modelling digital pedagogies, and leading mid & post-war renewal and reconstruction.