Micro-credentials as internationalisation tool: Kyiv Polytechnic representative attends workshop in Hannover
A representative of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute participated in an intensive on-campus workshop hosted by Germany’s Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) from 22 to 28 March 2026 within the framework of the “Micro-Credentials as an Internationalisation Tool for Ukrainian Universities” (MInT-Ukraine) programme.
Iryna Prykhodko, Director of the Centre for International Education, represented Kyiv Polytechnic in the event, which brought together academics from 15 leading Ukrainian universities to jointly work out strategies for closer integration of Ukrainian education into the European Research Area.
The MInT-Ukraine programme focuses on the implementation of micro-credentials — short-term, high-impact modules that empower students and specialists to quickly acquire specific professional skills.
For Kyiv Polytechnic, the integration of micro-credentials is not merely a trend, but a strategic step toward alignment with the European Higher Education Area. Such tools make it possible to offer flexible, European-standard learning formats to both Ukrainian and international students.
The workshop was organised as a comprehensive intensive course covering guidelines for the development of a modern university. Participants began with a detailed examination of internationalisation strategies and services for international students, analysing the structure of the LUH International Office, Welcome Centre’s operations, and tools for digitising mobility through the MoveOn application system.
During the visit, the implementation of micro-credentials garnered special attention. At the Centre for Continuing Education (ZEW), the delegation, under the guidance of Professor Elke Katharina Wittich, learnt about methodology for organising and certifying these innovative micro-credentials, which are intended to become a flexible tool for modernising Ukrainian education. This theoretical basis was put into practice during project work and the Poster Session, where Iryna Prykhodko presented Kyiv Polytechnic’s strategic ideas and received feedback from LUH experts and Ukrainian colleagues on refining the vision for university’s international growth.
The workshop concluded with a session dedicated to grant support and fundraising, including strategies for engagement in the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) networking tool supported by the Horizon Europe flagship research and innovation programme. This approach was elaborated at the EU Liaison Office, enabling the transformation of developed ideas into viable international projects.
In addition to the academic component, the visit included an introduction to the Hannover Science Initiative at the New Town Hall. This initiative demonstrates exemplary cooperation between universities, research centres and the municipal authorities aimed at developing the region as a global innovation hub.
Participation in the MInT-Ukraine project enables Kyiv Polytechnic to build up its institutional capacity. Drawing on the accumulated experience, the university plans to expand the range of English-taught micro-credentials to attract more international students, strengthen its partnership with Leibniz University Hannover within future educational and research projects, and offer the innovative learning formats that meet the dynamic demands of the modern labour market.
Special thanks are due to the project organisers, namely Nataliya Butych, for their high level of professionalism and for creating an environment conducive to effective collaboration.
