On 26–27 June, Maksym Folomieiev, Head of the PR and International Cooperation Department at NAQA, spoke at the summer professional development school “Networking as a Principle and Tool for Building Academic Partnerships”. The event was organised by the All-Ukrainian Public Organisation “Innovative University” in partnership with the charitable foundation “International Foundation for Educational Policy Research” at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The event brought together over 60 academic and teaching staff from higher education institutions across the country.
During his presentation, the speaker outlined effective tools for creating viable academic networks. The Ukrainian Quality Assurance Forum presented as a successful practical case study; over the course of three years, it has become the largest national communication platform for educators and stakeholders. The presentation paid particular attention to public communications for academic networks and higher education institutions, specifically how to attract attention, build trust and engage an audience. In this context, the speaker highlighted NAQA experience in the development of the expert community. The network currently comprises over 5,000 specialists who oversee the accreditation of study programmes. In conclusion, it was emphasised that developing partnerships and transparent communication are effective tools for strengthening a culture of quality in Ukrainian universities.