UA-Talent-UP: Halfway Through the Journey – Growing Together in Unprecedented Times

As we reach the halfway point of the UA-Talent-UP project, we pause to reflect—not just on the progress we’ve made, but on the profound strength and resilience shown by our Ukrainian partners.

When the project was designed, we anticipated challenges. What we did not foresee was the scale of the disruptions our Ukrainian colleagues would face: ongoing war, legislative changes, loss of infrastructure, and personal uncertainty on a daily basis. Despite these immense obstacles, they remain committed to advancing global competences, creativity, and entrepreneurship in higher education. Their courage continues to inspire every partner involved in the project.

Over the past 18 months, we have:
✅ Trained staff across Ukraine and Europe on global competences and innovative learning
✅ Designed a model for Creativity Hubs to foster inclusive, future-ready education
✅ Started developing two open MOOCs, to be available globally for free
✅ Published our first Policy Report and prepared the roadmap for two more

But this is not a typical EU project. This is a project born from and shaped by extraordinary circumstances. Flexibility, empathy, and long-term vision are not just best practices—they are necessities.

In the coming months, we will:
🟡 Finalise and share the second Policy Report on adapting EntreComp for Ukraine and beyond
🟡 Launch a collaborative Open Access Book to disseminate practical tools and insights
🟡 Support Ukrainian institutions as they open their Creativity Hubs and deliver training for students and the general public
🟡 Ensure that every effort is made to align outcomes with European frameworks, while remaining sensitive to the national realities our partners are navigating

UA-Talent-UP is more than a set of deliverables—it’s a shared journey of perseverance and reinvention. We’re halfway through. We move forward with renewed humility, gratitude, and determination to build a more resilient, inclusive future for higher education.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Ukrainian partners for their extraordinary effort and commitment to staying engaged and motivated in the project—despite facing some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.