Flexible, Resilient and Personalised Higher Education Systems for Crisis and Post-Crisis Contexts
Flexible, Resilient and Personalised Higher Education Systems for Crisis and Post-Crisis Contexts
Short project name: FLEX-EDU UA–NO
Project registration number: Nansen EDU-2025/10115
Funding programme: Nansen EDU – a programme supporting Norwegian–Ukrainian cooperation in higher education.
Funding body: Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).
Project duration: 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2029 (36 months).
Priority area: Modernisation of engineering education, development of digital and hybrid learning, and strengthening the resilience of education in crisis conditions.
Target groups: Bachelor’s and Master’s students in engineering disciplines, academic staff, course developers, and specialists in laboratory equipment and digital educational technologies.
Consortium Members
Project coordinator:
- University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norway.
Ukrainian partners:
- V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University;
- Sumy State University;
- Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University;
- Odesa Polytechnic National University.
Project Aim and Objectives
The aim of the FLEX-EDU UA–NO project is to improve the quality, accessibility and resilience of engineering education at Ukrainian universities by introducing modern remote and hybrid laboratory technologies, modernising courses, and developing students’ practical and professional competencies.
The project envisages adapting and implementing the remote laboratory technology ecosystem already tested at the University of South-Eastern Norway. This ecosystem enables students to conduct real experiments via a web browser and use modular laboratory equipment and personal Pocket Lab kits.
The project is particularly relevant under martial law in Ukraine, when conventional laboratory classes may be disrupted by security restrictions, power outages, damage to educational infrastructure, and the forced displacement of students and teachers.
Main project objectives:
1. Modernise eight accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s level courses, each worth 6 ECTS credits, at four Ukrainian universities.
2. Adapt laboratory and practical classes for remote and hybrid learning formats.
3. Develop the laboratory infrastructure of partner universities through the purchase, installation and configuration of modern teaching and experimental equipment.
4. Introduce remote-access systems for real laboratory equipment and personal Pocket Lab kits.
5. Integrate remote laboratories with learning management systems.
6. Enhance the skills of academic and technical staff in the development and use of innovative laboratory technologies.
7. Develop and implement methods for assessing students’ practical, experimental, research and digital competencies.
8.Ensure the sustainable use of the infrastructure created and disseminate project outcomes to other higher education institutions in Ukraine.
Project Activities
1. Capacity building and modernisation of laboratory infrastructure
2. Modernisation of educational courses
3. Implementation of remote laboratories and Pocket Lab technologies
4. Staff development and international academic cooperation
5. Quality assurance and assessment of learning outcomes
Expected Results
The project is expected to deliver the following results:
1. Modernisation of eight Bachelor’s and Master’s level courses at four Ukrainian universities.
2. Creation of modern laboratory infrastructure enabling practical classes to be delivered remotely and in hybrid formats.
3. Implementation of remote laboratory and Pocket Lab technologies, expanding opportunities for students to conduct real experiments regardless of their location.
4. Development of updated teaching and learning materials, laboratory practicals and digital educational resources.
5. Enhancement of the professional competencies of academic and technical staff in the use of innovative laboratory technologies.
6. Establishment of a system for evaluating the effectiveness of educational modernisation, aimed at measuring the development of students’ practical and professional competencies.
7. Strengthening of international cooperation between Ukrainian universities and the University of South-Eastern Norway.
8. Improved resilience of engineering education in Ukraine to crisis situations and the creation of conditions for the sustainable development of modern educational technologies.
Participation of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
The university’s participation in the project focuses on modernising engineering education, developing laboratory infrastructure, and introducing modern remote and hybrid learning technologies.
The project provides for the modernisation of two courses, adaptation of laboratory assignments to new learning formats, introduction of equipment for remote experiments, and use of personal laboratory kits.
The project outcomes will help improve the quality of students’ practical training, broaden opportunities for academic staff to use digital educational technologies, and develop international cooperation in engineering education.
Project Significance
FLEX-EDU UA–NO aims to establish a new model of engineering education that combines the practical orientation of traditional laboratory teaching with the flexibility of modern digital technologies.
The use of remote laboratories and personal experimental kits will broaden access to high-quality engineering education and ensure continuity of practical training even when access to university facilities is restricted.
The project is financially supported by Norway under the Nansen EDU programme, administered by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).
