Roman VASKIN, Associated Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies, Sumy State University (Ukraine) took part in project ERASMUS+ No. 2021-1-PL01-KA131-HED-000003560 at the Department of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin. The program lasted from October 3 till October 7, 2022.

Lectures on Circular-based waste management and Biogas production: Challenges and perspectives

Roman Vaskin at the main building of the department (left) and at the Erasmus Office building (right)

The aims of the trip include:

• teaching on the program of academic mobility Erasmus +;
• exchange good practices and enhance cooperation between universities;
• comparing the knowledge of students from home and from receiving universities.

The visit included lectures in English for bachelor's and master's students in “Ecoenergy” on following the topics:

• Best EU practices on Circular-based waste management (2 hours)
• Biogas production: Challenges and perspectives (2 hours)
• Biogas production: Technology and Maintain (2 hours)
• Biogas production: the main and auxiliary equipment (2 hours)
• Biogas production: Substrates (2 hours)

The overall objectives of the mobility also included:

• development of internships for undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff;
• sharing the experience and scientific findings in the field of biogas production and environmental engineering;
• joint scientific research in the field renewable energy sources and biogas production;
• joint scientific publications in high-impact sources;
• upgrading language skills of the lecturer;
• acquaintance with the technical-material base of the University of Life Sciences in the field of renewable energy sources used in the students' educational process;
• acquaintance with Polish culture and people.

In the framework of the presented lectures were presented the EU trends and challenges for Ukraine in the field of the circular-based waste management, bioenergy production, including biogas and biomethane, and use of renewable energy sources. There has been made informal agreement regarding the incoming and outgoing mobility in both institutions, internationalization of the curricular and study programs at both institutions, the Sumy State University and the University of Life Sciences.

Polish colleagues organized a tour of the research laboratories of the university. Professor Juśko Alina told about the directions of work of the department and the main research directions and the latest developments in the department's research. The most interest arises from the laboratory on solid and liquid biofuels analysis. This laboratory conducts research in the field of biogas production, tests new types of raw materials for biogas production, tests the composition and characteristics of solid and liquid biofuels.

The meeting with the academic staff of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy (on the left) and with Vice-dean of the Faculty of Production Engineering prof Andrzej Mazur (on the right)

At the final seminar for teaching and scientific staff of the the Department of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Roman VASKIN presented relevant scientific profile of the Sumy State University and the Department of Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies, the main research and activities areas of the department's members, the results of the scientific and educational process. Together with the head of the department prof. Krzysztof Jozwiakowski the future inter-departmental research in the field of ecoenergy and joint academic vobility projects was discussed and agreed.

On the final meeting with the Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, prof. Krzysztof Jozwiakowski and Erasmus coordinator of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies of Sumy State University, Dr. Iryna Vaskina

During the mobility visit, numerous excursions in Lublin were conducted to different cultural and historical places and monuments. There were visited in Lublin: Cracov Gate, Monument of the Union of Lublin, Multimedia Fountain, Plac Po Farze, Saxon Garden, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Trynitarska Tower, etc.

Wonderful Lublin

“This is my first experience of participating in the KA1 academic mobility program from Erasmus + and I am very glad that the war in Ukraine did not hinder the implementation of this project. Erasmus+ is a program that unites and brings together students and teachers from all over. I am very impressed and thankful for the hospitable reception by the teaching staff, especially Alina Juśko and Patrycja Pochwatka and Erasmus+ Institutional Coordinator Izabela Wolska. I’ve got all possible support before and during the visit.

As part of the program, lectures and seminars for students of the Department of Geodesy and Environmental Engineering were conducted successfully. Students was active at class, easily communicate in English and discussed the issued they was wondering. We have been cooperating with the department for more than 3 years (since 2019) in the format of Erasmus projects, scientific research, joint publication and projects (International Innovation and Applied Center “Aquatic Artery”). I /ve mat with the teaching staff on-line but it was great pleasure to meet real! This academic mobility program helped us to deepen cooperation in the field of education and science and to identify ways to develop it. Thanks to the project, I gained invaluable experience on teaching foreign students and the opportunity to disseminate the results of my own research and the research of my colleagues in the field of biogas production and renewable energy sources. This project also give me the great opportunity to meet my family that have to leave Ukraine due to the russian invasion.

Participation in this program is worth all the effort made for it! I hope that next time our department will be able to host the Polish colleagues.”

22.10.2022