School and university: an ecosystem of shared solutions

On September 8–9, Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University invited representatives of Zaporizhzhia schools and educational institutions of the region to a partnership dialogue. The partnership forum «School and University: An Ecosystem of Joint Solutions» brought together educators, representatives of education authorities, and those who work every day for the development of youth and shape the educational environment of Zaporizhzhia.

For the educational community, such a meeting is traditional, but this year the forum took place in a new format. Its main feature is the transition from presenting opportunities to specific proposals for partnership and joint actions.

The forum was opened by the rector of the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University, Viktor Greshta. The participants were also addressed by the head of the Zaporizhzhia District State Administration, Oleh Buryak, deputy director of the Department of Education and Science of the Zaporizhzhia City Council, Andriy Khmelnytskyi, and the founder of HELPER Ukraine, holder of the Order of Merit and the Golden Heart of Ukraine award, Danylo Shcherbakov.

The forum then moved on to practical work. During the practical sessions, new formats for interacting with schools were presented, where the general idea of ​​partnership was transformed into specific opportunities. Each session had a clear logic: the results of the preliminary survey, a presentation of the project and its opportunities for the school and students, a practical case, an algorithm for further interaction, and a specific partnership proposal.

The director of the National Center «Zaporizhzhia Regional Center of Polytechnic Education» Tetyana Solovyova presented the university, its educational potential and the concept of the «school-university» partnership ecosystem. It was not only about the possibilities of admission or acquaintance with the university, but also about creating a continuous development space for schoolchildren – from the first educational and professional attempts to the conscious choice of a future profession. The director of the Children’s and Youth Scientific University Olena Nazarova presented the activities of the YUNU, in particular the work of circles, STEM lessons and other formats of involving schoolchildren in science, technology and creative activities.

A feature of the forum was the demonstration of the university’s practical developments – real cases and formats for working with schoolchildren, which already have experience in implementation and can become the basis for new partnership initiatives.

Tetyana Khitrova, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor, Doctor of Philology, spoke about the Center for Gifted Youth.
The startup school «The Future Begins with an Idea» was presented by Andriy Kuts, Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Administration, Vice President of the Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The creation of joint STEM projects was presented by Nataliia Furmanova, Dean of the Faculty of Information Security and Electronic Communications, Candidate of Technical Sciences.
How the practical case of the STEM project «Smart House» works was presented by its author Kateryna Bratkovska, Associate Professor of the Department of «Power Supply of Industrial Enterprises», Candidate of Economic Sciences.
The project «Media School» was presented by Nataliia Ostrovska, Head of the Department of Journalism, Candidate of Social Communications.
The project «Try Yourself in a Profession» was presented by Olha Shiyan, Associate Professor of the Department «Criminal, civil and international law.»

This format allowed us not only to present the university’s educational initiatives, but also to propose a system for creating synergy of partnership cooperation, because the school has its own request, the university has resources and expertise, and together we open up new opportunities for students and teachers. This creates constant access for young people to science, technology, entrepreneurship, media, professional experience, teamwork, and the university environment long before they enter. It is this approach that allows a young person to try themselves in different directions, better understand their own interests, and consciously build their future.

This is an investment not only in the educational trajectory of an individual student, but in the future of Zaporizhzhia. Young people who have knowledge, professional competencies and a desire to act will become the basis for the restoration and development of the city and region.

The forum resulted in not only new acquaintances and discussions of educational initiatives. The participants identified promising areas of interaction, outlined opportunities for implementing joint projects, and began the formation of a unified action plan for the 2026–2027 academic year.

From individual events to systemic cooperation. From proposals to joint actions. From student development to the development of Zaporizhzhia.