From October 27 to 31, 2025, the scientific and pedagogical staff of the Department of English for Deck Officers at Kherson State Maritime Academy – Department Head Valentyna KUDRIAVTSEVA, Associate Professors Olena FROLOVA and Svitlana BARSUK – successfully participated in a Staff Mobility for Teaching at Constanta Maritime University (CMU, Romania) within the framework of the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, which supports international exchange and cooperation in the fields of education, vocational training, sport, and youth policy.
Mobility envisages a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of online maritime education in English. This initiative is driven by the need to respond to the evolving educational needs of students, particularly those affected by the ongoing large-scale war in Ukraine.
The collaboration aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
- developing and improving the interactive online learning model by enhancing the existing active online interaction model used at the Kherson State Maritime Academy, which integrates customised e-books, additional teacher-guided e-courses, Zoom conferences, individual study and assessment within active learning approaches and tools.
- ensuring that the above-mentioned model effectively promotes interaction, engagement and real participation in English language learning in the maritime field.
- providing professional development opportunities for teachers to improve their skills in designing and delivering interactive online courses.
- promoting a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in online pedagogy through international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Prepared together with Anca SÎRBU, Erasmus+ Project Manager and Head of the Department of Fundamental Sciences and Humanities at the Constanța Maritime University, the week mobility program consisted of a series of academic and partnership activities:
Day 1: Familiarization with Constanta Maritime University campus and introductory meeting with international partners.
Day 2: Presentation and exchange of research and educational activities between the two institutions (student session).
Day 3: Delivery of teaching sessions for CMU students, focusing on specialized topics within the participants’ academic fields.
Day 4: Continued teaching sessions for CMU students on specialized topics.
Day 5: Wrap-up meeting and planning of future collaboration initiatives under the Erasmus+ framework.
Sincere gratitude to the collective of Constanta Maritime University, especially to Associate Professor Anca SÎRBU, Erasmus+ Project Manager and Head of the Department of Fundamental Sciences and Humanities – and her dedicated team consisting of Associate Professor Corina VARSAMI, Associate Professor Alina BARBU, Associate Professor Carmen СHIREA-UNGUREANU – for their guidance, support, and warm hospitality throughout the visit. Their supervision and collaboration contributed greatly to the success of this enriching academic experience.