Within the framework of the TwinForHope campaign developed by the UK universities and in order to share academic experience, there were signed agreements between the University of Plymouth and Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) and State University of Infrastructure and Technologies (SUIT).
On October 5, 2022, there was held a working meeting between representatives of Kherson State Maritime Academy and Dr. Kelly Lewington, Mental Health Manager, University of Plymouth (UK). Participants of the event discussed main areas of joint activity and scheduled holding the first guest lectures for KSMA cadets purposed to provide tools for self-correlation of future maritime specialists’ mental health.
With the support of Cormack Consultancy Group, the University of Plymouth (UK) provided technical equipment to ensure the administration of educational and admission processes of KSMA.
Hello Project was launched at KSMA with support of colleagues and students of the University of Plymouth (UK). Helen Bowstead, project manager from the Plymouth University, wished the first- and second-year students of KSMA success in improving their English language skills. Iryna Shvetsova, project manager from KSMA, thanked her colleagues for their support and the opportunities they offer for our students.
Mental Health managers from KSMA, Olena BEZLUTSKA and Iryna SHVETSOVA, arranged and held a meeting between the students of the Navigation Faculty of KSMA and Dr. Kelly LEWINGTON. Dr. Kelly LEWINGTON presented information on useful mental health resources at the University of Plymouth that would be available to KSMA cadets. Participants of the meeting had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss mental health problems.
On November 8, 2022, there was held a reporting meeting on the issues of the work carried out during the last five months. Participants of the meeting discussed first results of Mental Health and Hello projects; outcomes of science working groups meetings. Scientists from both universities collaborate in order to work on joint scientific investigations, papers and projects.
Kherson State Maritime Academy and the University of Plymouth jointly received a grant to work within the Dual Degree program. Future Masters studying at the Marine Engineering Faculty will have the opportunity to obtain a dual degree of KSMA and the University of Plymouth in Ship Technical Systems and Complexes Operation. Kherson State Maritime Academy is one of the Twinning Initiative winners among Ukrainian representatives. The initiative is supported by the UK universities and government.
On 18 May, 2023, a working meeting between Kherson State Maritime Academy and the University of Plymouth (UK) took place within the framework of the Twinning Initiative. Partners discussed the issue of developing a Dual Degree program implemented for masters studying at Marine Engineering Faculty (specialization – “Ship Technical Systems and Complexes Operation”).
On 22 May, 2023, a meeting of intending entrants with the representatives of KSMA and the University of Plymouth (UK) took place. The meeting included two parts. Dr Bogdan GHITA and Deputy Dean for International Cooperation of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Associate Head of Mechanical Engineering School of the University of Plymouth, Dr Ming DAI reported in the first part of event. In their speeches, the representatives of the University of Plymouth told about specific features of a Dual Degree program. In the second part of the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Admission Committee of KSMA Ivan RIABUKHA and Head of the Department of Practice, Certification and Employment of KSMA Oleksandr SOLOVEY reported on the features of this year’s admissions campaign. During the video conference, Dean of the Marine Engineering Faculty Oleksandr AKIMOV answered topical questions received from entrants.
On 9 June, 2023, representatives of Kherson State Maritime Academy participated in the International conference ‘Internationalisation as the Key to Resilience and Rebuilding: First year of Twinning’ held at the premises of Lviv Polytechnic National University. The conference was opened with welcoming remarks from Vivienne Stern, Head of the Universities UK, Mykhailo Vynnytskyi, Olha Budnyk, Plenipotentiary of the President of Ukraine for the Fund of the President of Ukraine for Education, Science and Sports, and Jamie Arrowsmith, Head of the Universities UK International. Charles Cormack, Chairman of Cormack Consultancy Group, introduced achievements and challenges of the first year of Twinning to participants of the event and announced the Twinning Strategy 2023 – 2024.
On July 19, 2023, the teams of a UK-Ukraine Dual Award project held a meeting with Cormack Consultancy Group. The event highlighted progress in implementing the projects, as well as updated the main issues that need to be addressed. Kherson State Maritime Academy together with the University of Plymouth presented results of joint work and noted that the project on training engineering masters would start this academic year. Upon completion of the study programme, students obtain dual degrees of the University of Plymouth and KSMA.
On 11 September, 2023, administration of KSMA, representatives of the University of Plymouth (UK) Dr Bogdan GHITA, Deputy Dean for International Cooperation of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and Associate Head of Mechanical Engineering School of the University of Plymouth, Dr Ming DAI held a meeting with master’s students of KSMA. They answered the cadets’ questions and wished them success in passing the English entrance exam.
On September 14, 2023, representatives of the University of Plymouth (UK) delivered a two-session training for KSMA teaching staff on a Dual Award programme. KSMA representatives got acquainted with the document circulation at the University of Plymouth, peculiarities of the UoP learning process and student assessment.
On September 26, 2023, representatives of the University of Plymouth (UK) held an online meeting with the working group of Kherson State Maritime Academy within the framework of a Dual Award project. The meeting was devoted to discussing students’ results of the English language test and progress in enrolment on the programme. Besides, Project Boards considered providing teaching support material and ensuring learning process. Based on the enrolment process, participants concluded that the project is in demand among maritime industry professionals including active marine engineers.
On October 11, 2023, Cormack Consultancy Group held a working meeting with representatives of Ukrainian universities taking part in the Twinning program. Participants of the meeting discussed new opportunities of the program.
On October 16, 2023, a working meeting was held regarding the LMS Moodle features and solution of urgent issues related to organizing quality working process.
On November 1, 2023, a first working meeting of Kherson State Maritime Academy representatives with the University of Plymouth team was held to discuss a training and organizational campaign for further cooperation within the project “Monitoring war destruction from space using machine learning”. The program is aimed at identifying war-damaged objects in Kherson using satellite images and artificial intelligence. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Amir Aly, Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Plymouth, UK. During the event, a working group discussed urgent issues related to the organization of the proposed project.
On 27 November, 2023, a working meeting of teams implementing the Dual Award programme of KSMA and the University of Plymouth, UK, took place. During the meeting, teams reviewed teaching and learning materials on LMS Moodle profile of the UoP. The project teams discussed urgent issues and outlined the priority tasks necessary for the implementation of the UoP Module.
On 29 November, 2023, representatives of KSMA partook in the roundtable “Twinning Initiative: the initial results of launching double degrees with UK universities”. The roundtable discussion was organised by Cormack Consultancy Group in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the Presidential Foundation for Support of Education, Science and Sports. During the event, participants discussed challenges, obstacles in the implementation of double degree programmes, and new opportunities.
On 4 December, 2023, a reporting meeting of 6 Ukrainian universities – winners of the Twinning initiative: double degree programmes and their twinning partners – was held on Zoom. KSMA presented joint case together with the University of Plymouth, UK. The meeting was organised by Cormack Consultancy Group. Participants presented their programmes and discussed the challenges they faced in implementing the double degree programme.
On 4 December, 2023, the first meeting of the universities participating in the Twinning double degree programme with the Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (Germany) took place. The German agency was represented by Anja Grube, Head of System Accreditation and International Affairs. Participants discussed the peculiarities of accreditation during the war.
On 21 December, 2023, the second working meeting of the universities participating in the Twinning double degree programme with the Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (Germany) took place. Participants discussed the specific features of the accreditation and outlined ways of further cooperation.
On 12 February, 2024, during the Campfire meeting, students of KSMA gathered to summarise the results of the Hello Project (project manager Iryna SHVETSOVA) within collaboration with the University of Plymouth (UK). Students of the Navigation Faculty – Nikita BULAIEVSKYI, Artur KYRYLOVETS and Oleksandr YUDCHENKO – shared the results of the project implemented in the first semester. At the end of the Campfire meeting, new participants reflected on their expectations for the future project.
On 13 February, 2024, Kherson State Maritime Academy and the University of Plymouth started working within the Hello Project (project manager Iryna SHVETSOVA). Cadets of various years of study of the Navigation Faculty got acquainted with the UoP students.
Oleksandr Hlazunov, a cadet of Kherson State Maritime Academy, shared his experience and impressions of the Dual Award programme with the University of Plymouth (UK). Review
On 18 March, 2024, a working meeting of representatives of the University of Plymouth (UK), Cormack Consultancy Group and Kherson State Maritime Academy was held. Participants discussed urgent issues related to the quality implementation of the Dual Award programme and ways to solve them.
On March 25, 2024, Iryna Shvetsova participated in the international seminar “Internationalization Online Study Day”, dedicated to the exchange of experience and the study of best practices in the field of COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) to expand the network of our international partnerships.
As part of the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning)program, representatives of KSMA met with new partners from the State University of New York Maritime College.
On June 25-26, 2024, the working group of the dual award programme from Kherson State Maritime Academy met with the Deputy Head of the School of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Plymouth (Great Britain), Dr. Ming DAY.
On July 4-5, 2024, the second international TWINNING conference took place in Warsaw: “The Role of Universities in the Post-War Reconstruction of Ukraine”. Kherson State Maritime Academy was represented by Alona YURZHENKO and Alona LESCHCHENKO. The main topic of the conference was the discussion of the results of the experience gained by Ukrainian HEIs in cooperation with universities in the United Kingdom.
A working meeting of the teams of the dual award programme of KSMA and the University of Plymouth, UK was held on September 17, 2024. The teams discussed pressing issues and outlined the priority tasks necessary for the accreditation of the educational program by the German agency ZEvA.
On October 3, 2024, a working meeting of the teams of the dual award programme of KSMA and the University of Plymouth, Great Britain was held. During the meeting, educational and methodological materials on LMS Moodle of the University of Plymouth were reviewed.
On October 15, 2024, representatives of the University of Plymouth held an introductory meeting for cadets of the new set of double degree programs, at which they spoke about the features of studying at their university, the Moodle of UoP platform, the electronic library, etc.
On October 23, 2024, Kherson State Maritime Academy launched the work of a new group of the Hello Project Ukraine project for the fourth time.
On October 28, 2024, the working groups of the University of Plymouth and KSMA on the dual award project held the first official meeting of the program committee, at which they discussed pressing problems and ways to solve them.
The 2024 intake campaign was a success for the Twinning partners, demonstrating the importance of joint efforts between Ukrainian and UK educators. 178 Ukrainian students were successfully enrolled in 10 double degree master’s programmes.
On November 25, 2024, representatives of the University of Plymouth, UK – Dr. Helen Bowstead, English Language Center Manager and Dr. Claire Gray, Partner Relations Manager, held the first ELS meeting (English Language Support session) for students.
On November 28, 2024, the first information session of the “Twinning” initiative this academic year took place, which was joined by the International Affairs Department of Kherson State Maritime Academy. Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG) During the meeting, the main prospects for the development of cooperation were identified, and existing opportunities were noted, including the COIL and English4Ukraine projects, in which KSMA is already actively participating.
The innovative educational project COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), implemented in partnership between Florida International University (FIU, USA) and Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA, Ukraine), was completed in November 2024. Students from the Lithuanian Maritime Academy also participated.
December 9, 2024 – class with Helen Bowstead, ELS session Two “Personal Development Plan: KSMA 7000”.
January 21, 2025 – class with Helen Bowstead, ELS session 3 “Responding to feedback: KSMA 7000”.
February 17, 2025 – class with Helen Bowstead, ELS session 4 “Research Plan: KSMA 7000
On February 19, 2025, a meeting of the subject evaluation committee for KSMA-Plymouth dual award programme was held.
On February 19, 2025, a new stage of Hello Project Ukraine 2025 began.
Classes with Dr. Helen Bowstead (English Language Center Manager, University of Plymouth), ELS session 5 “Research Plan 2: KSMA 7000”
On March 11, 2025, Kherson State Maritime Academy participated in an information session: “Results and Prospects of the Double Diploma Program: Dialogue with the Foundation of the President of Ukraine for Support of Education, Science and Sports”, organized by Cormack Consultancy Group.
On March 12, 2025, the first graduation of KSMA-University of Plymouth dual award programme took place!
On March 20, 2025, a working meeting was held between representatives of KSMA and the University of Plymouth with Cormack Consultancy Group regarding reporting in the dual award programme.
March 24, 2025 – class with Dr. Helen Bowstead (English Language Centre Manager, University of Plymouth), ELS session 6 “Research Plan 3: KSMA 7000”
On March 27-28, 2025, Kherson State Maritime Academy joined the British-Ukrainian research conference “UK-UKRAINE Research Twinning Showcase and Networking” online.
On April 17, 2025, the sixth stage of the international educational project “Hello Project Ukraine” was completed.
On June 23, 2025, Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) joined the information session “Three Years of the Twinning Initiative” organized by Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG).
In recognition of exceptional resilience and commitment to a continuous academic mission, as well as a willingness to collaborate internationally, the staff of Kherson State Maritime Academy was awarded a certificate of appreciation within the framework of the Twinning initiative, which is implemented between universities in the UK and Ukraine with the assistance of Cormack Consultancy Group.
On September 17, 2025, the first working meeting of KSMA team with Hai-Van Dang, a representative of the University of Plymouth (Great Britain), regarding the implementation of the double degree program took place. During the meeting, they discussed pressing issues, ways to resolve them, and further steps in cooperation.
On October 1, 2025, the HELLO Project was launched – a joint initiative of Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) and the University of Plymouth.
On November 24, 2025, within the framework of the dual award programme of KSMA – University of Plymouth (Great Britain), an online class was held for applicants of the new batch of the program. The lecture on the topic “Literature analysis and gap identification” was given by Dr. Avanthika Vineetha Harish.
On December 9, 2025 the class on the topic of “Personal Development Plan” was conducted by Margaret Russell, an English teacher.
On January 20, 2026 the class on the topic “KSMA7000. Responding to feedback” was conducted by Margaret Russell, an English teacher.
On February 17, 2026 class on the topic “KSMA7000. Research plan: Assessment 2” was conducted by Margaret Russell, an English teacher.
