The implementation period of the EU Erasmus+ project on higher education capacity building DEFEP “Distance education for the future: EU best practices in response to the demands of modern higher education seekers and the labor market” is coming to the end. This requires the consolidation of efforts by all consortium partners to successfully finalize the project.

In order to summarize the available results, monitor the quality of implementation, and identify possible risks in preparation for the final reporting, a coordinating meeting of Ukrainian partner HEIs was held on October 15-17, 2025, moderated by DEFEP project coordinator Olena Filimonova, Ph.D. The meeting took place at the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman.

Among the participants were: representatives of the Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University team; the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman team; V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University; Uman National University; Chernihiv Polytechnic National University; S.Z. Gzhytsky Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies.

During the meeting, partners from Ukrainian universities discussed:

– the results of the DEFEP project for the entire period of its implementation and in terms of work packages;

– the progress of the experimental part of the DEFEP project, entry into piloted study programs in 2024 and 2025 in partner higher education institutions;

– the results of monitoring and evaluating the quality of distance education in piloted master’s level higher education programs;

– ensuring the sustainability of the DEFEP project and the further development of distance education in partner HEIs;

– recommendations based on the DEFEP project experience regarding the development of distance learning in higher education, which will be useful to other higher education institutions and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine;

– risks, challenges, and obstacles in the implementation of the project;

– changes related to the reorganization of individual partner HEIs;

– dissemination and communication of the DEFEP project results;

– technical and financial aspects of preparing for the final project reporting.

The meeting provided an opportunity to raise pressing issues and determine the next steps for the successful completion of the DEFEP project, dissemination of results, and ensuring the sustainability of distance education in HEIs in Ukraine.