The FUTURE4REFUGEES project intended to design and test the hybrid methodology to deliver the knowledge and skills of young Ukrainian forced migrants on modern digital technologies able to solve real-life cases from different spheres of human life. Project objectives were as follows: 1) Design of the methodology and the training course as a combination of scientific-based material and non-formal educational methods on the topic of using modern digital technologies to solve real-life cases. 2) Pilot-test of the course at the “Have Fun with Science” (UWB, CZ) and Students Scientific Club (JUIK, PL) in order to adjust the methodology and the training course content to the needs of the target audience. 3) Publishing of the Teaching Guide and designing the MOOCs for educators and their students to disseminate the experiences to other European universities welcoming refugees. 4) Training of 15 multipliers from Poland and 15 multipliers from Czechia on using the offered methodology and materials for 230 young refugees. All objectives were successfully achieved.
Based on the analysis of flaws in Ukrainian higher and school education (reports of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, comments from the rectors of Ukrainian universities, the students themselves) there was a recognised need to raise the young refugees’ potential for academic success in the EU due to the differences in knowledge obtained in Ukraine. In short: Young people aged 15-18 need support and advise on how they can more easily integrate into the educational sphere and/or a labor market; Ukrainian schools educational plan does not include the subjects related to modern digital technologies + not much of science popularization; the modern labor market in EU countries requires new competencies including free application of high technologies and well-trained soft skills; the most in-demand skills relate digital solutions. The project was to help refugee youth to shape their interests by bringing theory to practice, to promote STEM and to make a choice of future studying fields more consciously. The goal of the Polish partner JUIK was to support students and faculty staff of the University in fully utilizing their potential to meaningfully cooperate with the University and themselves.