The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian and European higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond to cultural heritage emergencies through collaboration, innovation, and open access education. The general objective was to build capacity for European HEIs paying particular attention to cultural heritage in order to effectively respond to cultural heritage emergencies. The project addressed also two specific objectives: (1) Examine HEIs and society-initiated measures towards cultural heritage emergency in Ukraine. (2) Enhance knowledge and skills of HEI staff and students in cultural heritage safeguarding and to investigate the role of academia-business cooperation in a war situation. These objectives guided all work packages and helped ensure sustainable, inclusive, and scalable outcomes relevant for crisis and post-crisis context.
The Data4UA project was initiated in response to the urgent need to support Ukrainian higher education institutions (HEIs) and cultural heritage professionals affected by the war started by Russia. The partners recognised the lack of structured tools, training, and data-driven practices to protect cultural heritage under crisis conditions. There was also a need to strengthen cooperation between academia, civil society, and the technology sector in responding to cultural heritage emergencies. Ukrainian HEIs faced disrupted teaching, damaged infrastructure, and reduced international mobility. At the same time, European partners sought to respond in a meaningful, coordinated way. The project aimed to document institutional responses, develop open educational resources, and foster skills in cultural heritage management using digital and citizen-based methods. The focus on co-creation, open access, and collaboration ensured that both immediate and long-term capacity needs would be addressed.