On May 16-19, 2012 in Tirana (Albania), on the basis of the Polytechnic University of Tirana, the Forum "Academic Cooperation for Peace and Welfare in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region", organized by the Black Sea region Universities Network (BSUN) with engineering schools of Mediterranean region and the UN program "Academic assistance" was held.
Forum brought together the rectors, university managers, decision-makers in higher education, research and technology transfer, interested in active involvement of universities to cooperation for restoring sustainable development and prosperity in the region.
Head of the National BSUN Office in Ukraine, NTUU "KPI" vice-rector prof. S.Sydorenko addressed the plenary session "The Role of Universities in Buil¬ding Sustainable Peace & Welfare in the Mediterranean & Black Sea Region" with a report on the NTUU "KPI" activity for 2006-2012, when the University was playing an important role in BSUN, and Rector M.Z.Zgurovsky was elected BSUN president (2008-2010), and the member of the BSUN Presidential group of three (2006-2012).
During the period of NTUU "KPI" and rector M.Z.Zgurovskyi's activity in BSUN governing bodies many important things were fulfilled. NTUU "KPI"-based "Forum of Higher Education" – Congress of rectors of the Black Sea region Universities (2008), which adopted "Kyiv Declaration of rectors of the Black Sea region universities for sustainable development", was held.
In 2011, NTUU "KPI" became the first Ukrainian university, being BSUN member-university, joined the global initiative of the UN Secretary General Pan Gi Moon, "Academic assistance to UNO," and received a certificate of Program membership. It is high praise of peacekeeping efforts of our University.
NTUU "KPI" proposed a project "Master and PhD Program on Sustai¬nable Development and Governance", which provides strengthening the role of universities in shaping the policy of sustai-nable development both in the Black Sea region and other regions of the world according to the activities of the UN initiative, and strengthening the role of young scientists in it.
In parallel with the Forum, the Congress of BSUN member-universities' rectors was held. At it the rector of the Polytechnic University of Tirana prof. Y.Kachani was elected BSUN President for 2012-2014.
Congress praised the six-year activity of the NTUU "KPI" rector M.Z.Zgu¬rovskyi – as BSUN President (2008-2010) and a member of the BSUN Presidential group of three (2006-2012) – and NTUU "KPI " for strengthening the role of universities in shaping the policy of susta¬i¬nable development in the Black Sea region, as well as in deepening cooperation of Ukrainian universities with those of the Black Sea and Mediterranean region in general.