The opening ceremony of the Ukrainian-Norvegian remote training centre took place on April 24 at the Faculty of Chemical Technology of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway in Ukraine Jon Elvedal Fredriksen, the First Pro-rector of NTUU “KPI”, member of the NAS of Ukraine Yuriy Yakymenko, professor Bord Hekland, coordinator of the «Eurasia Programme» international project of the Centre for International Education of Norway, representatives of the Embassy of Norway in Ukraine, professor Ihor Astrelin, the FCT dean, the employees, lecturers, researchers and students of NTUU “KPI”.
In his welcoming address to the ceremony’s participants the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Norway in Ukraine Jon Elvedal Fredriksen has emphasised that the opening of this centre is a new important step in the establishment of partnership between the educational institutions of Norway and Ukraine, a relationship that is mutually beneficial and interesting due to the prospects it opens for the students and researchers of both countries.
Equipped with eight workplaces, a large screen and special demonstration equipment for video conferencing, the centre will allow conduction of interactive lectures, workshops, and individual classes with teachers, permanently working in other cities and countries, at the faculty within a specialised environment created on the basis of advanced information and communication technologies, provide access to the information and educational resources of the European universities, conduction of meetings with well-known foreign scientists etc.
From Norway, with the help of the telecommunication equipment installed in the centre, the participants of the opening ceremony were also greeted by the rector of Gjovik University College, professor Jorn Roldsen (two lecturers from NTUU “KPI” are already on temporary duty at this University college and seven KPI students are currently studying there). After him, a professor Bord Hekland, the educational coordinator of the «Eurasia Programme» international project, has described the purpose of this project, the fields of its concern and the budget allocated by Norway to implement the actions within its framework. It should be mentioned that 100 million Norwegian kronor, i.e. some 13 million Euros, are provided to fund this programme in the years 2013–2015, three quarters of these funds to be channeled for the realisation of the corresponding projects and a quarter for scholarships for students and researchers from the former USSR countries. By the way, it is within this project that the opening of the Ukrainian-Norvegian remote training centre at KPI is funded.
The ceremony was ended with a remote workshop on sustainable production which was conducted for KPI students and lecturers by Hristian Martinsen, a professor of Gjovik University College.