MSU continues the implementation of the international BIKE-HEI project

Bringing educational institutions together with industry and the scientific community to foster cooperation where it matters most — this is the core aim of the international project “Boosting Innovation and Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Institutions” (BIKE-HEI).

From October to December 2025, the team of Mariupol State University trained young people as well as representatives of academic and non-academic staff in green entrepreneurship skills as part of the pilot launch of the training programmes. The results of the joint efforts of the partner institutions—namely the University of Alicante, Saarland University, the University of Primorska, and MSU—were approved by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, an independent body of the European Union that supports the implementation of the BIKE-HEI project. The high evaluation enabled the partners to move on to the next stage of implementation.

The training programme will continue to focus on green entrepreneurship and sustainable business models. Particular emphasis will be placed on innovation and its practical application. Thanks to the adaptation of content and pedagogical approaches to each group of participants, this phase of the training aims to strengthen experience sharing and enhance the practical impact of the sessions. The combination of conceptual foundations, practical tools, and marketing approaches will make it possible to develop a holistic understanding of how businesses can create economic value while addressing environmental and social challenges.

The second cycle will start as early as March. From Mariupol State University, the training of change agents will continue to be led by Inna Arakelova, Associate Professor of the Department of Marketing and Tourism, and Valeriia Podunai, Associate Professor of the Department of Labour Economics.

The new programme has already been developed. Together with colleagues from other universities, we have taken into account the experience gained during the first training sessions, so we will focus on practical cases that participants can apply in real life. There will certainly be mentoring support and stakeholder engagement. We are ready to empower participants and prepare them to address challenges in entrepreneurship, business, public policy, and fields related to sustainable development,

— said Inna Arakelova, Associate Professor at MSU.