PUBLIC STUDIES SCHOOL

The project entails the founding of the School of Public Studies at Mariupol State University, along with the development and execution of three novel educational programmes:

• Public relations

• Historical public outreach

• Administration of local communities

The project is targeted towards several specific groups:

• Ukrainian civil society representatives who wish to gain professional skills for effective participation in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and the development of democratic foundations in public life.

• Participants in hostilities who will have the opportunity to acquire skills in public administration, communication, and history.

• Applicants and teachers of Mariupol State University, as well as members of the Mariupol local community who are scattered around the world due to the occupation.

• Students and teachers from other higher education institutions in Ukraine who can use the three main programmes developed in this project as models.

• Highly skilled and motivated individuals who can contribute to the post-war reconstruction and transformative development of Mariupol and the Azov Donbas region as a whole.

Project team:

	Taras Finikov President of the International Foundation for Education Policy Research
	Tatyana Marena vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical activity at Mariupol State University
	Larisa Shaulska adviser to the rector of Mariupol State University
	Andriy Stoyka the educational program's guarantor for "Territorial Community Management"
	Maxim Folomeev the educational program's guarantor for "Public Communications"
	Ihor Lyman the educational program's guarantor for "Public History"

The first stage of the project (October - November 2023) provides for:

• Formation of three project groups led by leaders (guarantors of educational programs);

• Studying the Ukrainian and world experience in the formation of educational programmes in public administration, public communication and public history;

• Determination of the concept and optimal models of the structure and content of three educational programmes that will be taught at the School of Public Studies;

• Development of a communication strategy for the promotion of three educational programmes.

The second stage of the project, (December 2023 - February 2024), includes the following:

• The development of two educational programmes (Public History and Public Communication) for the first two semesters of study at the second (master's) level of higher education: curricula, syllabi of educational components, sets of cases and materials for practical classes, test materials for evaluation, etc.

• The modernization of the educational programme of the second (master's) level of higher education known as "Territorial Community Management" for the first two semesters of study: curricula, syllabi of educational components, sets of cases and materials for practical classes, test materials for evaluation, etc.

• The preparation of issues and content of educational video materials, podcasts, blogs, and other forms of media that will be utilised when the project is completed.

The third stage of the project (March - May 2024) provides for:

• Development of two (Public History and Public Communication) educational programmes of the second (master's) level of higher education for the third semester of study: curricula, syllabi of educational components, sets of cases and materials for practical classes, test materials for evaluation, etc.;

• Modernization of the educational programme of the second (master's) level of higher education "Territorial Community Management" for the third semester of study: curricula, syllabi of educational components, sets of cases and materials for practical classes, test materials for evaluation, etc.;

• In order to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of drafts of three developed and modernised programmes, as well as the possibilities of using the proposed toolkit for the development of democracy and post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, the following initiatives will be carried out: a) The organisation and holding of the Ukrainian-American expert round table titled "Public studies in Ukraine as a tool for the development of democracy and post-war reconstruction"; b) The implementation of comprehensive systemic measures for the promotion of three educational programmes with the goal of maximally informing and attracting interested representatives of various social groups to them;

• Investigating the possibility of establishing dual degree programmes in public studies for Ukrainians and Americans working together.

The fourth stage of the project (August - September 2024) includes:

• Assistance in the organisation of Mariupol State University's competitive selection of applicants for the three established master's programs;

• Start of studies at the Master's programmes "Territorial Community Management", "Public History" and "Public Communication";

• Conducting a survey of applicants who entered the three established master's programmes and other stakeholders in order to optimally ensure the sustainability of project results;

• Preparation of a substantive and financial report on the grant