Specialists of the Project-Educational Center "Agents of Change" of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University held an interesting information and consultation meeting. It was held within the framework of the implementation of a regional development project implemented at the expense of the state budget, donations received from the European Union, and in cooperation with both the Ivano-Frankivsk Region State Administration and the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.
Its main issues were 1) firstly, the exchange of information concerning the specifics of the second competitive selection of regional development projects in the framework of the new strategic planning period of 2021-2027, and 2) secondly, the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the EU on financing the Sectoral Policy Support Program for “Supporting Regional Policy of Ukraine”. These issues and other problems of project activity were discussed by the Vice-Rector responsible for Scientific Work of the Precarpathian University Valentina Yakubov, specialists of the AGENTS OF CHANGE, managers, project managers, chief and leading specialists of the administrations and departments of economic development, investment policy, international cooperation, tourism, and others City Councils, District State Administrations, OTGs, Regional Development Agencies, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, CERMS, municipal enterprises, public organizations, as well as all the interested people, who are engaged in project activities.
The meeting was moderated by Svetlana Kropelnytska, Director of the Center “Agents of Change”, Associate Professor of Finance, Department of Economics, Precarpathian University. She noted that the main purpose of the event was to improve the quality and increase the number of successful project proposals that will be submitted for the aforementioned second competition, as well as to multiply the effect of the winner of the first competition, resulting in the creation of a Center, which will continue to provide professional consultative support in project management.
The meeting was addressed by the Vice-Rector for Scientific Work, Professor Valentina Yakubov, Head of the Standing Committee of the Regional Council for Regional Policy, Decentralization and Development of Local Self-
Government, in Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council Vasyl Melnychuk, Deputy Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Hayda.
“Today’s event devoted to the preparation of project applications for the new EU Sector Budget Support Contest reveals many new aspects concerning the procedure of project application. It is important to take into account the principle of smart specialization recommended by the EU. Experience has shown that the smart specialization approach in strategic planning, in project planning, has a significant effect. It is grounded in preparing project proposals or strategic planning, taking into consideration the interests of different stakeholder groups and is based on the synergies of the three main institutions – community, business and science”, – said Vice-Rector Valentina Yakubov.
She also emphasized that the University, through the AGENTS OF CHANGE, is ready to support OTG and all interested institutions and organizations in the preparation of projects aimed at the development of our region.