BDPU Student Represents Ukraine in School Project in Scotland

Svitlana Mykhailenko, a student at Berdiansk State Pedagogical University, has gained a unique international experience by taking part in the UK–Ukraine School Partnerships project, supported by the British Council, and travelling to Scotland. In the project she represents Voinivskyi Lyceum of Pryiutivska community as an English teacher. The partnership between Voinivskyi Lyceum and Papa Westray Community School (Orkney Islands, Scotland) began last year with an in-person meeting of Ukrainian and British teachers in Kraków, and continued throughout the academic year through online meetings, joint activities and a language exchange between pupils and teachers of both schools.

In August 2026, the cooperation reached a new stage as the Ukrainian delegation carried out a professional educational visit directly to Papa Westray Community School. Svitlana had the chance to see firsthand how a small island school works, where children of different ages study together and education is closely tied to community life. Notably, Ukrainian language and culture have also become part of the school programme, giving British pupils another way to learn about Ukraine and connect with their Ukrainian peers. During the visit, teachers exchanged experience on the Reading for Pleasure methodology, inclusive approaches, language learning and motivating children to read.

For Svitlana Mykhailenko, taking part in the project meant combining her studies at BDPU with real professional practice and international pedagogical experience. The partnership between the schools will continue in the 2026/2027 academic year, with new online meetings, joint reading and professional exchange planned between Ukrainian and Scottish teachers. It’s a vivid example of how our student represents Ukrainian education on the international stage.