All-Ukrainian Final Conference takes place on the 7th of November in Kyiv on the results of 3-year project of implementation of gender-sensitive initiative “Family Friendly University” and spreading of this experience in Ukraine.

Sumy State University carried out the project “Equal opportunities in getting profession for young mother-students in higher educational establishments”. The official partners were The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Welfare of Ukraine and more than 40 top universities of the country.

“The main value established in the legal and political bases of the European Union is equality between men and women. EU is extensively protecting and promoting rights of girls and women on different levels in the EU countries and abroad. That is why we supported the SSU to implement the idea of "University - friendly to family" - noted the coordinator of the health sector and social EU Delegation in Ukraine Sergiy Polyuk.

"The aim was testing, improving and expanding the range of services that allow young mothers to combine  education at the university with her family. That is what is the basis of a balanced gender sensitive policy  of institution, social protection and support of vulnerable groups – mother-students with young children, "- said the project manager, vice-rector of SSU Nina Svitaylo. The results allow to regard these steps as an important direction of implementation of universities’ gender policy.

Member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Lutsenko joined to the final conference and said: "The implementation of such initiatives creates a very positive response in society, and gradually forms a basis for further social development.
An important component of the project is to circulate initiatives of best practices among universities in Ukraine, which expands the geography of changes at national level." 

"One of the project results is developing a model of family friendliness at universities by the Sumy State University. Today we present an example of activity of the room, where children can temporary stay in the university and best practical experiences of implementation of ideas of gender equality in the university environment. We can call an important achievement gradual change in society's attitude towards women, who combine maternity with education, "- said the expert, Associate Professor Ms. Andriana Kostenko. 

At the conference more than 20 universities and partners from different regions of Ukraine presented theirs experience in conducting hender-sensetive initiatives. Despite of the closeout of the project, Ukrainian universities continue following up its initiative and it developing.