At the round table, the DOCU/CLUB Network presented the opportunities offered by film clubs for the academic community. The presentation was delivered by the Network’s Communications Manager, Olha Babchuk, who emphasized that film clubs at universities can serve not only as educational tools but also as bridges towards international cooperation and intercultural dialogue with students and faculty members from all over Europe.

In her presentation, the speaker underlined that Docudays UA film clubs are not only platforms for screening and discussing documentary films. They provide a powerful educational tool that fosters critical thinking and dialogue skills, a communication platform for discussions, and an intercultural environment for joint screenings, research projects, and combined formats of learning in collaboration with European partners.

Olha Babchuk

“Documentary films share a universal language. They enable Ukrainian students to speak about their own experience, their country, and the challenges they face, while helping European students to better understand Ukraine, its culture, and its contemporary context,” noted Olha Babchuk.

Ukraine continues to assert its place within the European community, which makes the development of international partnerships between universities and cultural institutions a strategic priority.

Representatives of universities from different regions of Ukraine during a roundtable discussion

The DOCU/CLUB Network offers educational institutions a ready-made, time-tested platform that:

• promotes the representation of Ukrainian culture within international academic circles;

• expands opportunities for participation in European Union programs;

• forms a generation of students who are capable of critical thinking, committed to the protection of human rights, and engaged in active citizenship;

• serves as a tool for Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy on the global arena.

Svitlana Shytikova, Head of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, emphasized that cultural practices are essential for development of student academic mobility and advancement of international partnerships between universities: “Film clubs of the DOCU/CLUB Network are an effective format for intercultural dialogue. They help universities build trust, cooperation, and shared values, all of which are the foundation of the Erasmus+ program. We welcome the use of these tools, because they increase opportunities for educational cooperation and help the world gain a deeper understanding of Ukraine.”

Discussion of the potential of DOCU/CLUB film clubs for Ukrainian universities

The DOCU/CLUB Network is grateful to the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine for the opportunity to participate in the round table and willing to expand cooperation with universities, develop their international capacities, and contribute to the strengthening of Ukraine’s educational diplomacy.

The development of the DOCU/CLUB Network is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and Fondation de France.

The opinions, conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and compilers of this publication and do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments or charitable organizations of these countries. The authors and compilers are solely responsible for the content of this publication.