The VITAL project begins: transforming academic careers in Georgia and Ukraine

The VITAL project – Virtual Innovation and Training for Advancing Faculty Leaders, Digital Competencies, and Research Excellence – has officially begun. Funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange programme, this strategic training initiative sets out to transform the academic landscape in Georgia and Ukraine by empowering early-career faculty and researchers to become leaders capable of guiding their institutions toward excellence in the digital age.

Over the next 36 months, from February 2026 to January 2029, the project will implement a sustainable and scalable model for academic staff development, grounded in key European values: inclusion, virtual collaboration, intercultural dialogue and academic integrity.

VITAL focuses particularly on universities in Georgia and Ukraine, addressing structural deficiencies in mentoring systems, academic leadership, digital pedagogy and research development. Through international cooperation and knowledge exchange, the project will promote innovative training, digital competencies and collaborative research practices.

The work rests on four pillars: academic leadership and professional development; digital skills and pedagogy; excellence in research; and the promotion of European values.

Over the next three years, VITAL will develop a set of training activities, collaborative learning opportunities and institutional tools designed to support early-career academics. Follow the project news on this website for upcoming calls and opportunities.