On the initiative of the President of the National University “Odesa Law Academy”, Sergiy Kivalov, students of the Faculty of Civil and Commercial Justice took part in an international academic mobility programme across Europe – a journey that combined learning, practical experience, and acquaintance with the cultural heritage of leading European countries.
The trip was organised with the support of the French non-governmental organisation “Ukraine in Europe” and the International Relations Office of the National University “Odesa Law Academy”.
During the programme, the students were accompanied by Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Languages, Svitlana Yeromenko.
Within the framework of the educational programme, the students visited leading institutions of the European Union and international organisations. In particular, they visited the interactive centre of the European Parliament in Paris, where they had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the structure of the European Parliament, the work of its committees, electoral procedures, and the activities of Members of the European Parliament.
The most productive part of the programme was the visit to Brussels, where the students became acquainted with the work of the European Commission, the process of drafting regulatory documents, the formation of its composition, as well as the activities of the departments of oral and written translation. All speakers emphasised the importance of legal education and the strong demand within the European Commission for legal professionals with foreign language proficiency.
A significant part of the programme was the visit to the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. Students of NU “OLA” learned about the main areas of the organisation’s activities, its history, achievements, and development prospects.
An important component of the mobility programme was a trip to the German city of Weimar – a symbolic centre of European history and state-building. It was here that the German Constitution was adopted in 1919, and the period from 1919 to 1933 entered history as the era of the Weimar Republic. Near the city, the students visited the Buchenwald Memorial – a site commemorating the tragic events of the Second World War, through which about 250,000 prisoners passed, more than 56,000 of whom perished. This visit became a profound emotional and moral experience that fostered an awareness of the value of human rights and the rule of law.
As part of the educational programme, the participants also visited Frankfurt am Main, the financial and business heart of Europe. The city, which hosts more than 300 banks from around the world, impressed visitors with its dynamism and scale. The students visited the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and learned about the city’s economic life, real estate market, and traditional regional cuisine.
The cultural programme in Paris was equally rich and diverse. The students took part in the “Ukrainian Paris” guided tour, during which they learned about Ukrainian artists and public figures who lived and worked in France.
This international academic mobility programme became not merely an educational trip for the students of the Faculty of Civil and Commercial Justice, but a unique experience that inspires, shapes professional thinking, and confirms that students of the National University “Odesa Law Academy” enjoy the best opportunities for learning, development, and integration into the European educational and professional environment.
