International Educational Project HEI-TRAIN: How Artificial Intelligence Transforms Universities into Innovation Hubs (Insights from Yulia Fernos)

During June-July 2025, Associate Professor of the Department of Ukrainian and Foreign Languages at Uman National University  Yulia Fernos participated in the international professional development program HEI-TRAIN: Transforming HEIs into Innovation Hubs for AI-Powered Entrepreneurship. The initiative is implemented with the support of the European Union within the EIT HEI Initiative Call for Proposals 2024 – Strand A (project No. 24225).

The main goal of the project is to transform higher education institutions into regional innovation hubs by developing entrepreneurial potential, digital skills, implementing artificial intelligence, and supporting vulnerable populations.

HEI-TRAIN is more than an educational project. It promotes systemic changes in higher education, helps faculty and students master modern AI tools, develops entrepreneurial thinking, and stimulates collaboration with business and science. This is an important step toward integrating Ukrainian education into the European innovation ecosystem and responding to contemporary challenges. Those who keep pace with the times and are ready to adapt to new technological challenges will succeed.

The project generated extraordinary interest: 715 people registered as participants, confirming the high demand for knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence. Although not everyone participated in all activities, 386 unique participants took part in information sessions and guest speaker presentations, while 370 students registered on the Moodle platform to take tests for each module. The geography is also impressive – faculty, entrepreneurs, civil servants, startup developers, and change agents joined the training not only from Ukraine but from nine other countries worldwide.

The condition for obtaining a certificate was attending online sessions and completing tests based on lecture materials on the Moodle platform. Participants were also required to create two projects on using AI in their field. Additionally, participants:

• tested no-code and low-code platforms
• learned to make decisions based on data analysis
• developed ethical and sustainable approaches to using AI in their professional activities

Within the program, Yulia Fernos developed and presented two original projects:

• AI Integration Framework for English Language Teaching – a model for integrating artificial intelligence tools into English language teaching
• Digital Storytelling for Social Impact Ventures – a concept for using digital storytelling to support social initiatives and enterprises

Participation in the project provided new knowledge and practical skills that will contribute to implementing innovative approaches in the educational process, preparing students for the digital economy, and developing partnerships with business and international educational structures.

Associate Professor Yulia Fernos' participation in the HEI-TRAIN program confirms Uman National University's readiness to integrate innovative approaches into the educational process and actively participate in European educational initiatives.