On November 13-14, 2025, the 1st International Scientific and Practical Conference “PSYCHOLOGY, PHYSICAL CULTURE, SPORTS AND COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN THE DIMENSION OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS” took place. The conference was initiated by the Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Melitopol State Pedagogical University. All partner universities of the #ERasmus+ KA2 project “Boosting University Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing in (Post–) War Ukrainian Nation” (#BURN) from Ukraine and Estonia, Latvia and Germany, as well as other higher education institutions and specialized public organizations from all over Ukraine, universities from Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria took part in the organization and work of the conference. The wide geographical coverage once again proved the relevance of the conference topics and the issues discussed.
As part of the conference, a round table discussion was held on “The Work of the Centers for Psychological Resilience and Well-being.” The centers were established in Ukrainian displaced universities that are partners of the BURN project. Thanks to the project, they were equipped with the most modern equipment used for psycho-emotional relief – massage chairs, heavy blankets, colorful rain, etc. This equipment contributes to the psychological rehabilitation of not only students, teachers, and staff of displaced universities, but also fellow citizens who need it.
National Project Coordinator, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of Volodymyr Hnatyuk Ternopil National Pedagogical University Iryna ZADOROZHNA presented the project and talked about the experience of the centers.
Practical psychologists-teachers from Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, Kherson State University, Melitopol State Pedagogical University named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and the Horlivka Institute of Foreign Languages of the State Pedagogical University of the State Pedagogical University of Ukraine, who directly conduct rehabilitation activities in the centers, shared their experience working with the equipment and enthusiastic impressions of visitors after receiving assistance in the centers.
In particular, Olga LOGVYS spoke about the development of a “Trauma-focused Weekend Training for University Staff Working with War-Torn Students”. Kateryna BONDAR shared her experience using relaxation equipment for sensory unloading from the experience of Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University (KDPU) in cooperation with the Kryvyi Rih “Veteran Center” (psychologist Iryna Pavlichenko). Olesya ESINA’s speech was dedicated to the use of innovative psychological approaches, interactive practices, modern equipment, and intervention groups in the activities of the Center for Psychological Resilience and Well-Being.
The manager of the BURN project at the GIIM, Assoc. Prof. Tetyana BOROZENTSEVA, told
on the development of training programs based on trauma-informed approaches for the project's summer schools. Trauma-informed practice is a philosophy of interaction that recognizes the impact of trauma on a person and develops environments and methods that support the person, rather than retraumatize. The summer school training program (40 hours) will help professionals who today provide social, psychological, and educational services to people with traumatic experiences of war events.
Conference participants took part in a panel discussion "Comprehensive rehabilitation of military personnel and civilians in an interdisciplinary and multimodal format in the face of modern challenges."
On the second day of the conference, there were breakout sessions and three series of master classes from experts – project participants and other participants. In particular, master classes from the BURN project partnership were dedicated to the following topical topics: “Innovative strategies for psychological and pedagogical assistance to children with SEN in situations of uncertainty and loss of a safe environment”, “Spread the wings: a resourceful journey to harmony and inner strength”.
We are confident that many more students, teachers, and employees of the institute will use the services of the BURN GIIM Project Psychological Assistance Center, operating in Dnipro, which will have a positive impact on their emotional and psychological state.
Let's hold on and overcome stress, trauma and all obstacles together!
