Advancing Internationalization Agenda Amidst the War in Ukraine: Kindness and Trauma-Informed Teaching Project in Teacher Education

Abstract

[EN] The paper aims to describe and analyze graduate students' collaborative online learning project between Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University, Vinnytsia [VSPU] Ukraine, and Worcester State University [WSU], Massachusetts, USA, as one of the outcomes of the internationalization agenda in Ukraine. Since the war in Ukraine and the increased acts of violence in the U.S. require immediate action, the “Kindness and Trauma-Informed Teaching” project is essential. Based on a one-semester interaction for the case study, research, and project work, it is a novel practice at both educational institutions. Graduate students engaged in asynchronous and synchronous activities utilizing Zoom, Google Classroom, and Google Documents. The project was carried out under the auspices of Education USA, the American Council in Ukraine, and SUNY COIL Foundation in the USA. The findings highlight the significance of such partnerships and persuade that this project promotes further collaborative research in teacher education.