The primary goal of this initiative is to give a “second life” to used plastic and to promote the 3R principles (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) among the student community. The project demonstrates the practical application of a circular economy, where waste is transformed into a valuable resource for 3D printing.

The creation of a new product follows a closed-loop cycle:

• sorting and cleaning used PET bottles;
• producing custom rPET filament using a specialized device (a Plastic Bottle Recycling Machine);
• designing and manufacturing functional household items and decorative objects.

Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most pressing issues: over 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually, and PET bottles can take anywhere from 150 to 450 years to decompose.

Implementing plastic recycling at the university level yields a significant environmental impact:

• recycling 1 ton of PET plastic saves approximately 1.5 tons of oil and reduces emissions by 70% compared to the production of virgin (new) plastic.
• recycling just one bottle saves enough energy to power a light bulb for 6 hours.

The project team has set clear practical and educational goals:

• developing a custom-built system to extract filament from cut-up PET bottles;
• manufacturing useful components and interior decor items (such as organizers, planters, stands, and toolboxes);
• organizing a themed exhibition titled “2nd Life,” featuring 3D-printed exhibits and a charity auction to support the club’s activities and those of partner organizations;
• establishing partnerships with companies in the 3D technology sector, hosting workshops, and facilitating future employment opportunities for students.

During the event, the students learned about the primary training fields for specialists in biomedical engineering, the specifics of studying at ���ϲ�����, and future career prospects. Participants were introduced to modern medical technologies, the department’s scientific research, and practical applications of engineering solutions in medicine and rehabilitation.

Special attention was given to the BMI Department’s research project No. 0126U002460, aimed at developing an intelligent navigation and obstacle detection system for people with visual impairments. As part of this research, a survey is planned to identify the main challenges visually impaired individuals face during independent movement, as well as their needs and preferences regarding the features of the future system. Students from the special schools will also take part in the survey, ensuring that user experience is directly incorporated into the system’s ongoing development and refinement.

With the participation of ���ϲ����� Accessibility Service representatives, key topics were raised regarding the inclusivity of the educational environment, ensuring equal opportunities for higher education, and supporting students with special educational needs.

Holding such events fosters career guidance for young people, promotes biomedical engineering, and strengthens collaboration between the university and special education institutions. These meetings help school students explore future education options and learn about modern technologies designed to build an accessible and inclusive environment.

The event contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being,” SDG 4 “Quality Education,” SDG 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” and SDG 10 “Reduced Inequalities.”

Since October 2024, Yurii has been actively participating in the “DrukArmia” (PrintArmy) volunteer initiative, using 3D printing technologies to manufacture items essential for the military.

Yurii Fedurtsia’s volunteer work demonstrates the practical application of modern engineering technologies to address urgent societal challenges. His work serves as an example of how technical knowledge, perseverance, and personal initiative can bring tangible benefits.

We sincerely congratulate Yurii Fedurtsia on receiving this recognition and express our gratitude for his contribution to supporting Ukrainian defenders!

The lecture “From Engineering Idea to a Sustainable Future” was delivered by Associate Professor of the CITARSE Department, Inna KHONDAK.

The main idea of the meeting was to demonstrate that sustainable development is not an abstract global concept, but a practical guideline for the modern engineer. Today, engineering solutions determine not only the technical characteristics of the developed systems, but also how efficiently energy and material resources are utilized, the environmental impact of technology, how safe and human-centric production is, and what its long-term economic efficiency will be. That is precisely why a modern engineer must think beyond the paradigm of “design – manufacture – launch.”

Their task is to create a solution that will be:

• technologically effective;
• resource-saving;
• energy-efficient;
• safe for humans;
• environmentally responsible;
• economically viable;
• adaptive and viable in the long term.

Special attention during the meeting was paid to how automation, robotics, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, digital twins, and smart manufacturing systems can contribute to achieving the SDGs.

The SDGs form a new coordinate system for engineering activities: from a local technical solution to its impact on society, the economy, and the environment. It is essential for an understanding of these principles to be developed at the very beginning of studies. After all, today’s students are the ones who will tomorrow design the manufacturing facilities, automated complexes, robotic systems, and digital infrastructure that will shape the technological future.

An engineering idea gains true value when it not only solves a technical problem, but also creates long-term value for human beings, society, and the environment. We thank the students for their activity, interest, and readiness to think not only as future engineers, but as creators of a sustainable technological future!

The event served as a platform for dialogue between Kharkiv students and representatives of various levels of government, business, university leadership, and the civic sector.

The key topic of the meeting was active youth, as students today are not merely observers, but active participants in social change, volunteering, science, innovation, and the recovery of Ukraine. Therefore, the forum participants sought to hear the students’ views and their vision of what the state should look like after the war, what Kharkiv should become, and what role the young generation will play in its recovery and development.

Igor Ruban, Rector of ���ϲ�����, addressed the participants with welcoming remarks, emphasizing the importance of student initiatives in building civil society.

During the working sessions, students asked questions to the speakers and guests and actively participated in discussions on the interaction between youth, government, and the community.

A special part of the forum was dedicated to presentations by student leaders. Kira Shuban, Head of the ���ϲ����� Student Senate, presented the student life experience at ���ϲ����� and demonstrated the role students play in state-building under martial law and city recovery through examples of volunteer work, student self-government, scientific research, youth projects, community support, digital and innovative initiatives, and cultural events.

The forum became an important platform for professional dialogue, exchange of experience, discussion of pressing issues, and the development of new ideas.

The purpose of the conference is to share the results of scientific research and the latest information in the field of radio electronics and information and communications.

The conference was attended by A.A. Akulinichev, Associate Professor at the V.V. Popovsky Department of Infocommunication Engineering at Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, who, during Session 4, «Avionics. Automotive Electronics. Biomedical Engineering. Robotics. Automated Control Systems», delivered a paper entitled «Rapid Analysis of Stress Disorders Based on Sphygmographic Indicators of the Human Cardiovascular System».

The paper was prepared based on the results of the combined use of statistical processing methods and the application of AI analysis to electrical signals reflecting the activity of the human cardiovascular system.

The event, organized by the Evaluation Agency Baden-Württemberg (EVALAG), was dedicated to studying German and European quality assurance systems in higher education. During the three-day program, participants familiarized themselves with the legal framework of Germany, the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), as well as the practical experience of Heidelberg University and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences.

During workshops and panel discussions, participants discussed external evaluation procedures, the transition to system accreditation, digitalization, the use of artificial intelligence, and student involvement in quality processes. The recommendations and materials developed as a result of the visit will contribute to the development of a prospective Ukrainian model for institutional accreditation.

The outcomes of the study visit will directly support the next stages of the INSPIRE project, particularly the preparation of Work Package 3 deliverables, including procedural guidelines, a self-assessment report template, evaluation protocols, and site visit recommendations.

The study visit to Heidelberg is an important step in the INSPIRE project’s efforts aimed at combining European experience with the needs and realities of Ukrainian higher education, as well as supporting the development of transparent, reliable, and internationally aligned approaches to quality assurance and institutional accreditation.

Agenda for the study visit

During the lecture, the speakers explained to the first-year students the essence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their significance for Ukraine and the world. They emphasised the importance of every citizen’s personal responsibility. Particular attention was paid to ���ϲ�����’s approach to implementing the SDGs, specifically within the framework of the course ‘Sustainable Development Goals: Ecology, Society, and Governance’ currently being delivered at the university. The students learnt about the specific opportunities available to them to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, to participate in university initiatives, and to apply ESG principles in their future careers in the field of artificial intelligence. The lecture sparked keen interest among the newcomers. They took an active part in the discussion and asked numerous questions. The event marked an important step towards shaping a socially conscious generation of professionals capable of combining technological innovation with the principles of sustainable development.

���ϲ����� continues to actively integrate the principles of the SDGs into its curricula, setting an example of social responsibility in education and nurturing a new generation of leaders ready to build a fair and sustainable future.

Social work and support for IDPs are among the key priorities in ���ϲ�����’s activities. Thanks to this inter-university collaboration, the children had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of creativity, relieve psychological stress, and acquire new skills.

A professional team of lecturers and specialists from the University of Arts worked with the children: Oksana Aleksandrova – Doctor of Arts, Professor, Head of the Department of Music Theory; Polina Rud – Candidate of Arts, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Music Theory; and Oleksandr Maslo – Methodologist in the Academic Affairs Department.

A distinctive and memorable feature of the sessions was the children’s participation in playing percussion instruments donated by Mr Urban Fry.

This joint initiative by the two Kharkiv universities demonstrated the importance of social partnership and care for the younger generation during difficult times. Work to support internally displaced children at the ���ϲ����� halls of residence will continue.