The implementation of the university’s third mission is a key area of development for modern higher education. Its success is largely determined by effective collaboration between universities and civil society organisations, which foster links with local communities, help tailor educational initiatives to the real needs of the population, and contribute to achieving long-term social impact.

A striking example of such synergy is the launch of the ‘Confident and Modern’ project, supported by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund (9 July 2026), by the Centre for Gender Education, a civil society organisation, in partnership with Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, whose aim is to strengthen the psychosocial resilience and digital security of older women in the Chernihiv community by creating a supportive environment, bridging the digital divide and developing self-advocacy skills to counter multiple forms of discrimination in wartime conditions. It should be noted that through such partnership projects, the university is becoming a centre for social innovation, which not only provides educational services but also shapes new models of support for active ageing, civic participation and mutual aid. Women aged 60 and over are gradually transforming from passive recipients of social services into active participants in community development, volunteers, initiators of local projects and bearers of cultural and social capital.

The first session with the participants focused on the topic ‘Inner Resilience: How to Tap into Your Own Resources’, led by Alla Mekshun, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Work at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University. The event had a purely practical and social focus: the participants learnt how to find inner strength and restore emotional balance amid the uncertainty of war, and mastered effective techniques for rapid psychological self-support. The meeting was imbued with the power of interaction and female synergy.

The project is ongoing, so keep an eye out for announcements on the official Facebook page of the NGO ‘Center for Gender Education’ and on the Chernihiv City Territorial Centre for Social Services (provision of social services) of the Chernihiv City Council.

The project is being implemented by the NGO ‘Center for Gender Education’ with the support of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.

#ГолосЖінокНоваСила

#Che_Polytech

#ГО_ЦГО