From 24 to 30 May 2025, the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) became a vibrant center of exchange and collaboration, hosting the first onsite Project Coordination Meeting and the Executive Training Program for Facilitators of Virtual Exchange in Higher Education and Youth.

Both events are key components of the SEAL New Reality (SEAL NR) project, supported by the European Union, and implemented by the International Balkan University in partnership with Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design (KNUTD) in Ukraine, Politechnika Warszawska (WUT) in Poland, Baltijas Starptautiska Akademija (BIA) in Latvia, Institute of Social and Economic Initiatives (ISEI) in Ukraine, Mingachevir State University (MUS) in Azerbaijan, the Kyiv Education, Training and Youth Centre (KETY) in Ukraine, and the associated partner, DITELC Switzerland – Swiss Center of Excellence in Digital Transformation and Ecosystem Leadership, based in Zurich, Switzerland.

IBU was represented by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Snezhana Bilic, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrijana Bojadzievska Danevska and Asst. Prof. Dr. Ceneta Telak Durmishi. 

The week opened with the Project Coordination Meeting, where partner coordinators and team members met in person for the first time to align project milestones, synchronize upcoming activities, and reinforce a shared vision. The meeting underscored the importance of continuous communication, effective teamwork, and timely delivery - laying the groundwork for the facilitator training that followed.

Building on this coordination, the Executive Training Program for Facilitators welcomed participants and experts from across Europe and beyond. Designed to empower a new generation of facilitators, the program focused on developing leadership grounded in empathy, innovation, and purpose in today’s rapidly evolving digital and physical learning environments.

Throughout the week, attendees participated in engaging workshops, expert lectures, interactive sessions, and creative challenges, exploring facilitation as a powerful tool for transformation in education, community development, and cross-border cooperation.

Each day focused on a specific theme:

- Understanding the Facilitator’s Role in a Changing World

- Sustainability as a Framework for Educational Innovation

- Digital Tools and AI for Enhanced Facilitation

- Community Engagement and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

- Designing and Presenting Real-World Projects with Impact

Whether working on inclusive strategies for green education or mastering tools like Miro and Notion, participants were encouraged to rethink how we teach, connect, and build trust across formats and contexts.

The week concluded with a certificate ceremony and a vibrant exchange of ideas, marking not just the end of the training, but the beginning of long-term collaboration and impact across the SEAL NR network.

As a continuation of the onsite discussions, the project also resumed with a series of online consultations for Hub facilitators and leaders, within the regular project meetings, to ensure reflection, community engagement, and sustainable knowledge exchange.

For more information and updates, follow the SEAL NR project on social media and visit the official project website.