Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is an active participant in the Erasmus+ project "EcoMinds" (Enhancing Environmental Data Collection through Machine Learning and Database Systems), which involves five faculties of the university. The project combines information technology and environmental science, preparing future specialists to address global climate and environmental challenges.
The project is currently in the stage of developing and piloting elective bachelor's courses on machine learning and database design across all partner countries. More than 40 second-year students from the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering have already participated in testing these courses.
The educational process is based on working with real-world data. Throughout the courses, students develop digital competencies while applying environmental analytics to investigate pressing issues, including the impact of the armed conflict on Ukraine's environment. This approach enables students not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to develop practical skills in analyzing complex ecosystems.
The Faculty of Informatics and Computer Engineering (FICE) Hub recently hosted presentations and final defenses of student group projects. The participants presented research focused on key environmental topics, including:
✨ assessing the environmental impact of military operations;
✨ protecting forests and natural ecosystems;
✨ hydrological research and marine area monitoring;
✨ climate change and anomaly analysis;
✨ air quality monitoring and industrial impact assessment;
✨ biodiversity conservation.
The project presentations were attended by Associate Professors Yurii Oliinyk and Tetiana Likhouzova, Head of the Department of Informatics and Software Engineering Eduard Zharikov, and Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Computer Engineering Yaroslav Kornaha.
The successful completion and defense of the student projects provided strong practical evidence of the participants' positive evaluation of the course and confirmed that the project has achieved its key quality indicators, particularly in terms of receiving positive student feedback.
The tools, datasets, and educational outcomes developed within the project are expected to foster new cross-sectoral and transnational initiatives, bringing together higher education institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations to jointly address Europe's most pressing climate challenges.