1.Kharkiv State University of Food and Trade / KSUFT (Ukraine)
Kharkiv State University of Food and Trade stands clearly out among the great variety of Ukrainian universities. It is the only institution of higher learning in East Ukraine which trains bachelors, specialists, and masters for trade, hospitality, restaurant business, the food processing industry, customs and auditing services. Quality training of highly competitive specialists is provided by 460 teachers, 70% of whom are doctors of science, academics, professors, and associate professors. Among them are the State Prize winners, veteran educators and acclaimed scholars, leading figures in science and technology.
Kharkiv State University of Food and Trade actively develops the promising areas of human nutrition of the twenty-first century. It has more than 20 academic schools. Long years of research work were recognized by two State Prizes of Ukraine in Science and Technology in 2006 and 2012 received by 10 university scholars. Each year the university inventors receive 30 patents for inventions.
Start-up Centre of the University helps students and young entrepreneurs to promote their projects into life. The University has Scientific Research Centre “Economic problems of entrepreneurship development in Ukraine”, which organizes and performs of scientific researches for the most important problems of socio-economic development of entrepreneurship in the sphere of trade and services in the context of European integration. The University also take part in the development and realization of “The program of support and development of entrepreneurship in Kharkiv for 2012-2017”. In the framework of this program the scientists of the University give advices to entrepreneurs via developed distance online platform. University was one of the co-organizators of two international business forums: International Investment And Consultation Business Forum “Europe without borders” (Ukraine-Poland), International Business Workshop “Open Gate Italy” (Ukraine-Italy).
2. Armenian State University of Economics / ASUE (Armenia)
The Armenian State University of Economics (ASUE) was established in 1930. It is the largest and leading economic educational institution in Armenia with nearly 8000 students and 650 academic staff members. ASUE established branches in the regions of Armenia: in the city of Gyumri (in 1997) and in Yeghegnadzor city (in 2008). The University currently delivers Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs. More than 30.000 highly-skilled specialists have been trained at the University. Most of them are currently working in the spheres of Economy, Finance, Science, Culture, Education etc.
Teaching and research organized at the 6 Departments, 23 Chairs, 18 of which are of certain specialization and the other 5 of common disciplines. Academic staff of ASUE consists of 40 Professors, Doctors of Science; 141 Associate Professors, Candidates of Science; 87 Assistant Professors; 103 Lecturers and more than 60 qualified specialists.
In compliance with the new developed strategy ASUE initiates a process to link Education and Labour market, ameliorates curricula and has recorded a rapid development in internationalization and research action lines.
Main strategic directions of ASUE activities are: providing a high quality higher education in line with Bologna Action Lines, training of qualified economists, retraining specialists and improving their qualifications, conducting research in economics, reform of education process in order for the successful integration of European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
In 2013 ASUE established “AMBERD” Research Center, which has conducted research programs about the most urgent problems of the country’s economy by its own initiative and by the order of different ministries in Armenia since then. Besides the ASUE faculty members, specialists from state government system and private sectors having significant experience in the field of research have also been engaged in these research programs.
3. Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives / BTEU (Belarus)
The Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives (BTEU) is the higher educational establishment of Belcoopsoyuz (state recognized HEI). Founded in 1964, today the university consists of three faculties including 13 departments of full-time, correspondent and distance education. The University trains specialists in 14 specialties and 22 specializations in Communications, Law, Economics and Management, Entrepreneurship activity e.t.c.
At present, the educational system at the university is being modernized in line with the strategy of the information society development (development of distance learning forms) and in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Declaration.
Center of Business Education (CBE) functions as a part of the University. The key activities of CBE are to develop business education and youth entrepreneurship. The strategy is to develop «lifelong learning», successful employment and establishment of profitable business.
Events held by CBE elaborate the program whereby students at the university are being trained. While assisting in employment, CBE helps students in writing of CVs, offers them consultations concerning career development; holds international educational seminars, trainings, master classes that help graduates to orient in the labor market; keeps in touch with graduates.
CBE holds meetings with businessmen, provides consultations in implementation of students’ business ideas with the aim to develop students’ entrepreneurship and motivating students to entrepreneurship activity.
Annually International youth forums, business start-ups and championship “Youth and Entrepreneurship” are held in BTEU.
4. Academy of Economic Study of Moldova / ASEM (Moldova)
Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM) is the main public higher educational institution with economic profile in Moldova. Currently, ASEM comprises 6 faculties with 26 departments (Business Administration, General Economy and Law, Cybernetics, Statistics and Economic Informatics, International Economic Relations, Finance, Accounting) two auxiliary departments, seven centers, Master School of Excellence in Economics and Business, Doctoral School, School of Tourism and Hotel Services, two business incubators and National College of Commerce.
ASEM is a member of the European University Association (EUA), the Francophone University Association (FUA), the Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN), the Central European Initiative University Network (CEI-University Network).
There are 9188 students at ASEM of which 6735 Bachelor, 1396 Masters, 121 PhD and 936 professionals on LLL courses. Total number of staff of the ASEM: 405 from which 361 (full-time), 44 (part-time).
5. Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University / BSU (Georgia)
Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU), located in Batumi, Ajara, Autonomous Republic of Georgia, has academic tradition since 1935. Nowadays Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University comprises 9 faculties and 3 scientific-research institutes:
Faculties: Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences and political sciences, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health, Faculty of Physics-Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Technology, Faculty of Tourism;
Scientific-research institutes: NikoBerzenishvili Institute (Direction of Humanities and Social Studies), Institute of Agrarian and Membrane Technologies, – Phytopathology and Biodiversity Institute.
Main priorities of our university are: integration in the international educational networks, sharing the experience of leading foreign universities, improving the curricula, taking into consideration the needs of the employers and the labour market while preparing the specialists; relevance and integration of academic and scientific-research activities.
BSU`s strategic development goals are: to prepare competitive diploma-awarded medical specialists, bachelors, masters and doctors, corresponding modern requirements and competences; to suggest high quality education to all interested people; to carry out fundamental and practical research aiming the welfare of the population, economic strength, security, implementing democratic principles and spiritual elevation in the following fields: natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, law, mathematics and computing, engineering, business, medical and agricultural branches.
At present over 5 500 students study at the vocational, Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programs. BSU has cooperation with universities in Europe, USA and post-soviet countries; takes part in international exchange programs and scientific-research grant
6. RISEBA University / RISEBA (Latvia)
Founded in 1992, RISEBA was among the first private higher education institutions in Latvia established as a stand-alone business school. Today RISEBA is among 10 largest higher education institutions in Latvia (both public and private) with over 3000 students, including 200 international students, who attend 14 study programmes of different fields and levels, and almost 9000 alumni. RISEBA has three campuses located in Riga and one in Daugavpils (the second largest city in Latvia). RISEBA aims to prepare its students and graduates for international careers. RISEBA, a strongly research-led university, is about commitment and excellence in both research and education. National accreditation is a cornerstone of RISEBA’s recognition in Latvia and abroad. RISEBA personnel consist of 119 full time employees, 45 of them are elected academic staff members (core faculty) and 175 are visiting faculty. RISEBA core faculty includes 4 Professors, 11 Associate Professors, 19 Assistant Professors, and 11 Lecturers.
In May 2013, RISEBA launched a new and ambitious project, the main goal of which is to provide start-up advice and support to students and alumni – RISEBA Creative Business Incubator. RISEBA Creative Business Incubator is a new RISEBA project established to inspire, educate and help RISEBA students and graduates speed up the growth and success of their business ideas, start-up and early stage companies. Support RISEBA students in the business idea and project development process and acceleration process of the new start-up companies. RISEBA Creative Business Incubator is promoting an idea to provide entrepreneurs with flexible and affordable space in Riga (Latvia). RISEBA Creative Business Incubator Cooperation Network comprises business incubators of four Latvian universities, thus working together towards the common goal – promotion of the entrepreneurship culture among youth and young adults in Latvia.
7. Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava / USV (Romania)
Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV) is one of the fastest rising universities in the Eastern European region providing higher education of high quality standards at a relatively low cost. It is one of the very few universities in this region with a comprehensive curriculum including more than 100 programs at undergraduate, master, doctoral and post-doctoral level from all five faculty areas (Arts & Humanities,Engineering & IT, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences). A unique educational outpost that goes back nearly half a century, USV’s transnational platform is aimed at discovering, preserving and disseminating knowledge while promoting basic European principles, such as unity through diversity, in an area where the credibility and identity of the European Union needs to be strengthened and further increased.
Located in the beautiful and multicultural land of Bukovina, USV is surrounded by the greatest density of UNESCO monuments from this part of Europe, precious art monuments, great spiritual life and rich folklore traditions offering its students great opportunities for extra-curriculum activities.
What also stands out is USV’s ability to sustain regional development at national level within the North-Eastern area, as well as at transnational level through Ukraine and Republic of Moldova close partnerships.
USV is a Romanian institution of higher education situated at the confluence of important Europeancultures and civilizations. Its mission is to preserve and foster cultural diversity, to strengthen the relations with the Romanians across the border by encouraging new bilateral agreements and partnerships with universities from the European Union, as well as with non-EU institutions of higher education from Eastern Europe.