The Competence Network of Urban Transformation and Resilience (CNUTR) — funded by the DAAD Programme “German-Ukrainian Academic Cooperation” — successfully held its first hybrid midterm presentation on 25.11.2026, bringing together students and academic staff from KIT Karlsruhe and five Ukrainian partner universities.
The hybrid presentation was jointly organized and moderated by Dr. Anastasia Malko (KIT), Moran Lev (KIT), and Iman Baratvakili (KIT), with a guest contribution from Dr. Oleksandra Nenko (University of Turku, Finland).
Across the network, 15 student groups are currently working on urban transformation topics in Metropol. X Tallinn. During the midterm session, seven groups — three from KIT and four from the Ukrainian partner universities — presented their progress including “Port Area Morphological Changes” – Liliana & Victoria from OM Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv, “Overtourism” – Orina & Aleksandra from Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, “FFPT Mobility System” – Svitlana & Stas from Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, “Tellskivi Area” – Aleksandra & Volodymyr from Lviv Polytechnic National University, “Trade and Shoreline” – Marco & Tim and “The Tallinn Syndrome” – Joshua & Julian and “FFPT as a Role Model” – Sophia & Alisa from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
One of the central challenges in this DAAD-funded collaboration is the difference in semester timing.
Ukrainian groups started earlier and have already completed their research, finished their mappings and illustrations, and begun drafting their chapters for the upcoming Atlas of Urban Transformation and Resilience. They refine their storyline, strengthen their conclusion, reconsider methodological decisions, and identify next steps toward possible articles or future publications.
German groups are at the early stage — selecting topics, conducting literature reviews, starting their mapping and research work. They could see what a whole Atlas chapter looks like and understand the level of depth expected at the end of the semester. They gained insight into methods used by Ukrainian groups — especially mapping, narrative structure, and spatial analysis.
Despite different calendars, technical limitations, and the complex situation under which Ukrainian universities currently operate, this midterm session showed that collaboration across borders remains possible, hybrid teaching formats can be efficient and inclusive, students benefit from seeing different academic cultures and timelines, and the CNUTR network can turn challenges into opportunities.
This midterm presentation was the first significant step in the teaching cooperation within CNUTR.
Next steps include finalizing the Ukrainian Atlas chapters, supporting German students in their research and mapping, strengthening cross-university peer exchange, preparing for future joint publications, workshops, and events.
