UESA Conducted a Training on Re-Engaging with EU Neighbours Amid War and Geopolitical Tensions

Our organization successfully held a two-day training in Kyiv on September 4–5, 2025, within the framework of the Re-Engage project, implemented with the support of the European Union. The initiative was aimed at strengthening the capacity of interviewers and researchers to carry out high-quality sociological fieldwork in the context of ongoing war and growing geopolitical challenges.

The training was delivered by international experts: Sophie Gueudet (Post-doctoral researcher, Re-Engage; Research Associate, PeaceRep Ukraine, London School of Economics and Political Science), Kristian Lefdal (Junior Research Fellow, Research Group on Peace, Conflict, and Development, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs), and Morten Bøås (Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs). The programme also featured Professor Pernille Rieker, Principal Investigator of Re-Engage, who delivered a keynote lecture on EU–Neighbourhood relations in times of conflict.

Participants received detailed instructions on research methodology and underwent practical training on digital tools, particularly CSEntry, for data collection. Through simulation exercises, they practiced conducting interviews in real-life conditions, which helped to reinforce both their technical skills and their knowledge of ethical standards in research.

The training concluded with the official launching of the surveying, which will run for two months and represents an important step in gathering evidence-based insights to inform dialogue and policy-making on regional cooperation.

This programme was carried out with the financial support of the European Union. The views expressed during the training are solely those of the implementers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union.