USUST integrates education, BIM technologies, and European practices

On January 23, 2026, the SEI ‘Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture’ of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies hosted the defense of the comprehensive master’s qualification project titled ‘Construction of a cultural heritage and mental recreation center.”
The project was developed by master’s students  in the framework of the Erasmus+ project ‘The BRIDGE’ with the aim of developing and promoting the educational and professional programme ‘BIM Technologies in Construction and Civil Engineering’.
 
The international project ‘The BRIDGE’ is focused on the creation of innovative master’s programmes that apply BIM technologies in construction, architecture, and civil engineering. These programmes are adapted to labour market needs and aligned with EU priorities on energy efficiency and sustainable life cycle of buildings as well as  urban environment. The project has been implemented from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2026, with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme and the involvement of Ukrainian and European partner universities.
An important prerequisite for the development of the project concept was ‘PSACEA’ USUST and the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Dnipro City Council. The memorandum was signed by Vladyslav Danishevskyi, director of the Academy, and Valentyn Starostin, deputy head of the Department. Based on this partnership, students were given the task to design the reconstruction of a historic sanatorium building to create a modern cultural heritage and mental recreation center.
 
The project mentors and organizers were Artem Sopilniak, Associate Professor and head of the Department of Descriptive Geometry and Engineering Graphics, and Kostiantyn Dikarev, Associate Professor and head of the Department of Construction Technology.
The project was implemented as an interdepartmental initiative involving students and faculty members from seven departments of the SEI ‘PSACEA’ and one department of the SEI ‘USUCT’, highlighting its interdisciplinary nature.
The project was given special significance by international and national experts who joined the online discussion via the MS Teams platform.
 
The representatives of universities and leading industry expert were among the distinguished guests:
  • Milan Pekar, lead architect of Bratislava (Slovakia);
  • Kostiantyn Protchenko, Associate Professor at Warsaw University of Technology (Politechnika Warszawska, PW), director of the BIM Platform;
  • Ivan Nazarenko, president of the Academy of Construction of Ukraine;
  • Ivan Perehinets, director of the Scientific and Technical Center of the Academy of Construction of Ukraine;
  • Liliia Voropai, engineer at Origin;
  • Vitalii Holovachov, representative of the Navigation and Geodetic Center, official distributor of Leica Geosystems in Ukraine;
  • Faculty members and students from Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, Lviv Polytechnic National University, and Odesa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture.
The participation of international experts gave the project an international dimension, facilitated the exchange of experience among students, faculty members, architects, and stakeholders, and highlighted the relevance of BIM technologies in contemporary education and construction practice.
 
The comprehensive project became an example of the effective integration of the educational process, scientific research, modern software, and practical tasks in the field of preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage. The use of BIM technologies enabled students to acquire modern professional competencies and hands-on experience working with real-life facilities, while the implementation of the initiative fostered the development of interdisciplinary cooperation and promoted innovative approaches to the reconstruction of historic buildings in line with the principles of sustainable development.
The student team included:
  • Karina Bondarenko (supervisor: Tamara Tovstik, Associate Professor. Department of Design and Reconstruction of the Architectural Environment,  PSACEA);
  • Pavlo Fisunenko (supervisor: Artem Sopilniak, Associate Professor. Department of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Structures, PSACEA);
  • Yelyzaveta Pavelko (supervisor: Vladyslav Kovba, Associate Professor. Department of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics, PSACEA);
  • Kyrylo Kletsov (supervisor: Maryna Liakhovetska-Tokareva, Associate Professor. Department of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Heat and Gas Supply, PSACEA);
  • Mykyta Prykhodko (supervisor: Kostiantyn Dikarev, Associate Professor. Department of Construction Technology, PSACEA);
  • Veronika Suprun (supervisor: Anastasiia Haidar, Associate Professor. Department of Construction Technology, PSACEA);
  • Vladyslav Shulika (supervisor: Nataliia Svichkar, Associate Professor. Department of Real Estate Development, Finance, Accounting and Marketing, PSACEA);
  • Maksym Honcharov (supervisor: Yurii Vashchenko, Professor. Department of Fuel, Polymer and Printing Materials Technologies. USUCT).
The organizers also expressed special gratitude to Uliana Sabantseva, a student of the faculty of Architecture, for creating the animation of the construction process.

The project ‘Construction of a Cultural Heritage and Mental Recreation Center’ became a notable event in the educational and scientific life of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies and clearly demonstrated the potential of combining international grants, academic education, and practical activities in the field of cultural heritage preservation and the development of  modern urban environment.

More photos are available via the link