The Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) – Charles Sturt will provide educational support to the University of Customs and Finance Ukraine (UCFU.
- The Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) – Charles Sturt will provide higher education support to the University of Customs and Finance Ukraine (UCFU)
- The Centre will provide UCFU with access to course materials on EU customs law
- Assistance will extend to tailoring the materials to meet Ukraine’s specific requirements
In a show of solidarity, the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) – Charles Sturt will provide educational support to the University of Customs and Finance Ukraine (UCFU) through access to higher education course materials.
The commitment was reinforced today at a meeting with H. E. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia and New Zealand at the Ukrainian Embassy in Canberra.
Approximately $200,000 of support will be provided by CCES which will include assisting UCFU to tailor the materials to meet Ukraine’s specific requirements.
Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon PSM said the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies enjoyed a close working relationship with UCFU and was hoping to provide some form of practical support to the university during this unprecedented time in Ukraine’s history.
“We are humbled to be able to provide our friends and colleagues with high-quality educational resources at a time when many Ukrainians have experienced displacement and complete devastation,” Professor Leon said.
“These resources are one way of supporting the Ukrainian people to continue to upskill and plan for a future post the current conflict.
“I am happy to be here to support the Centre in this worthwhile initiative.”
Head of School for the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies, Charles Sturt University and President of the International Network of Customs Universities Professor David Widdowson AM said that in light of the European Commission’s historic decision to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine, CCES believed it could lend meaningful support by providing UCFU with access to its comprehensive course materials on EU Customs Law.
“We are keen to support the UCFU in its efforts to build the capacity of Ukraine Customs to develop customs policies and procedures that will facilitate its entry into the EU,” Professor Widdowson said.
“In this small way, we hope to help Ukraine face the challenges of the future.”
The course materials from CCES will be shared electronically with UCFU by the end of March, following which CCES will assist in tailoring them to meet Ukraine’s specific requirements.
In June and July 2023, CCES will deliver a five-day course to familiarise UCFU’s lecturers with the materials, including the use of a specialised web-based navigation tool.
“We are hoping to provide this on a face-to-face basis, possibly in Poland, but need to work through the logistics with UCFU,” Professor Widdowson said.
“If necessary, we will provide the familiarisation course online and ongoing mentoring will be provided for a minimum of two years.”
H. E. Vasyl Myroshnychenko said, “I welcome the support provided by Charles Sturt to the University of Customs and Finance. Partnerships such as this will prove invaluable in rebuilding our economy and society. Assisting Ukraine in this way will greatly support us in preparing for our future membership of the EU”.
Professor Widdowson said CCES is also in the process of working with its UCFU colleagues in Ukraine to develop their application for World Customs Organisation (WCO) accreditation of their programs and will be sponsoring its membership of the International Network of Customs Universities (INCU).