Six Ukrainian students supervised by LUCA lecturers

n the coming academic year, Ronny Smedts, Geert Kestens, Roel Vande Winkel, and Robbrecht Desmet will mentor six Ukrainian students online. This initiative gives Veronika Polovyk (Acting), Maryna Kadurina (Acting), Marharyta Fal (Photography), Oleksandra Zatula (Directing), and Mykhailo Arkatov (Music Production)—all from the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture—the opportunity to continue their studies in Ukraine.

LUCA lecturers as mentors and professional friends

The LUCA lecturers will provide the Ukrainian students with dynamic, personalized online guidance, acting as advisors and professional sparring partners rather than traditional teachers. The students will receive regular feedback on their work and artistic development, as well as advice on technical skills and creative challenges designed to foster their growth.

The LUCA lecturers will also help establish connections with relevant artistic communities and provide support in overcoming language and cultural barriers, as well as practical issues such as technical glitches.

The collaboration is flexible and tailored to the needs of both parties, with a recommendation for bi-weekly check-ins and clear agreements regarding expectations from the outset. 

The program includes interim and final evaluations to discuss goals and progress, and offers support to mentors and mentees through peer check-ins. The focus is on developing artistic and professional skills, building self-confidence, and creating an inspiring international learning environment.

Organization

LUCA School of Arts is able to facilitate this initiative through its membership in ELIA’s UAx Platform. This network offers higher arts institutions from Ukraine the opportunity to become ELIA members and pairs them as "Sister Schools" with existing ELIA members, including LUCA. In addition to LUCA, four other European institutions are partnering with Ukrainian art schools that are facing immense difficulties due to the war.