Transforming Online Education in Wartime: Empowering Ukrainian University Teachers through Project-Based Learning

Ihor Katernyak is affiliated with Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in Ukraine. He holds a PhD in Physics and Mathematics and serves as an Associate Professor in the Electronics & Computer Technology Department. His research interests encompass e-learning, knowledge management, digital transformation in education, entrepreneurship, tech startups, technology transfer, and open innovation. He has been published in reputable journals such as Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, Universal Journal of Education Research, and Interactive Technology and Smart Education, among others.
Furthermore, he initiated a series of events including the "Idea Marathon" (held annually from March to May), "Innovation Spring" as a brokerage event (held annually in April), and "Startup Jam" (held from November to December). These events are designed to inspire young researchers and students to explore their ideas in the contexts of value innovation and tech startups. In addition, he is an expert in Innovation policy and ICT4Dev.
Ihor Katernyak is also the founder and CEO of the Ukrainian Distance Learning (UDL) System NGO.

I am currently a Professor of Computer and Systems Sciences at Stockholm University, a role I've held since 2019. Before that, I served as an Associate Professor in the same department from 2009 to 2019.

My educational background includes a PhD in Educational Sciences and Audiology, which I earned from Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet in 1993. Prior to that, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences at Stockholm University in 1989. My career in the field of audiology began even earlier when I qualified as an Audiologist at the University College of Health Sciences in Gothenburg in 1987.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead and manage 16 large-scale international research and development projects, funded by organizations such as the EU, Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), the Swedish Institute, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). These projects have taken me across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where I’ve collaborated with diverse teams to drive innovation in technology, education, and digital transformation.

One of my greatest passions is guiding the next generation of researchers and professionals. I’ve had the privilege of supervising 12 PhD students and mentoring over 300 bachelor’s and master’s students throughout their academic journeys. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their growth and the impact they go on to make in their fields.

My research focuses on the intersection of technology and learning, with interests in technology-enhanced learning, capacity-building, digital transformation and sustainability, e-Health, e-Learning, culture and digitalization, and AI. I’m driven by a vision of how technology can be harnessed to create innovative solutions that promote digital inclusion and support sustainable development on a global scale.