Kuvassa on Euroopan unionin lippu, jossa on keltaisia tähtiä ympyrän sisällä sinisellä pohjalla, ja sen vieressä on teksti Co-funded by the European Union sinisellä fontilla valkoisella pohjalla.

Our team

The project members represent the following organizations:
A row of six logos: Savonia University, Dariah-FI, FH Joanneum, IMIN, an emblem with blue and gold details, and the European Union flag with the text Co-funded by the European Union.

Lyhyet, vaaleanruskeat hiukset ja vaalea iho omaavalla miehellä on yllään ruudullinen paita, ja hän katsoo kameraan neutraalilla ilmeellä valkoista taustaa vasten.

Jukka Aho

Savonia University of Applied Sciences

MHSc (Nursing), a senior lecturer and study counsellor with over 20 years of experience in mental health and substance abuse care as well as in teaching within these fields. His professional background spans clinical practice, higher education, and project work such as EU-funded ELLAN (European Later Life Active Network), that supports the development of evidence‑based approaches in health care education.

A woman with blonde hair and glasses is smiling. She is wearing a light pink sweater and standing in front of a plain, light background.

Pirjo Pehkonen

Savonia University of Applied Sciences

MSocSci (Sociology), a senior lecturer with a strong background in NGO leadership and advocacy for vulnerable groups, including families facing domestic violence and substance abuse. With over 20 years of project management experience—such as leading an EU‑funded Daphne Programme—she brings extensive expertise in social sector development, collaboration, and professional network facilitation.

A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a black blazer and black top smiles at the camera against a plain grey background.

Sumaia Al-Ghurbani

Duale Hochschule Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

MPH, a research associate at the ITG with a background in public health and humanitarian work in Yemen, where she supported health services for disadvantaged communities. A recipient of the WHO‑TDR Master’s Scholarship, she now applies her expertise to health research and transcultural health topics in Germany.

A smiling man with curly hair and a beard stands indoors with his arms crossed, wearing a navy blazer and white shirt. A green potted plant and modern office interior are visible in the background.

Robert Lahdo

Duale Hochschule Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

M.A, an academic staff member at the ITG, program coordinator and lecturer in the Master’s Program in Transcultural Trauma Pedagogy, and a coach for interdisciplinary teaching at DHBW Mannheim. His work focuses on mental health, social innovation, conflict and crisis management, emotional intelligence, and embodied approaches to strengthen resilience and authentic leadership.

A man with glasses and a full beard, wearing a green jacket over a dark shirt, poses in front of a light gray background, smiling slightly.

Florian Steger

Duale Hochschule Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

M.A, a research associate at the Institute for Transcultural Health Science (ITG) at DHBW, focusing on designing and implementing educational programs for adults. His expertise spans adult learning, e‑learning, and the prevention of radicalization and extremism, with a strong emphasis on pedagogical innovation.

A person with short gray hair is smiling at the camera, wearing a dark green collared shirt, standing in front of a blurred gray textured background.

Sabine Hötzl

Fh Joanneum Gesellschaft Mbh, Austria

Lyhythiuksinen henkilö, jolla on sininen bleiseri ja musta paita, jossa on valkoisia pilkkuja, seisoo sisätiloissa kaiteen vieressä ja hymyilee kameralle.

Elena Hammer

Fh Joanneum Gesellschaft Mbh, Austria

Dr, BA,BA,MA, a social pedagogue and sociologist. Her work combines social pedagogy, digital culture, and emotional processes in emerging adulthood.

A woman with straight blonde hair, wearing a dark blazer and a white blouse with a turquoise pendant necklace, sits in a yellow chair in front of a bookcase filled with books.

Iva Tadic´

The Institute for Migration Research, Croatia

Dr, a Senior Assistant at the Croatian Institute for Migration Research and a psychologist specializing in quality of life, stress, minority stress, and psychosocial support in extraordinary circumstances. With over a decade of experience in research, teaching, and psychotherapy for children and adolescents, she brings strong expertise in evidence‑based psychological support within educational and clinical contexts.

A man in a suit and tie.

Marko Turk

The Institute for Migration Research, Croatia

Dr, a Senior Researcher in Educational Sciences at the Croatian Institute for Migration Research and an Associate Professor with close to 20 years of academic experience. His expertise includes higher education pedagogy, teaching competencies, academic profession studies, and European education policy. He has held leadership roles at the University of Rijeka, collaborated with OECD, EUA, and the European Commission, and currently serves on the EC’s Advisory Board for VET.

Nainen, jolla on pitkät ruskeat hiukset, yllään vihreä neulepusero ja värikäs helmikaulakoru, katsoo kameraan neutraalilla ilmeellä vaaleaa taustaa vasten.

Larysa Podkorytova

Khmelnytskyi National University, Ukraine

Dr, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Pedagogy. Larysa has over 22 years of academic experience and 25 years of practical experience in psychology, specializing in group work, psychosocial support. Her work focuses on integrating art therapy, and psychoeducation to foster mental well-being and resilience.

Her professional background covers a wide range of areas, including Psychological First Aid (PFA), the psychology of loss, gender psychology, self-knowledge, and support for individuals with special needs. Since 1999, she has been actively involved in the NGO sector and volunteering.

Hymyilevä vaaleahiuksinen nainen, jolla on vihreä bleiseri ja valkoinen pusero, ottaa selfien modernissa toimistossa, jonka suurista ikkunoista avautuu näkymä kaupungin horisonttiin.

Alla Rudenok

Khmelnytskyi National University, Ukraine

Dr, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Pedagogy. Alla has over 20 years of academic and practical experience in psychology, specializing in psychological support for children and families, as well as mental health and personality development. Her professional activity is focused on integrating scientific approaches with practical psychological assistance.

Professional activity is focused on implementing modern psychotherapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and art therapy, oriented toward working with psychological trauma, post-traumatic experiences, crisis states, and processes of personal recovery, with the aim of supporting mental well-being, developing resilience, and strengthening personal resources.

Nainen, jolla on laivastonsininen puku ja valkoinen paita, seisoo kädet ristissä, hymyilee ja katsoo sivulle. Hänellä on vaaleanruskeat hiukset, jotka on muotoiltu löysiksi laineiksi, ja hän poseeraa valkoista taustaa vasten.

Kateryna Skyba

Khmelnytskyi National University, Ukraine

Dr, Professor, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work (International Relations). Kateryna Skyba is a senior higher education leader and project manager with over 20 years of academic and professional experience. As Vice-Rector, she is responsible for international cooperation, strategic partnerships, and the development of internationalisation policies at institutional level.
She leads and manages international projects funded by Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and the British Council, with a focus on institutional capacity building, innovation in higher education, and integration into the European Higher Education Area. She has extensive experience in establishing and strengthening international academic partnerships and coordinating multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Her professional interests include internationalisation of higher education, academic leadership, gender equality, and institutional resilience.