International research mobility at WUEB: green finance and sustainable food systems in focus 

In March, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business welcomes two participants of academic mobility under the PROM Programme – Short-Term Academic Exchange (funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)). 

The research projects of our guests address important economic and societal challenges. Dr Svitlana Kuznetsova from the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (Ukraine) and Wouter Meuleman, a Master’s student in Food Technology at Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands). Their research visits demonstrate how international mobility supports knowledge exchange, academic collaboration, and research with tangible societal relevance. 

Green finance and economic reconstruction 

The research interests of Dr Svitlana Kuznetsova focus on green finance within the architecture of digital financial ecosystems and the role of sustainable financing instruments in economic transformation. During her research stay at UEW (March 1–31), she collaborates with the team of Professor Bożena Ryszawska from the Department of Corporate and Public Finance. 

The main objective of her project is to analyse Poland’s experience in financing the energy transition, particularly in the context of the PEP2040 energy strategy, and to explore how similar institutional and financial mechanisms could support the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy. The research examines financial instruments supporting the green transition, including green bonds, ESG-aligned investment models, and financial risk-mitigation mechanisms used by banking institutions. 

During her stay, Dr Kuznetsova also uses specialised databases available in the UEW library, including Bloomberg Professional and Refinitiv Eikon, to analyse the development of green bond markets in Central and Eastern Europe. The results of her research will be presented during an open seminar for the UEW academic community. One of the expected outcomes of this collaboration is a joint scientific publication and the development of future international research projects. 

Innovation in food technology and sustainable protein sources 

At the same time, Wouter Meuleman, a Master’s student in Food Technology at Wageningen University & Research, is conducting research at UEW as part of an academic mobility programme from March 2 to March 31. His research interests combine food technology, entrepreneurship, and the development of innovative food products. 

During his bachelor’s studies, Wouter developed a high-protein ice cream product made exclusively from protein powder and natural ingredients and founded a start-up called Pro-Ice. Today, he continues to develop research competencies related to designing innovative food products that respond to contemporary market and sustainability challenges. 

At UEW, he is conducting a study on young consumers’ acceptance of beverages containing insect-derived ingredients, using beer as a case study. The research is supervised by Dr hab. Agnieszka Orkusz and conducted in collaboration with Prof. Maryia Mishyna. The project involves students aged 18–26 in Poland and the Netherlands, enabling a comparative analysis of consumer attitudes across two different cultural contexts. 

The topic reflects the growing global interest in alternative protein sources and more sustainable models of food production. The study also draws on UEW’s expertise in consumer behaviour and sensory research, as well as the University’s laboratory infrastructure supporting experimental research on food perception. 

Academic cooperation and knowledge exchange 

Research visits by international scholars and students play an important role in strengthening academic cooperation and expanding global research networks. For the UEW academic community, such initiatives provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, development of research competencies, and the creation of new collaborative partnerships. 

The projects conducted during these visits illustrate how contemporary research increasingly connects multiple disciplines and responds to global challenges—from energy transition and sustainable finance to the future of food systems. Through initiatives like these, the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business continues to strengthen its position as a research institution with a growing international presence. 

Project website: https://international.uew.pl/prom-short-term-academic-exchange/

Project number: BPI/PRO/2025/1/00021

Grant amount: 999 675,00 zł

Author: dr Anna Śliwa