ICA Champions Preservation of Ukrainian Documentary Heritage with Successful Online Training

The ICA is pleased to announce the successful completion of a 7-week online training for Ukrainian archivists in February and May 2025, as part of the ICA’s and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage’s (ALIPH) collaborative efforts to support the Ukrainian archival sector and the safeguarding of its documentary heritage. The training was the second major milestone of the ICA’s initiative to help Ukraine protect its archival heritage in the face of crisis and armed conflict.  

The training was supported by ALIPH, as part of a wider initiative and collaboration between the ICA and ALIPH to aid the protection and preservation of Ukrainian archives. These efforts are also in partnership with the State Archival Service of Ukraine. 

Summary of the Online Training Programme: 

• Led by three expert trainers, the online training programme was divided into three themes around preserving archives in times of crisis: Digitisation, digital preservation, and emergency response for at-risk archival materials. 

• In total, there were 12 training sessions across the 8 weeks.  

• Through round-table discussions, presentations, assignments, and a range of other exercises, the participants gained an understanding of how to safeguard archives endangered by conflict. 

• The programme was predominantly taught in Ukrainian, catering to the linguistic priorities of the stakeholders and community. 

• Participants acquired the skills in how to implement key concepts, standards and best practices across the three themes covered during the training, focusing on how to manage heritage preservation when archival institutions, collections, and professionals face imminent risks, constraints, and safety challenges. 

• Additionally, an interactive space on ICA’s online learning platform was created to provide access to training resources extra resources in Ukrainian, along with a forum where participants can engage in discussions. The learning platform ensures the long-term sustainability of the training by allowing participants to revisit the material. Likewise, the content can be reused for new collaborators, solidifying the durability of the training’s impact. 

It is important to understand that your work is needed. It is important
to understand that you are among like-minded people. It is important to
understand that you are part of a large community and that your
colleagues are ready to share their experience. We are very grateful to our colleagues from the ICA, who, with the partnership of ALIPH, once again supported
Ukrainian archivists during these critical times for our documentary heritage.

Oleksandr Lashko, Chief Digital Transformation Officer of the State Archival Service of Ukraine

We were very pleased to take part in this training. Deep and structured knowledge-sharing in various areas of archival work helped to identify and eliminate gaps. The topic of digitalisation is integral for the contemporary archival landscape of Ukraine. Case studies of resolving crisis situations in other countries were highly beneficial to compare to the Ukrainian experience. It was heartwarming to know that the work of Kherson activists is so highly appreciated by the wider archival community.

Iryna Lopushynska, Online Training Participant

The Online Programme was Led by the Following Experts: 

• Amira Aly is a cultural heritage professional with a vast array of experience in providing training for the protection of heritage in crisis. As well as being the Executive Manager of the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation (EHRF) and Project Manager at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Amira has also led training workshops with ICCROM, ICA, and ICOM. 

The online training proved to be exceptionally engaging and valuable for participants: the consistently high attendance and active participation demonstrated a strong connection between the course content and the participants’ needs and interests.

Amira Aly 

• Andrew Chernevych is the Head Archivist at the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge, Canada. Andrew has worked in the archival sector for over twenty years, varying from senior archivist posts, to lecturing on Archives Studies at the University of Lethbridge, as well as serving as a board member of the Association of Canadian Archivists. 

The participants were engaged: they took active roles in the training by sharing their own experiences, encouraging cross-institutional collaboration in the future.

Andrew Chernevych 

• Maryna Chernyavska is the Digital Archivist at the University of Alberta Archives. Maryna is a co-chair of the National Archives Committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and a co-coordinator of U-ART, a digital data rescue initiative for Ukraine. Also, she is a co-chair of the Working Group on Archives of the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore, and for 8 years, served on the Bureau of the ICA Section on University and Research Institution Archives (ICA/SUV). 

The diversity of participants among the trainees likely meant that for some of them, the content of the training was all new … it allowed representatives of different archival institutions to learn from peers and establish relationships that may result in help and collaboration in the future.

Maryna Chernyavska 

• Graham Ruttan is a professional photographer and videographer who shoots a broad range of styles and subjects. He worked for several years at the Galt Museum & Archives—with Andrew Chernevych—as the Marketing and Communications Officer. Graham has done camera-based digitization of documents, negatives, objects, and locations. Graham has accreditations in Special Event and Pictorial/Scenic photography from the Professional Photographers of Canada. 

Participants were attentive, and asked insightful and pertinent questions that explored a range of technical and practical aspects of the material demonstrated and discussed in the presentation.

Graham Ruttan

• Konstantyn Kartuzov, Deputy Director for Core Activities at the State Archive of Mykolaiv Region, brings almost 20 years of experience in archival science, libraries, and public administration. A PhD candidate, he combines expertise in historical research with leadership in digitization and preservation. He is committed to strengthening Ukraine’s archival heritage and promoting scholarly access worldwide. 

When we talk about digital transformation, it’s essential to synchronize our watches: only a shared rhythm turns one institution’s experience into effective action for others. This workshop helped align practical approaches across institutions.

Konstantyn Kartuzov 

The training programme was also greatly supported and facilitated by Manana Tevzadze and Joana Rizza Bagano-Nuque, ICA Project Coordinators, and Gabriela Andaur Gómez, ICA Training Programme Coordinator. 

Participating Archives

More than 60 representatives from 30 Ukrainian organisations participated in the online training. These participants included archivists, librarians, and researchers, amongst many other roles. They partook in the course on behalf of a broad range of institutions, including museum archives, library archives and special collections, state archives, council administrations, university archives, cultural centre archives, and archaeological institute archives.

The ICA looks forward to embarking on the next stage of supporting the Ukrainian heritage sector, where it will remain committed to transparency and collaboration. We shall endeavour to give regular updates on the initiative’s progress and thus engender an international dialogue on the collective efforts and methods of heritage preservation in the face of crisis. 

This project highlights the crucial role of international organisations in mobilising resources and expertise for heritage protection, as well as in establishing fruitful dialogue with the professionals involved. Our colleagues in Ukraine are not just beneficiaries of these initiatives; they are key contributors to their conception and development. The knowledge they generate will be highly valuable to professionals in other regions, fostering greater understanding and collaboration.

Carlos Serrano Vásquez, ICA Executive Director 

For more information about the project, please contact us at programme@ica.org.