The university as an engine of growth Volyn University granted national status

It was no accident that the Lesia Ukrainka Institute decided to celebrate Volyn National University’s new status by holding a conference dedicated to Shatsk National Park, says the university’s rector Ihor Kotsan. Lake Svitiaz, the main lake of the Shatsk Lakes system, is called “the Ukrainian Lake Baikal” with good reason. These days only the efforts of educated people, who are aware of its importance to Ukraine and the world, can help preserve it. Recently, the rectors of Ukraine’s leading universities and Larysa Ivshyna, The Day’s editor in chief, who has a special interest in such vitally important questions as educational standards and the ecology, were invited to the conference.

The organizers of the conference were the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Western Scholarly Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Volyn Oblast State Administration, and the Volyn Oblast Council. Nearly a hundred participants from Belarus, Poland, and Ukraine took part in the conference. Among them were rectors of Ukraine’s leading higher educational establishments: Halik Artemchuk (Kyiv National Linguistic University), Viktor Andrushchenko (Drahomanov National Pedagogical University), Anatolii Mazaraki (Kyiv National Trade-Economic Institute), Ihor Pasichnyk (National University of Ostroh Academy), Mykola Poliakov (Dnipropetrovsk National University), and others.

The problem of preserving natural treasures in the area of the Shatsk Lakes is not new to Volyn. But in recent times it has worsened because of the real possibility that the Khotyslav Quarry will soon begin operations on the territory of neighboring Belarus. The quarry is located 300 meters from the Volyn border and 1.5 kilometers from Ratne-Maloryta. It is very close to Lake Svitiaz, and the proximity of the quarry will affect the territory around the “Ukrainian Baikal.” The speakers at the 1st international conference at Volyn National University said that this area is Ukraine’s model of purity.

At the same time Khotyslav Quarry is a unique phenomenon in Belarus because it contains three kinds of mineral resources: sand, which is widely used in the construction industry, reaches to a depth of 7.5 meters; remnants of unique quartz sands located at depths of between 7.5 and 13 meters; and a mighty chalk stratum located at depths of between 13 and 70 meters, whose upper layer is of extremely high quality.

In 1993 a group of Ukrainian specialists from the Lutsk Pedagogical Institute conferred with their Belarusian colleagues to determine whether there would be any negative impact on the territory of Volyn territory from the quarry. If it were a question of developing the quarry at depths of 30 meters, there would not be any particular damage, but according to the information presented at the conference, the Belarusian side has drafted a project to work the quarry at a depth of 60 meters. The Belarusians want to mine white chalk, and an investor is ready to provide huge sums. But this kind of development will cause irreversible damage to Shatsk National Park, scientists believe. According to their data, the quarry will dry up this part of Volyn oblast.

The Day asked several participants of the conference to share their impressions.

Viktor ANDRUSHCHENKO, rector of Drahomanov National Pedagogical University, Doctor of Philosophy, and Merited Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine:

“Lakes like the Svitiaz are unique phenomena. There are barely 10 of them in the world. It is bad that land on its shores is being sold for country homes and other types of development that do not correspond to its status. We have to mobilize all of our intellects in order to preserve this pearl of Ukraine and perhaps the world. Lake Svitiaz is a unique body of water and it is surrounded by unique soils; it has unique flora and fauna. Ten years ago we held National Philosophical Readings here. This was absolutely amazing! We took strength from the Svitiaz, like Antaeus took his strength from the earth. So I am glad that so many rectors of Ukraine’s leading higher educational institutions are taking part in the conference, and we can also involve the newly-established Union of Eurasian Rectors, which has 80 members, in solving the problem of Shatsk National Park.

“Volyn University is very dear to me. I took part in organizing its work in the transition period, when it was switching from the status of institute to university. I recall how meetings attended by 500 people were conducted, how the rector was elected, and what problems we experienced when we were faculties and laboratories. I know that Volyn National University is a beautiful university with the latest technology, and the creation of the Lesia Ukrainka Scientific-Research Institute is an innovation in which other Ukrainian and foreign educational establishments should have a keen scholarly interest. We will create a Drahomanov Institute at our university, which will be modeled after the Lesia Ukrainka Institute. Volyn National University has a strong Ukrainian spirit and national interest priority. That is why I was so pleased to award the Gold Medal of Drahomanov University to Professor Ihor Kotsan for his achievements in the field of education.”

Oleksandr BOIK, rector of Hohol State University (Nizhyn) and professor of political science:

“The day the international conference was held in Lutsk I had an opportunity to visit four places: two other conferences and Nizhyn, where Savik Shuster was recording the television program ‘Great Ukrainians,’ but I chose Lutsk. First of all, obtaining the status of a national university is an extraordinary event, and as some great people once said, ‘it is easy to sympathize with the weak, it is something to rejoice for friends.’ So, we have come here to rejoice with our friends. Second, the scientific conference raises problems on a truly national scale. And places like Shatsk National Park are of strategic importance for Ukraine.”

Paulo BRANCO, official at the Court of Auditors of the European Communities and professor of Lisbon University (Portugal):

“Preserving nature is a very important policy for Europe in general. Nature is mankind’s common heritage. The desire of the scholars of Volyn National University, the Volyn authorities, and the local community to preserve nature not only in their region but in neighboring areas as well is supported and understood by the European Union. The EU has been cooperating with Ukraine on questions of environmental conservation since 1991. The TASIC program has allotted 600 million euros for environmental conservation and we wish the conference fruitful results.”

Larysa IVSHYNA, editor in chief of The Day:

“It is very important that universities are embarking on a mission to raise these questions, which are important to the whole region. Once, when I was visiting Kharkiv University, I was shown an old late 19th-early 20th century map of Ukraine, which showed that our country was divided into educational districts, not military ones. Every university was in charge of a certain territory. This tradition is being revived by the best Ukrainian universities. Volyn University has done great work in order to gain national status. It was interesting for me personally to visit the Lesia Ukrainka Institute. It is no accident that during the 1st scientific-practical conference the idea arose to create the Polissia Scientific-Research Center, which will also study Shatsk National Park. The fact that President Viktor Yushchenko personally granted national status to Volyn University was received with approbation far beyond university circles. Many residents of Volyn with whom I talked say that this honor is a good sign for the region. It is wonderful that Volyn National University is actively cooperating with concerned people in the region, and during their tour of Volyn oblast the rectors of Ukraine’s leading higher educational institutions saw how small Ukrainian villages are reviving thanks to the efforts of the Volynian patron Petro Hryhorovych Levchynsky, how the city of Volodymyr-Volynsky, where Petro Danylovych Sahaniuk has been the mayor for the last 20 years, is regaining its past fame. I was impressed by the Zymniv Women’s Monastery and Lake Svitiaz. This tour of Volyn was a wonderful example of intellectual tourism.”

“Three years from now, in 2010, diplomas from Volyn National University will be recognized all over the world. National status will help a lot in this respect. This is only one of the consequences of this status, the embodiment of the fine plans of Volyn’s main university. In his time, Academician Ihor Yukhnovsky expressed the idea of granting this university national status, but it was Professor Ihor Kotsan, the current rector, who managed to bring this idea to life. This institution started to develop rapidly after he was elected rector, after outshining all the other candidates: its material base expanded until its reputation in the educational and scholarly circles of Ukraine and Europe was recognized. Professor Kotsan has another cherished dream:

“Americans have concluded that all their natural treasures, plants, and factories comprise only 30 percent of their national wealth, and intellectual property comprises the remaining 70 percent. I want Ukraine’s finest educators and scholars to come to Volyn National University; I want our graduates to become the pride of our country.”

The Day’s FACT FILE

Shatsk National Park was established on Dec. 28, 1983, in order to preserve, recreate, and make rational use of the unique natural features of the Shatsk Lakes area; strengthen the protection of water-marsh areas, which are of international importance; and support the development of international cooperation in order to preserve the region’s biological and natural diversity. The combination of numerous lakes and forests, unique local coloring, plant species and their high esthetic value, and a well-developed transportation network are favorable factors in the development of rest and recreation in this picturesque corner of Western Polissia. A large number of resorts, including the Shatsk Lakes Boarding House, Lisova Pisnia Spa, and sports and children’s camps, are located on the shores of the numerous lakes in this area.