One hundred scholarships and European diplomas

The meeting of the Consortium at Lesia Ukrainka East European National University was attended by representatives of universities from Kamianets-Podilsky, Chernivtsi, Rivne, Ternopil, Sumy, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Ostroh, and Kyiv. Poland was represented by the Chancellor of the University of Warsaw Marcin Palys and the Director of Eastern Studies of this university Jan Malicki.

The Polish Consul General in Lutsk Beata Brzywczy and the councilor of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland in Ukraine for education and science Anna Kuzma emphasized: quite a few young Ukrainians are choosing Polish universities to have European diplomas and better employment prospects. At the same time young Poles are actively starting to use the possibility to get a high-quality education in Ukraine. The Polish government is now offering one more scholarship program Anna Kuzma informed about: the one in honor of Stephan Banach. There will be 50 scholarships this academic year and 100 next year.

During the meeting in Lviv they also decided to host the annual summer school in “Hart” practice camp of Lesia Ukrainka East-European National University, organize the summer school for graduates and post-graduates of Eastern studies at Ostroh Academy and integrate Sumy State University into the Consortium.

COMMENTARY

“I WOULD NOT USE THE TERM ‘PROVINCIAL UNIVERSITY’ AT ALL”

Ihor PASICHNYK, Hero of Ukraine, rector of National University Ostroh Academy:

“The consortium between Ukrainian universities and the University of Warsaw started as the cooperation with universities of western Ukraine and has extended up to Kharkiv by now. Such unions are needed first of all for Ukraine. Now we are speaking about the program ‘Erasmus Mundus’ financed by the EU. It is impossible to break through into such programs alone. Moreover, the program provides for the participation of several universities in it. Due to the Consortium we can consolidate our efforts.

“The time when Ostroh Academy will issue double diplomas to its students is not far off. It will allow them entering a much wider employment market. In Lutsk we have already discussed juridical details of cooperation with the head of the University of Warsaw. The scholarship program funded by the Polish government is very interesting. We are also planning to publish a scientific magazine in cooperation with Poland and our articles in it will raise our international reputation.

“The Poles are also interested in cooperation, as well as other European countries. Their students have already had a chance to get higher education in Great Britain, US, France, etc. Polish universities also need students, in particular, students from Ukraine since they have extremely powerful intellectual potential. It is an enormous resource of students and masters. If we do not bother that Ukrainian universities have decent refills, our students will go to Polish universities.

“In Ukraine there is a concept ‘provincial university.’ I would reject it. A lot of our so-called provincial from geographical point universities, such as East European, are known in Europe.”