Educational experts from France, Georgia, and Ukraine discussed the creation of doctoral programs in the humanities as part of the program for the reform of European higher education, Tempus. Staff of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) were joined from May 2 to 4 by representatives of PRES – Université Paris-Est, the National University of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and Ilia State University of Georgia.

“The university’s professors are taking part in seminars and training sessions regarding the structuring of an educational program, pedagogical skills, and so on,” explained Dr. Taras Dobko, UCU’s senior vice rector. “By 2015 UCU plans to open two programs of doctoral studies based on the European model, in theology and in history.”

John Paul II Catholic University in Lublin, Poland, was the host of the assembly. During the sessions, UCU and the Lublin university signed an agreement on cooperation, which strengthened their already long tradition of partnership.

Khitsyak graduated from UCU’s Faculty of Philosophy and Theology in 2004. He worked as a journalist for leading publications of Lviv and was the editor of “Makler,” a real estate periodical. Since 2009 he has worked for MTS-Ukraine, Ukrainian Mobile Communications, UMC.

“I can say that this academic discipline [theology] constantly influences my life. In addition to a wealth of knowledge, UCU gave me a formed worldview, a system for conceptualization, the ability to analyze, to look for non-standard approaches. Furthermore, as I communicate with many UCU graduates, in particular those who have realized themselves in other fields – in addition to philosophy, theology, or history – I know that they are truly able to constantly break stereotypes, to be the best among their peers who have corresponding diplomas or work experience. My direct supervisor has great respect for an UCU diploma and, when he presents me at business meetings, he always mentions my education.”

The heads of various religious communities of Ukraine – Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim – visited Ottawa for a conference on April 25 honouring the legacy of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church from 1901 to 1941. Then Canada’s Parliament that same day unanimously approved a motion recognizing the metropolitan’s deeds.

The motion reads:

“Whereas Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky (1865-1944) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, was the leader of Western Ukraine’s largest faith group during the period of the Second World War; and

“Whereas in the darkest period of Europe’s history, with the deepening horrors of the mass murder of Jews in their homelands in Eastern Europe under German occupation during World War II, he spoke out eloquently against anti-Jewish violence and urged his congregants in a famous homily: ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill;’ and

“Whereas leaders and representatives of all Ukraine’s major faith communities—Christian, Jewish, and Muslim—are visiting Canada to acknowledge Metropolitan Sheptytsky’s good works; and

“Whereas Metropolitan Sheptytsky acted to shelter and rescue Jews, saving over 160, including some present with us in Ottawa today;

“This House is united in expressing Canada’s recognition of Andrey Sheptytsky’s courageous actions, compassion for his oppressed Jewish Ukrainian countrymen, and enduring example of commitment to fundamental human rights as humankind’s highest obligation,” concludes the text.

Some 200 students from eastern, central, and southern Ukraine will come to the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in far western Ukrainian Lviv to celebrate Easter Together. The goal is that visitors from places like Kharkiv, Odesa, Crimea and Donetsk get acquainted with western Ukrainian Easter traditions, including liturgical and cultural, like songs and games.

“We want our guests to feel the atmosphere that reigns in Lviv during the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection in Halychyna [far western Ukraine],” said UCU student Lubomyr Leshchuk, who is coordinating the event. The event begins on April 14, the day before Easter is celebrated on the Julian calendar. The guests will celebrate the Easter Liturgy in church, then go to Shevchenko Grove for hayivki (spring games), and learn how to make pysankas (Easter eggs) at UCU on Easter Monday.

Ukrainian-language video of last year’s Easter Together

You can read a vivid description of last year’s School of Ukrainian Language and Culture:
‘Bus routes and bazaars’ fascinate students of Ukrainian Catholic University’s Summer School

“It’s melodious.” “It’s exotic.” “It’s the language of my ancestors.” “It’s the key to learning the history, culture, and traditions of my people.” “Through this I’ll find my better half.” “I’ll communicate more freely with friends and neighbors.” “Thanks to this, I can confidently travel through Eastern Europe.” “It’ll help me in my work.” “I’ll be able to read many interesting books in the original.” “I’ll understand what Oleh Skrypka, Kvitka Cisyk, and the Hadyukin Brothers are singing about.” “It’s a bridge to other Slavic languages.” “I just like it”…

These and many other reasons inspire foreigners to get acquainted with the Ukrainian language. Some of them come from a Ukrainian background and want to get back to their roots. Others are simply interested in the country and its people. They travel to Lviv, the cultural capital of Ukraine and the largest Ukrainian-speaking city in the world. The Ukrainian Catholic University’s School of Ukrainian Language and Culture offers two months of total immersion in Ukraine’s language, culture and history. Students leave not only with extensive knowledge but also with new friends, unforgettable impressions, and valuable experience. For those who were born and lived their whole lives in western Europe or America, there is much here that can shock, or fascinate.

To live like Ukrainians and together with Ukrainians: that’s the simple recipe for effective study. Experienced language teachers and also tutors, students of UCU or other universities in Lviv, work with the program’s participants. Some of them live together with the students in dormitories. They help them with homework, eat together, interact, and spend leisure time together, providing constant conversational practice. Or interested students can also live with Lviv families.

The program is filled with interaction in the Ukrainian-language, not only study but also recreation: parties, picnics, visits to museums and theatres. On weekends: trips to castles, monasteries, and villages of the Lviv Region, and also longer trips to Kyiv, Odesa, Kamianets-Podilskyj and the picturesque Carpathian Mountains. And, of course, walks through Lviv. Here the most interesting experiences start.

Most foreign guests are surprised by rides on city minibuses, so different from public transportation in the countries of North America and Western Europe. Students, still getting a little mixed up with words, tell strange stories about city buses.

“I wanted to get home fast and I saw city bus no. 37. I asked: ‘Where are you going?’ The driver said: ‘I’m going downtown.’ ‘No, no, no!’ So, with all my groceries from the supermarket I went on a ride through Lviv. I had ice cream which became milk. Now I think that city bus no. 37 is a super-duper inexpensive ride through Lviv, but not with groceries.” Adam Garner, from the USA, wrote about this in the newspaper Summer with a twist, which the participants of the program prepared themselves.

“I love everything here!” Colleen Makar, also from the USA, shared her impressions. “I like it that I can walk around a lot. At home I drive everywhere. I really noticed that there are many old cars, city minivans and buses here.” American student Sarah Sutter wrote a strange story in her daily journal. “I got on city bus no. 39 and saw an unforgettable exchange between an old lady and a bus driver. All the passengers gave their two hryvnias fare, but the old lady didn’t want to pay, or she didn’t have the money, I don’t know. She took two big apricots from her bag and put them on a mat, not saying anything. The driver saw the apricots and looked at the lady. I thought that he would get really made, but he said ‘Thanks!’ and put the apricots in the cash box. And then he drove off and ate the apricots. I smiled for a long time, thinking that that situation would never happen in America.”

Another surprise is the bazaar. “The Shuvar market really made an impression on me,” wrote Matthew Lovell. “There’s so much meat and sausage there. It’s great! You can buy a big chunk of bacon fat (though I don’t like bacon fat).”

Maybe everyone doesn’t like bacon fat, but you can find something to your taste in the Ukrainian kitchen. When they return home, the graduates of the School of Ukrainian Language and Culture can prepare authentic borshch for their friends or introduce them to the culinary ritual of making varennyky. And few leave Ukraine without an embroidered shirt, a traditional handmade item.

Yet another pleasant surprise is the Ukrainian song. Its unmatched euphony, along with the beauty of Lviv’s old world architecture, captivates guests from the first day. For you don’t need to know the language to understand beauty. By the way, you can start studying at the school without knowing a single word of Ukrainian. Programs are offered for students at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Intensive language study in groups of five to six students helps them understand the locals, and recreational activities help them look into the Ukrainian soul. “Every time I think that now I totally understand Lviv, Ukraine, or Eastern Europe, something happens in my life here that surprises me incredibly,” wrote Sarah Sutter in her journal. “I really like the fact that there’s always something here that can surprise you.”

Last year some 50 students studied at the school, from the USA, Canada, England, Germany, Australia, Poland, Austria, France, and Holland. The program is in its 10th successful year. Its results dramatically disprove misconceptions that the Ukrainian language has no future and that there’s no reason to learn it. According to the book Ethnologue, more than 40 million people in various countries of the world speak in this language, and this is the native language of 37 million of them. Regardless of all the disputes connected with the pro-Russian political forces in the current government, Ukrainian has not only not lost its status as the single state language but it is gradually becoming a language of communication even in those areas of Ukraine where Russian was dominant in Soviet times.

Fluency in the state language of the largest country in Europe gives an additional advantage in the job search and career advancement in such fields as diplomacy, international cooperation, economics, education, and journalism. “In my opinion, one should study foreign languages,” said Lesia Witkowsky, a participant in the program. “English is important for business, and Ukrainian for the culture of my ancestors.”

Graduates of the School of Ukrainian Language and Culture reluctantly say “farewell” to Lviv and often return: some to improve their fluency, others to teach English to Ukrainian students, still others simply to see Ukrainian friends. They say there is no place in the world with tastier beer or more fragrant coffee. “People in Lviv are very hospitable and pleasant,” recounted Alanna Wasylkiw from Canada. “If you ask for help, you’ll certainly receive it. If I ever have a chance to return to Lviv, I’ll grab it, and with great pleasure return to this wonderful Ukrainian city.”

In 2012 sessions will run from June 18 through August 11.
Otar Dovzhenko, instructor at UCU’s Journalism School

Business Sponsorship Program Brochure Download

He graduated from UCU’s Faculty of Philosophy and Theology in 2008 and then entered the National Academy of Management, Law Faculty. From 2008 to 2009 he participated in the program “Assistant to the Head of a Committee of Ukraine’s Parliament.” Since 2009 he has been a consultant-assistant to a national deputy in Parliament.

“First of all, the Ukrainian Catholic University formed my personality and taught me what values should guide a person’s life. After I graduated from UCU, I found myself in a radically different environment. But I can say with certainty that the knowledge and spiritual formation from the university gave me the opportunity to move forward with certainty.

“After more education and a few years of work, I made a very important conclusion: the main thing in life is not ‘who’ you are but ‘what’ you are. The kind of people that the Ukrainian Catholic University ‘forges’ are precisely the kind of people necessary to build Ukraine.”

More than 40% of the paintings were sold. But the others are still available! Information will be posted soon about how you can acquire a work from this amazing collection.

To see photos from the Silent Art Auction 2012 please click here