A round table «Development of Volyn University as a Manifestation of State Building» was held at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. The event was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Volyn National University.
The event began with the commemoration of the Heroes of Ukraine who sacrificed their lives fighting against russian aggressor, as well as the persons who contributed to the development of the higher education establishment, but unfortunately, did not live to see its 30th anniversary.
Lesya's people known to have worked at the University in the 90s and current employees participated in the round table. Apart from Rector Anatolii Tsos, Vice-Rector for Academic Work and Recruitment Yurii Hromyk, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Cooperation Liudmyla Yelisieieva, Vice-Rector for Educational Work and Communication Nataliia Blahovirna other persons talking about the oldest and largest institution of higher education in Volyn were Professor Petro Kraliuk, Vice Rector for the Scientific Work of NU «Ostroh Academy»; Margaryta Zhuikova, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Ukrainian Language Department, wife of the first Rector Anatolii Svidzynskyi; Candidates of Philosophical Sciences Volodymyr Poliakov and Viktor Penko; Candidate of Historical Sciences Mykola Pivnytskyi; Head of the Department of Theory of Literature and Foreign Literature Serhii Romanov; Head of the Department of History of Ukraine and Archeology Volodymyr Baran; Halyna Myronchuk, Director of Educational and Scientific Physics and Technology Institute.
In his opening speech, Rector Anatolii Tsos congratulated those present on the anniversary and thanked all the employees who, at one time or another, directed their maximum efforts to the development of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. «The development of the University is realised with help of strong personnel and scientific schools. The institution's current state is high because we have scientific schools under the leadership of doctors of science. Thanks to them, we are included in the top 10 classical higher education institutions of Ukraine, becoming 17th in the consolidated rating among all educational institutions of Ukraine. Life is going on, high results are not only difficult to achieve, but also difficult to maintain. The team's work is aimed at further development. We really want our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to study at the University and not be ashamed of our work in this or that position,» said Anatolii Vasyliovych.
The moderator of the event Yuriy Hromyk noted that the 30th anniversary of the Decree of the President of Ukraine on the Establishment of Volyn State University is an extraordinary event, and called on those present to share their memories of the development of the institution.
The former Dean of the Faculty of Ukrainian Studies, Petro Kraliuk, recalled that the establishment of the higher education establishment was not easy, but the decisive role was played by Ihor Yukhnovskyi and Mykola Zhulynskyi hearing the arguments of the initiative group. Petro Mykhailovych also noted that Anatoliy Svidzynskyi, the first Rector, also performed a titanic job.
The former Head of Department of History of Philosophy and Culture and Institute of Social Sciences, Volodymyr Poliakov, said that during the times of the Soviet Union, when the idea of organising a university in Lutsk was voiced, everyone understood that such an institution would objectively act in favour of Ukrainians, and pro-russian forces could not allow this, so creators and supporters of the idea were subject to obstruction.
However, later the socio-political situation changed radically and the case developed. «The organisation of Volyn University should be considered in the context of Ukraine gaining independence and progressing to the circle of free, highly developed and democratic states of the world,» said Volodymyr Poliakov. He added that Vyacheslav Chornovil, Andrii Bondarchuk, Oleksandr Hudyma, Gennadii Kozhevnikov and other activists, the teams of Lutsk Automobile Plant, Volyn newspaper editors, and the Australian diaspora of Ukrainians should be mentioned as active participants in the establishment of the university in Volyn.
The former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Viktor Penko, recalled how the structural unit headed by him was founded and formed. The scientist emphasized that as early as 1985 there were discussions on the sidelines about plans to organise an institute-based university, but on the contrary, some people promoted the opinion that «a better pedagogical institute is better than a worse university.» The idea of creating a law faculty, like the idea of creating a university, was difficult to accept.
Associate Professor of the Department of Archeology, Ancient and Medieval History Mykola Pivnytskyi, who used to head Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, recalled that he and his colleagues had long dreamed of building the Regional Committee serving students. «In 1964, while preparing for the summer session in Lesya Ukrainka Park, I looked at the building of the regional committee and thought how nice it would be if our pedagogic institute was located in this building. I could never have thought that in 1991 me and my students would “take” this room,» Mykola Pivnytskyi recalled. «I am very happy for the University and its development. It has become a decoration of Volyn and we can only be proud of what we have,» Mykola Dementiyovych summed up.
Margaryta Zhuikova, who in 1993 moved from the Krimea to Lutsk with her husband Anatolii Svidzynskyi, the university's first Rector, recalled her first years in Lutsk. Margaryta Vasylivna noted that the story bringing her with her husband to Lutsk began not in 1993, but in 1946-1947 in Lviv. It was there that Anatolii Svidzynskyi met Ihor Yukhnovskyi, who in the 90s offered Anatolii Vadymovych to work in Lutsk. «It was an unexpected offer not only because of the necessity to move. It was a very responsible job,» Margaryta Zhuikova recalled.
After the stories about the development of the university and the contribution of Anatolii Vadymovych, Margaryta Vasylivna congratulated all the employees on the holiday, wished them a good summer rest for further effective work for the benefit of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.
At the end of the event, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and International Cooperation Lyudmyla Yelisieieva spoke about the development of science at the higher education institution and scientific schools that were formed during the institution's existence. Serhii Romanov, Volodymyr Baran and Halyna Myronchuk contributed to the story about the formation of the philological, historical and physical scientific schools.
Text and photo
Andrii PETRUSHKO, Information Policy Office
