On April 24, 2025, Svitlana Romanyik, a habilitated doctor, professor of the University of Warsaw, and lecturer at the Institute of Ukrainian Studies, visited the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. She delivered an inaugural lecture on the topic “Bringing Ukraine Closer: Challenges and Tasks of Ukrainian Studies”. The lecture covered the issues of the role of Ukrainian Studies in the modern world, the formation of ties with other universities, and the popularisation of Ukrainian culture abroad.
During the event, acting rector Anatolii Tsos presented the professor with a document certifying the awarding of the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa. He thanked Svitlana Romaniuk for her long-term cooperation and recalled joint scientific initiatives: “I congratulate Ms. Svitlana on the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. Thank you for your close and fruitful cooperation. Together with my colleagues, I attended the presentation of the complete works of Lesya Ukrainka at the University of Warsaw. Thank you for such a warm welcome. I hope that we will be able to hold another presentation at your university – the collected works of Olena Pchilka in 12 volumes.”
Svitlana Romanyuk actively promotes the development of academic cooperation between the Universities of Warsaw and Volyn. These include joint internships, scholarly conferences, summer and winter schools, which involve teachers and students of the Faculty of Philology and Journalism. Emphasizing the main vectors of mutual educational and scientific activity, Doctor of Philology, Head of the Department, Professor of the Department of Ukrainian Language and Linguistics Natalia Kostusiak noted that Svitlana Romaniuk is a reviewer of successfully accredited educational and professional programmes, the founder and head of the doctoral seminars "Linguistics beyond Borders: Poland-Ukraine", in the meetings of which candidates for the scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the Lesya Ukrainka National University participate, the editor of the collective monograph "Experience of War. Media and Discursive Space of Modern Ukraine" (Warsaw, 2024) and co-author of a number of other scholarly works written together with the academic staff of Faculty of Philology and Journalism. During her speech, Svitlana Romaniuk told the students about her path in science, the peculiarities of the educational process in Poland and how Ukrainian studies started at the University of Warsaw. According to her, modern students show a sincere interest in the Ukrainian language, literature, and culture.
“Esteemed Rector, esteemed Vice-Rectors, esteemed professors, my teachers, dear students. It is a great honour for me to be here among you. I am extremely grateful and moved by the fact that I am receiving this highest award in my native alma mater. The time when we meet is also not accidental, but for a different reason. With ongoing war, it seems that celebrating is pointless, it is quite difficult to understand how work is possible when there is disaster all around. However, as we see, Ukrainians do not stop and confirm their indomitability, unshakable faith in victory with daily struggle and work,” the professor greeted the guests.
During her speech, she also shared a personal story: “I am originally from Lviv region. I spent five wonderful years as a student in Lutsk, where I met my husband. This is an exceptional time for me. Fortunately, I also had the opportunity to live in Kyiv, where I also spent five years and where I have close friends. Then I moved to Warsaw, where I have lived for 20 years. Of these, almost 18 years have been associated with the University of Warsaw.”
The meeting became an example of academic unity, as well as a symbol of a lively dialogue between science in Ukraine and the world.
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