International Forum 445 Years of Higher Education in Ukraine

November 13, 2021

On November 11, the National University "Ostroh Academy" hosted the International Forum 445 Years of Higher Education in Ukraine. On the occasion of the anniversary, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the prime minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine  Ruslan Stefanchuk sent their congratulations to the forum participants.

The speakers of the international forum were the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet; the head of the Rivne Regional State Administration Vitalii Koval; People's Deputies of Ukraine, Oleksandr Aliksiichuk and Oleksandr Saliichuk; the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions, Pavlo KryvonoS; the mayor of Ostroh, Yuriі Yahodka and others.

Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Federative Republic of Brazil Elda Maria Gaspar Alvarez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Kuwait Oleksandr Balanutsa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Ukraine Salem Ahmed Salem Al-Kaabi, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Ukraine Marius Dunda, Senior Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to Ukraine Monadel Akef, a Ukrainian diplomat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007-2009) Volodymyr Ohryzko took part in the forum online.

Ihor Pasichnyk, the Rector of the National University of Ostroh Academy, Hero of Ukraine congratulated all the forum participants:

«It was not for nothing that Mykhailo Hrushevskyi mentioned that Ostroh Academy during the 16th-17th centuries was known as "the first centre of new education, new schools, new spiritual life". We can imagine what Ostroh Academy was like 445 years ago if the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Cyril Lucaris  was elected as its rector. Our today's forum is, first of all, the task and duty to arouse the interest of political, public, cultural figures and especially scientists for a deep study of the history of the Ostroh Academy and the Ostroh principality. Dear colleagues, our measure provides for discussions, congratulations, wishes. Therefore, let's make this work!»

An excellent ending of the forum was the performance of the students of the Musica Mundi School in Belgium. Nazar Plyska gave a welcoming speech:

«On the occasion of the 445th anniversary of higher education in Ukraine, we are glad to welcome all guests again within the walls of Ostroh Academy. Our musical gift will be a violin and piano concert. I wish you all a good celebration!»