The University of Birmingham delegation paid a visit to Ivan Franko National University of Lviv on Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24, 2023. The University had the pleasure of receiving esteemed guests, including Professor Robin Mason, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Relations at the University of Birmingham, Professor Michael Dobson, Director of the UK’s Institute of Shakespeare Studies, Graham Sanders, Professor of the Department of Drama and Theatre at the University of Birmingham, and Lisa Webley, Head of the Centre for Research in Professional and Legal Education at the University of Birmingham.
While staying at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, the guests conversed with Professor Volodymyr Melnyk, Rector of the Lviv University and a Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by Serhiy Riznyk, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Cooperation, and Myroslava Tsyhanyk, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts.
Before the conversation began, the participants joined the national minute of silence and honored the memory of all those who died in the brutal Russian-Ukrainian war.
Later, on behalf of the whole Lviv University community, Volodymyr Melnyk expressed his gratitude to British colleagues for supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression: “Thanks to the courage of our Armed Forces and thanks to the courage of our guests who decided to visit Lviv University on Ukraine’s Independence Day, we have the opportunity to meet today. Despite our geographical distance, you have proved to be our great friends. Therefore, we consider your visit to us today on this special day for our country as a sign of great respect for Ukraine and its support,” the Rector said.
Professor Robin Mason, Vice-Chancellor for International Relations at the University of Birmingham, shared his impressions of the visit to Ukraine and emphasized: “It is a great privilege for us to be in Ukraine on its Independence Day. We are all looking forward to seeing the war in Ukraine end and Ukrainians return to peaceful life. No matter what, we always support you and stand in solidarity with you.”
Robin Mason also spoke about the feedback from the participants of the recent summer school “Unlocking Ukraine: A Journey through Language, Culture, and History”, which took place on 17-29 July 2023. This summer school was jointly organized by the University of Lviv and the University of Birmingham.
During the meeting, the participants discussed topical issues such as how to support Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia, ways to deepen cooperation between universities, and the implementation of joint projects that demonstrate the similarities between Ukrainian and British cultures. They also discussed the idea of establishing the Shakespeare-Franko Park, which was originally proposed by the late Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts, Mayya Harbuzyuk, who passed away on 14 August, 2023.
Memories of Mayya Harbuzyuk became a separate aspect of the meeting, as everyone warmly and gratefully recalled her unquenchable creative passion, hard work, great responsibility, and the wonderful initiatives she implemented. Volodymyr Melnyk, in particular, informed his British colleagues about Mayya Volodymyrivna’s enthusiastic initiation of a new educational program “Acting in Puppet Theatre”, emphasizing on the need for theatre to develop. Mayya Harbuzyuk’s initiative has received support and is now accepting its first enrolment of students this year. During the meeting, they also recalled Mayya Harbuzyuk’s recent visit to the UK, which took place as part of a twinning program between Lviv and Birmingham universities. The trip, namely participation in a meeting of the Shakespeare Group of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, made an enchanting impression on Mayya Harbuzyuk.
The conversation also focused on the basic principles and topical issues of modern universities. In particular, Robin Mason expressed his belief that “it is the University that reflects the country’s democracy.” Volodymyr Melnyk agreed with his british colleague, stating that “universities formed European civilization through their basic principles of democracy and scientific rationalism.”
A meeting of all participants, which was held in the Mirror Hall of the University, involved in the joint project between the Universities of Lviv and Birmingham, which includes a set of activities designed to develop and strengthen Ukrainian-British relations in the educational and scientific spheres during wartime and the post-war period of Ukraine’s reconstruction. The visit also included a presentation of the English-Ukrainian Legal Dictionary and a presentation of the plan to create a Shakespeare-Franko Park.
During their visit to Lviv University, the British colleagues also visited the University History Museum and learned from it’s director about the history and current state of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
In addition, representatives of the University of Birmingham and the Director of the Institute of Shakespeare Studies at Stanford University paid tribute to the late Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Arts of Lviv University, Professor Mayya Harbuzyuk, by visiting her grave together with her daughter, Sofia Harbuzyuk.
It should be noted that the official cooperation between the University of Lviv and the University of Birmingham began on 28 June 2022, the Ukraine’s Constitution Day. Since then, the universities have become not just partners, but also close friends and true fellows. During the year, a number of important initiatives have already been implemented, including the English-Ukrainian Legal Dictionary project, the Unlocking Ukraine Summer School, and even a series of joint workshops and lectures.
The academic community of the University of Lviv expresses its gratitude to the partners from the University of Birmingham for their active cooperation and reliable friendship. We look forward to continuing our active partnership, which will further strengthen British-Ukrainian academic relations.