Poltava Polytechnic was represented by a delegation consisting of Volodymyr Onyshchenko, President of the University; Olena Stepova, Vice-Rector for Scientific and International Work; Anna Ageicheva, Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy; and Anastasiia Onyshchenko, a representative of the student community.
The Ukrainian Week in the United Kingdom 2025, “Open Ukraine: A Week of Knowledge and Culture,” was organized and implemented by the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies (GCUS) under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, in coordination with the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for Education, Science and Sport, the Ukrainian Institute, and the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the British Council in Ukraine, the International Renaissance Foundation, and ISAR “Yednannia.” Key British partners also contributed to the implementation of the initiative, including the UK–Ukraine Twinning Initiative and Cormack Consultancy Group.
The conference was hosted by one of the United Kingdom’s leading universities – Birkbeck, University of London – and brought together representatives of university communities, public authorities, and international organizations. Participants reviewed the outcomes of three years of productive cooperation within the UK–Ukraine Twinning Initiative and identified promising directions for further partnership, expansion of academic mobility, and development of joint research projects.
The conference participants were welcomed by Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, who emphasized the crucial role of international support and cooperation in ensuring the resilience of Ukraine’s higher education system amid contemporary challenges.
In his opening address, Mykola Trofymenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, highlighted that the initiative of Cormack Consultancy Group has provided substantial practical support to Ukrainian higher education institutions – from the implementation of joint educational courses and summer schools to strengthening research teams and facilitating the restoration of a safe educational environment.
The event clearly demonstrated that the Twinning Initiative continues to be an effective and impactful instrument for deepening academic cooperation, developing research partnerships, and strengthening mutual support between universities in Ukraine and the United Kingdom – despite war, distance, and geographical borders.
The conference program included panel discussions dedicated to the history and current state of civil society in Ukraine, exploration of culture as a factor of security, as well as issues of global cooperation, resilience, and new opportunities for the higher education system. During the event, the launch of new initiatives was announced, including the Excellence Network Project and the Seed Fund, aimed at expanding partnership interaction and strengthening research capacity. The activities of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies were also presented.
