University
Khmelnytskyi National University – Ukrainian-Polish Centre for European Integration
The Centre aims to promote Ukraine's European integration, develop and strengthen bilateral Ukrainian-Polish relations in the educational and scientific spheres, and deepen cooperation between educational institutions and organizations in Ukraine and Poland. It pays particular attention to organizing internships and training for students, doctoral candidates, and academic teachers at the best higher education institutions in Poland for the purpose of conducting scientific research, learning the Polish language, and establishing professional contacts.
In September 2004, the Ukrainian-Polish Centre was established, later renamed the Ukrainian-Polish Centre for European Integration.
Immediately after its inception, the Centre began elective Polish language instruction as a second foreign language for second-year students of the KhNU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The first Polish teacher was Tetiana Stanislavivna Husarska, a graduate of the Jagiellonian University.
In 2005, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Centre for Training and Organization of the Quality System of the Krakow University of Technology to collaborate on disseminating knowledge about quality management systems according to ISO 9000 international standards. That same year, an agreement was also reached between KhNU and the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv regarding consular assistance for Ukrainian-Polish scientific and academic events. A year later, in 2006, a joint action agreement was concluded between the Centre and the Union of Polish Teachers in Ukraine, whose Khmelnytskyi branch is headed by Yulia Ivanivna Sierkova, on whose initiative the Polish Language and Literature Olympiad was held with the participation of KhNU students.
In 2007, the first professional development courses for Polish studies teachers were organized, and in 2008, within the framework of the "double diploma" program, the Centre organized language training for Khmelnytskyi National University students for the first time. In 2009, the first Qualification Exam confirming Polish language proficiency was conducted.
In 2010, a methodological seminar for Polish studies teachers was held with the participation of the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Vinnytsia.
In 2012, the KhNU Faculty of Humanities and Pedagogy recruited students for the Polish Studies major for the first time. Along with the opening of this new specialty, the Department of Slavic Philology was established at KhNU, headed by Associate Professor Nelya Podlewska Volodymyrivna. Ukrainian and Polish lecturers work there, conducting classes for future Polish philologists and for all students wishing to learn the Polish language.
On January 31, 2014, Prof. Yuriy Shalapko was appointed Director of the Ukrainian-Polish Centre.
Based on Rector Skyba's order No. 20 of January 31, 2014, the Ukrainian-Polish Centre for European Integration at KhNU receives additional didactic, methodological, and technical support for conducting classes in Polish linguistics, literature, history, and culture.
In 2014, the Ukrainian-Polish project "Development of Polish Education in Ukraine through support for the Department of Slavic Philology at Khmelnytskyi National University" was launched. Implemented by the Department and the Centre in partnership with the Integration Europe-East Association, its primary goal is the development of Polish education in Ukraine. The grant was awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland under the "Cooperation in the Field of Public Diplomacy 2014" program. Another grant from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was for the project "PL+UA=UE. Polish-Ukrainian meetings on the path to a United Europe," implemented in 2015, aimed at promoting the Polish language through innovative teaching methods. Between 2012 and 2021, grants were obtained for 8 international projects.
In the autumn of 2015, Oleg Polishchuk was appointed Director of the Centre. Since September 1, 2024, this function has been performed by Jochna Mykoła Antonowicz.
The Centre's work includes:
- Lectures and classes in Polish language and literature;
- The Polish conversation club "Kawusia z mleczkiem" (Coffee with milk), fostering language and intercultural skills in a relaxed atmosphere;
- Polish Cinema Month – a series of screenings of contemporary and classic Polish films, combined with discussions and critical analysis;
- Meetings with writers, translators, lecturers, and cultural activists from Poland and Ukraine;
- Student projects, including the "Translator's Code" translation project, an online dictionary of Polish keywords, interdisciplinary participation in international initiatives, Polish-Ukrainian cultural evenings, literary readings, and translation and creative competitions.
These activities support the linguistic and professional development of students while shaping intercultural sensitivity, creativity, and leadership skills.
Staff of the Centre:
To learn more about the Centre's activities, please visit: https://upcei.khmnu.edu.ua/
We are open to cooperation, partnership projects, the exchange of experiences, as well as participation in initiatives supporting the international Polish studies community.