Ukrainian academics and students arrive in Birmingham for the summer… – University of Birmingham
Ukrainian academics and students traveled to Birmingham to take part in a summer school on their country’s language, history and culture, one of the first events of its kind in the UK.
The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (IFNUL) and the University of Birmingham are co-hosting the two-week summer school with seven Ukrainian academics and three students joining the British participants.
Working in partnership with Birmingham allows IFNUL to continue its long-term summer school programme, which is not possible given the current conflict in Ukraine, while maintaining the Lviv institution’s tradition of teaching Ukrainian language and culture to not ukrainians.
IFNUL and the University of Birmingham signed a twinning agreement in June last year, demonstrating their shared values during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He
Ukrainian academics and students traveled to Birmingham to take part in a summer school on their country’s language, history and culture, one of the first events of its kind in the UK.
The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (IFNUL) and the University of Birmingham are co-hosting the two-week summer school with seven Ukrainian academics and three students joining the British participants.
Working in partnership with Birmingham allows IFNUL to continue its long-term summer school programme, which is not possible given the current conflict in Ukraine, while maintaining the Lviv institution’s tradition of teaching Ukrainian language and culture to not ukrainians.
IFNUL and the University of Birmingham signed a twinning agreement in June last year, demonstrating their shared values during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The ‘Unlocking Ukraine: A Journey Through Language, Culture and History’ summer school will help to:
- Raising awareness of the Ukrainian culture and context to a wider audience, including University of Birmingham students, members of the public and Eastern European communities in the Midlands;
- Providing the opportunity to study a language that is rarely offered in UK institutions, but is crucial to interpreting the war through Ukrainian eyes, rather than Russian ones;
- Unite Ukrainian academics and cultural representatives with experts from the University of Birmingham to share research and knowledge; and
- Support the City of Birmingham’s mission of sanctuary by working with local stakeholders to build a culture of hospitality and welcome.
Language tutor Oleksandra Antoniv (Senior Professor of Ukrainian Applied Linguistics at the Faculty of Philology, IFNUL) commented: “It is very valuable for Ukrainian researchers to be heard in the world. The summer school in Birmingham is a unique opportunity, together with British researchers, to open up the multifaceted world of Ukrainian language and culture to those who want to destroy longstanding stereotypes.
“I am very impressed by the stories of the participants who opened their hearts to Ukrainians, opened their homes to Ukrainians and supported Ukraine in this difficult time. And these human contacts became a motivation to study Ukraine”.
Academic Olena Haleta (Professor of Theory of Literature and Comparative Literary Studies, IFNUL) commented: “The summer school, organized by the University of Birmingham in cooperation with the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, is a unique opportunity to build a direct dialogue between our academic communities and, more broadly, our societies. This is an opportunity to convey two important messages: that an exhausting and destructive war continues today in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, but that Ukraine today is not just a war, but also a rich cultural and intellectual tradition, modern social and creative initiatives. . and work hard for the future. We are sincerely grateful to our Birmingham colleagues and summer school participants for their openness and willingness to develop mutual understanding and share common values.”
The summer school is a joint venture between IFNUL academics and the Institute of German and European Studies (IGES) and the Center for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies CREES at the University of Birmingham, and the international offices of the two universities.
Our diverse community of students has come together to explore, appreciate, and celebrate the richness of culture in all its forms. We appreciate the curiosity of the participants and the willingness to broaden their horizons. We are also convinced that this school will lay the foundation for further comprehensive cooperation for the development of education and cultural exchange.
Liubov Mykiievych, Andriana Terekhovska and Anhelina Berezhnenko, student collaborators, IFNUL
Student collaborators Liubov Mykiievych, Andriana Terekhovska and Anhelina Berezhnenko commented: “Ukrainian culture is a great treasure with many traditions, rich language, art and cultural heritage. We believe that this summer school should bring wonderful memories, life-changing experiences, and valuable insights that its participants can gain throughout the enriching program. Our diverse community of students has come together to explore, appreciate, and celebrate the richness of culture in all its forms. We appreciate the curiosity of the participants and the willingness to broaden their horizons. We are also convinced that this school will lay the foundation for further comprehensive cooperation for the development of education and cultural exchange.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of the organizers, students, teachers, and staff who contributed to the successful start of summer school. Their enthusiasm, commitment, and open-mindedness brought together an exceptional learning community that will now have the opportunity for personal growth and intellectual discovery”.
The summer school also features Ukraine experts from across the UK, as well as Birmingham-based arts institution Centrala, a non-profit organization that has supported Central and Eastern European immigrants in Birmingham since 2009.
By raising awareness and fostering understanding of Ukrainian culture and heritage in communities, the summer school complements Centrala’s goal of enhancing community integration and cohesion, and strengthening the Birmingham City Sanctuary Pledge build a society where the Central and Eastern European communities are welcomed and integrated.
The summer school also exhibits the University of Birmingham’s unique collection of archaeological items from the Kherson region, which is located on the campus of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
Since the invasion of Russia in February last year, interest in Ukraine and its rich culture has reached unprecedented levels in the UK. The summer school offers participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Ukrainian language and the complexity of Ukrainian history and culture.
Professor Adam Tickell, University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham Vice Chancellor and Senior Lecturer Adam Tickell commented: “We welcome our Ukrainian guests to the University of Birmingham for a summer school experience that promises to give participants a deeper appreciation of Ukraine and its people.
“Since the invasion of Russia in February last year, interest in the Ukraine and its rich culture has reached unprecedented levels in the UK. The summer school offers participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Ukrainian language and the complexity of Ukrainian history and culture.”
The extensive and diverse summer school curriculum includes an exploration of modern Ukrainian theater, stories of displacement, and the complexities of multiculturalism in Ukraine. Participants can choose to participate full-time, which includes engaging language learning sessions, or part-time for those who prefer a more flexible schedule and do not wish to receive language training.
