Subscribe to News

24 September 2010 Ukrainian Studies Program. Cambridge

Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Presented In Kiev

A senior delegation from the University of Cambridge arrived in Kiev to present the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies initiative which from now on will be working permanently at one of the world’s most prestigious universities owing to financial support from Mr. Dmitry Firtash. Speaking at a press-conference, the guests told about the objectives of this initiative and what the public in the UK and Western Europe knows about Ukraine.
 
Prof. Rory Finnin, Head of the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies set the scene of discussion by outlining the most problematic issues. “Europeans need to learn about the Ukrainian language and culture. Europe has not seen a program like this for long. By and large, European universities seem not to notice Ukraine, its culture, language, literature and history. I call it the world’s inverse hallucination. If hallucination is seeing what is not there, then the inverse hallucination is the failure to see what is there. Now, we finally have such a program. Our students will be able to learn the Ukrainian language and literature and this is great news for everyone,” said Prof. Finnin.
 
“The interest in Ukraine is steadily growing. My students say that they feel like discovering something new and exciting as they start our course. It is only simple: they look at the map of Europe and see that the largest European country remains largely underexplored. And it is for this reason that they immerse in this material. They read Kotliarevsky, Shevchenko, Kulish, Kobylianska and others in the original and write fascinating essays afterwards,” added Prof. Finnin.
 
Emma Widdis, Head of the Department of Slavonic Studies at the University of Cambridge, talked about the academic dimension of this initiative: “Cambridge students are obliged to study at least two foreign languages. But our department is not purely linguistic, it is also a center of culture studies. This means that we offer all our students courses in the Ukrainian language, literature and culture, as well as in history of the Ukrainian cinematography,” said Dr. Widdis.
 
Simon Franklin, Professor at the Slavonic Studies Department and Head of Humanities at the University of Cambridge commented that such a program was being regarded as a necessity for quite a while. “The understanding of Ukraine, the studying of Ukraine on a fundamental level, is hardly ever seen in Western Europe In the United Kingdom we hear about Ukraine only when it is shaken by yet another political or economic crisis. Otherwise, it just stays away from the newspaper pages, and from people’s minds. In our opinion, it is detrimental not only to Ukraine, but to us as well,” said Prof. Franklin.
 
“For such a program to become a reality, it takes the right combination of circumstances and people. People willing to make it happen. Since the very time of inception and for a long while now, Mr. Dmitry Firtash has been providing his support to us. He has played a key and essential role in this program. Without him, we wouldn’t have reached this stage,” stressed Prof. Franklin.
 
Cambridge Ukrainian Studies was launched in 2008 at the Department of Slavonic Studies at the University of Cambridge with the financial support from Dmitry Firtash. This initiative is aimed at promoting and contributing to the study of Ukraine in the United Kingdom and beyond by deepening intercultural dialogue and advancing innovative approaches in the research on the rich historical, linguistic and cultural heritage of Ukraine. The Program is active in both academic and public spheres.
 
Mr. Firtash’s recent benefaction enabled permanent endowment of the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies and ensured its existence for many generations to come. As part of today’s visit, a ceremony of formal signature of the program funding agreement took place.

SEE ALSO:

All articles...

Dmitry Firtash’s Contribution Into Education Promotion Acknowledged by Cambridge University 27 July 2012

Dmitry Firtash’s Contribution Into Education Promotion Acknowledged by Cambridge University

The University of Cambridge is delighted to announce that Mr Dmitry Firtash has been nominated to receive the Chancellor’s 800th Anniversary Campaign Medal for Outstanding Philanthropy
Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Opens British People’s Eyes On Ukraine 27 February 2012

Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Opens British People’s Eyes On Ukraine

Over the incomplete 4 years of its existence, the Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program has defined the scholarly specialization of several dozen students of the world’s most prestigious university. Increasingly more young people in Western...
Renowned Choir Of Cambridge Performs In Ukraine For The First Time 09 December 2011

Renowned Choir Of Cambridge Performs In Ukraine For The First Time

The British choir touring in Ukraine with their Music of Advent and Christmas Program conquered the hearts of the Ukrainians. Long before the concert start, the spirit in the National House of Organ and Chamber Music was very special
Dmitry Firtash Meets Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program Participants And Cambridge Ukrainian Studentships Fellows 17 November 2011

Dmitry Firtash Meets Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program Participants And Cambridge Ukrainian Studentships Fellows

On his trip to London where the Guild of Benefactors of Cambridge University was hosting its annual reception, Mr. Dmitry Firtash paid a visit to the Slavonic Studies Department of Cambridge University
Volodymyr Tykhyi And Maryna Vroda Headline The Fourth Annual Cambridge Festival Of Ukrainian Film 11 November 2011

Volodymyr Tykhyi And Maryna Vroda Headline The Fourth Annual Cambridge Festival Of Ukrainian Film

New films by a number of Ukraine's best directors will be shown at the Fourth Annual Cambridge Festival of Ukrainian Film on 11-12 November. This popular Festival is hosted by the Ukrainian Studies program at the University of Cambridge
Dmitry Firtash: Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program Is Ukraine’s Unofficial Embassy At The World’s Best University 03 November 2011

Dmitry Firtash: Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program Is Ukraine’s Unofficial Embassy At The World’s Best University

Cambridge University’s Ukrainian Studies Program has been attended by students from many countries of the world which attests to the high interest in Ukraine, said Mr. Dmitry Firtash, Head of the Board of Directors of Group DF in his...
The University Of Cambridge Reviews The Performance Of Its Ukrainian Studies Program In 2010-2011 08 June 2011

The University Of Cambridge Reviews The Performance Of Its Ukrainian Studies Program In 2010-2011

The 2010/2011 academic year has been the most successful year of Cambridge Ukrainian Studies Program over its 3-year history. The financial support from Dmitry Firtash enabled the uninterrupted running of the Program
The University Of Cambridge Recognizes Dmitry Firtash’s Contribution Into Ukraine’s Promotion In The UK 23 March 2011

The University Of Cambridge Recognizes Dmitry Firtash’s Contribution Into Ukraine’s Promotion In The UK

The University of Cambridge has recognized the contribution made by Mr. Dmitry Firtash in an effort towards Ukraine popularization in the UK by inviting the prominent Ukrainian businessman to join the Guild of Benefactors of the University of...
University of Cambridge hosts the Third Annual Festival of Ukrainian Film 06 November 2010

University of Cambridge hosts the Third Annual Festival of Ukrainian Film

The University of Cambridge hosted the Third Annual Cambridge Festival of Ukrainian Film. This year, viewers could see two of Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s early works – a spy thriller ‘The Diplomatic Pouch’ and a comedy...
Cambridge Becomes A Permanent Home For Ukrainian Studies 24 September 2010

Cambridge Becomes A Permanent Home For Ukrainian Studies

The University of Cambridge endowed permanent Ukrainian Studies program focused on Ukrainian culture and language learning. Permanent establishment of this program being unique in Western Europe has become possible due to financial support from...