A symbol of hope: Mariupol University Center opened in Poland

Due to the large-scale invasion by Russia, the citizens of Ukraine were forced to look for a safe place on the European mainland. The majority of people dream of returning to their homes. That is why friendly countries are supporting initiatives aimed at keeping Ukrainians connected to their homeland.

Thanks to Polish partners, the Mariupol State University Center was opened on October 24 based on the University of Silesia in Katowice. It will be not only a platform for scientific projects and knowledge exchange, but also a source of prosperity of cultural ideas, a bridge between Ukrainian youth in Poland and universities in Ukraine for successful admission.

This is already the second branch of MSU uniting Ukrainians abroad – the first one was opened last autumn based at Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania. All this was made possible thanks to international cooperation within the Transform4Europe Alliance of European Universities framework.

Friends and partners of the Alliance participated in the celebratory event with the invincible community. At the beginning of the event, the Rector of the University of Silesia, Ryszard Koziołek, addressed the audience and quoted from the essay "Mariupol" by the famous historian Norman Davis. The work presents options for the development of the city after a large-scale war: occupation, reconstruction by the Ukrainian authorities or transformation into ruins. Ryszard Koziołek emphasised that Mariupol will be brought back to life despite everything.

For his part, the head of MSU, Mykola Trofymenko, thanked his Polish colleagues for their support and highlighted the further strengthening of international relations of the invincible university.

Our common task, together with Transform4Europe partners, is not only to deepen inter-institutional cooperation but also to work with Ukrainian refugees and schoolchildren living abroad and do everything possible to preserve their Ukrainian identity. So, we are developing a completely new expertise and expanding our understanding of European university alliances! And, of course, we are proving every day that the University of Mariupol is more than just a university,

– says MSU Rector Mykola Trofymenko.

An important part of the opening was the signing of the agreement on the establishment of the MSU Center in Poland. The rectors of the partner universities officially signed it. The newly created Center will be coordinated by Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Finance Olena Suzdaleva.

"The opening of this Center is not only an extension of the geography of our university. It is a symbol of hope, recovery and international cooperation. The partnership with our Polish colleagues is a vivid example of how education can transcend borders and contribute to the reconstruction of disaster-stricken regions. We can influence the development of society, restore social ties, and educate a new generation of young people who are endeavouring to build a future based on peace and cooperation,

– says coordinator of the MSU Center in Poland Olena Suzdaleva.