Europe Day Celebration at Mariupol State University

On May 9, Mariupol State University, together with the entire country, celebrated Europe Day, a holiday of unity and peace.

The event brought together not only the university’s student community, including international students, but also school youth. The celebration combined an educational mission with an entertaining format, aiming to share more about Europe through games and interactive activities.

At the start of the event, Rector Mykola Trofymenko addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He emphasised that on Europe Day, Ukraine celebrates not only its geographical belonging to the continent but also its deep connection to European civilisation.

Iryna Sikorska, Director of the Center for International Education at the Invincible University, also greeted the MSU community and guests. She highlighted that Europe Day is a celebration of hopes and dreams, noting that it is the youth who will build a European Ukraine, and the best path toward that future is through education and self-development.

Mariia Kustikova, Head of the EU Information Center based at the institution with a Mariupol identity, explained the meaning of Europe Day, how it came to Ukraine, and how it is celebrated in EU countries. In turn, Vadym Yali, a specialist at the Center for International Education and coordinator of Erasmus+ programs at the university, spoke about opportunities for studying in Europe available to students.

After the formal part, the youth participated in interactive stations. At first, participants tested their knowledge about the European Union, Europe Day, and Ukraine’s European integration, and reflected on EU values. The second station offered a hands-on experience of being part of the European political process through a simulated Council of the European Union meeting.