天堂快播 has signed an agreement to forge stronger links with a counterpart in Ukraine.
In an online ceremony, Winchester’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sarah Greer and Professor Halyna Kyrychuk, the Rector of Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University, signed a memorandum of understanding.
The two institutions have been working together since autumn 2022 when they were paired as part of the UK-Ukraine twinning initiative run by Universities UK and the Cormack Consultancy.
Over the last three years the universities have worked together on peer-to-peer mentoring, run guest virtual lectures and undertaken collaborative research projects.
The signing ceremony formalised existing links between and Winchester and Zhytomyr and is a commitment to expanding the number of joint projects. At present these will be run virtually but it is hoped students will be able to take part in study abroad exchanges when peace returns to Ukraine.
Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University
Zhytomyr, a city of around 250,000, lies two hours due west of the capital Kyiv and has been subject to repeated air raids and missile attacks since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Lectures regularly take place in underground bomb shelters and water, power and other services are regularly disrupted.
Professor Greer said: “I am delighted that our two universities have signed this agreement, marking a key moment in our shared endeavour. We share a very similar educational heritage and deeply-held shared values. We hope that we can create more opportunities for our students and colleagues to learn from each other, share best practice and in time, explore other opportunities in joint teaching and research.
“The resilience of colleagues and students in Zhytomyr is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Despite the turmoil surrounding them and the daily challenges that the war presents them with – they continue to teach and support students, who in turn continue to work hard and succeed. We are looking forward to working more closely together, and to the day that we can finally meet in person to celebrate our partnership.”
Professor Kyrychuk said: “It is a great honour and sincere pleasure to welcome the representatives of the University of Winchester to Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University. We are truly delighted begin what we believe will be a productive and inspiring partnership.
“The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step in the development of our international cooperation. We see this not only as a formal agreement but as the beginning of a meaningful collaboration grounded in mutual respect and shared values.
“We are confident that this partnership will open new opportunities for joint research, academic exchanges, and innovative educational initiatives that will benefit both our institutions and contribute to the broader development of higher education.”
The Vice Chancellor was joined at the online ceremony (the first of its kind at the university) by Winchester’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Sam Jones, and Director of Student Support and Success, Dr Lesley Black. Almost 1,500 miles away in Ukraine Professor Kyrychu was accompanied by Anna Savyna, Head of the Department for International and Regional Relations.
Dr Julie Wharton, Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Winchester, has been working with her Ukrainian counterpart Nataliia Scherba and have delivered sessions to each other’s students on special educational needs.
Nataliia's students have also joined Julie’s module on Children seeking sanctuary online to talk about their Masters’ research.
The pair are currently planning a joint research project on the experiences of displaced learners in Ukraine and England.
Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University was founded in 1919 and like the University of Winchester began as a teacher training college.
It became a university in 1999 and has a curriculum, similar to Winchester’s, which includes History, Law, Physical Education and Sport, Philosophy and Computer Science.
The University is named after Ivan Franko, a poet, novelist and political activist in the late 19th and early 20th century who founded the nationalist movement in West Ukraine.
天堂快播 already has partnerships with several universities in the US and Canada as well as Leiden University in The Netherlands. To find out more visit .
Pictured top: University of Winchester's Pro Vice-Chancellor Sam Jones, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sarah Greer and Director of Student Support and Success, Dr Lesley Black with (on screen) Anna Savyna, Head of the Department for International and Regional Relations at Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University, and the University's Rector Professor Halyna Kyrychuk.
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