University College Cork joins global coalition for Ukrainian Studies
- Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, and representatives from University College Cork.
University College Cork (UCC) has joined the Global Coalition for Ukrainian Studies, becoming one of the first Irish Institutions that have committed to embedding Ukrainian history, politics, society, language and culture in their research agendas and teaching programmes.
UCC’s joining the coalition of over 40 institutions comes after the culmination of sustained engagement by the university supporting Ukrainian academics and pursuing research and teaching on Ukraine. The official signing ceremony took place at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska and Minister James Lawless. UCC was represented by VP Global, Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Dr Tatiana Vagramenko and Professor James Kapaló.
"The Coalition aligns with our global engagement priorities of research excellence, partnership and impact. Joining this Coalition reflects our long-term commitment to supporting Ukrainian scholars, advancing understanding of Ukraine’s past and present, and ensuring that Ukrainian culture, language and history have a firm and respected place in Irish higher education," stated Professor Ursula Kilkelly, UCC Vice-President, Global Engagement.
"This partnership allows us not only to deepen academic collaboration but also to contribute meaningfully to the wider decolonisation of Ukrainian Studies. By embedding Ukraine’s experiences, heritage and contemporary realities into our teaching and research, we help preserve knowledge at risk, support colleagues affected by the war, and foster connections that will benefit both societies for generations," stated Professor James Kapaló.
Joining the Coalition marks an important landmark in UCC’s decade-long research successes in the area of Ukrainian and East Central Europe Studies the results of which have included Dr Tatiana Vagramenko's recent Future for Religious Heritage Award for her ongoing work on endangered heritage in Ukraine, the successful Sanctuary Fellowship scheme which secured 9 Postdoc research positions for scholars fleeing the conflict in 2022-23, and a series of projects funded by ERC, IRC, UCLA, The British Library and the US/UK-based Keston Institute.
Dr Vagramenko and Professor Kapaló together with colleagues in UCC's School of History and Department of Government and Politics amongst others have ambitious plans to develop both teaching and research on Ukraine's past and present. First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska expressed her hope that the Coalition with UCC will contribute to the decolonisation of Ukrainian Studies and the sharing of common historical and cultural legacies for the benefit of both societies and Europe as a whole.