On Monday, 25 August 2014, the Jagiellonian University Vice-Rector for the Medical College, Prof. Piotr Laidler received Prof. Ihor Cependa, the Rector of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. Important details concerning further cooperation between the two academic institutions were discussed at the meeting.

The Jagiellonian University and the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University have been collaborating since 1 September 2007, when a relevant agreement was signed in Ivano-Frankivsk, during the opening ceremony of a new academic year. The document envisages joint research projects, exchange of research data and curricula, as well as student and staff exchange. It also opens the possibility of future student exchange within the framework of specific programmes, prepared by particular university units. The ongoing collaboration is especially active in the field of English Studies, Law, and Economics.

The Precarpathian National University was founded in 1940. It is named after Vasyl Stefanyk, a Ukrainian writer and social activist, famous for his novellas. From 1892 to 1898 he studied medicine at the Jagiellonian University. At that time he made friendships with many Polish modernist poets, including Stanisław Przybyszewski and Stanisław Wyspiański.

Currently, Precarpathian National University consists of 14 educational institutes and faculties, 36 scientific establishments, 3 colleges where young specialists, bachelors, and masters are trained, as well as 3 educational and consulting centres. There are more than 16 thousand students and several hundred academic staff members studying and working at the University at the moment.

The University in Ivano-Frankivsk has been engaged in a long-time collaboration with academic centres in Europe, Asia and the USA, in such areas as joint research, research quality improvement, organisation of conferences and symposia, and academic staff training. The university has signed more than 70 agreements with foreign higher education institutions.

Photos: Jerzy Sawicz