- Thursday, October 2, 2025
A grand meeting of the Academic Council dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Alma Mater took place in the Marble Hall of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University on the 2nd of October. The event brought together the academic community, students, alumni, and honored guests that joined the anniversary celebration of one of the oldest classical Universities in Ukraine and the only educational establishment in our country that combines the statuses of UNESCO World Heritage Site and an educational-scientific institution.
It was possible to try out the “150” fragrance, developed by the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University team in honor of the 150th anniversary of the University, next to the Marble Hall. Attendees could be gifted the perfume or make a pre-order for future shipments for a donation to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Participants honored the memory of defenders of Ukraine that gave their lifes in fights for our country’s independence with a minute of silence in the beginning of the meeting. The memory of rectors of past generations, in particular professors Stepan Kostyshyn and Mykola Tkach, who have recently passed away, was honored as well by laying flowers on their graves.
The University’s rector, professor Ruslan Biloskurskyi emphasized during the meeting that CHNU’s history mirrors Bukovyna’s history because, despite the changes in regimes, the University has always managed to preserve its national identity and stayed a powerful center of education, science, and spirituality. The glorious anniversary of the University is celebrated on the national level according to the resolution by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Five prominent scholars, who dedicated their whole lives to serving the University, were granted the «Honored professor of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University» status on that day. The people who got it were: professor of Department of Differential Equations, long-term vice-rector and CHNU’s rector in 2019-2024 Roman Petryshyn; head of the Department of Correlation Optics, corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine, long-term director of the Institute of Physical, Technical and Computer Sciences, professor Oleh Anhelskyi; head of the Department of History of Ukraine, long-term dean of the Faculty of History, Political Science and International Relations, professor Oleksandr Dobrzhanskyi; head of the Department of Economic Geography and Environmental Management, long-term dean of the Faculty of Geography, professor Valentyn Rudenko; head of the Department of Town Planning and Urbanism, long-term dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Construction, Decorative and Applied Arts, professor Ihor Fodchuk.
The University also granted the «Honored doctor Honoris causa of CHNU» title to three prominent scholars and public figures. Among them were: professor of University of Lorraine in France, expert on public administration and international development, public figure and graduate of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of CHNU Violetta Moskalu, professor and rector of Fil. Dr. Jan-U. Sandal Institute in Norway Jan-Urban Sandal, and academic of the NAS of Ukraine Arkadii Chykrii. Violetta Moskalu arrived in Chernivtsi personally to get the great honor and the two other laureates joined the celebration online.
Scholars of the University that got honorary awards of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine were awarded on the solemn meeting. Namely, the awards were granted to rector Ruslan Biloskurskyi, professors Andrii Samila, Vasyl Dzhaman, Myroslav Zayachuk, Oleksandr Dubolazov, Mariia Fedoriiak, and Yuriy Ushenko. All-Ukrainian Prostiva Society named after Taras Shevchenko awarded the University with the highest award – the Order of Nestor the Chronicler and handed diplomas and gratitudes to well-known professors and public figures.
The awarding from the Central committee of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine became a special moment. Ruslan Romanovych Biloskurskyi, rector of CHNU, doctor of economic sciences, professor, was awarded with the Badge of Honor «For social partnership».
Professors and coworkers of the University were also awarded, among them: Vitaliy Kindzerskyi, Tetyana Zavolichna, Mykola Bodnaruk, Oksana Voloshchuk, and others.
Iryna Isopenko, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Commissioner for Human Rights, graduate of the Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, who handed the awards to Dmytro Fedortsov, Vitalii Vdovichen, and Mykola Kostash, took part in the event. The rector of CHNU also noted with gratitudes professors, co-workers, and young scientists who successfully defended their theses in 2025, and also philanthropists and partners of the University, including members of the IT field, business clubs, and leading companies in Chernivtsi.
Members of the CBG business club together with Borys Shestopalov gifted 150 modern books for students. The gifted literature encompasses Ukrainian and world humanistic, business and publicistic themes.
The meeting ended with a symbolic performance by the Honored Artist of Ukraine Iryna Styts, who performed a song «All will be Ukraine».
The University’s 150th anniversary became not only a holiday, but also a symbol of unity of generations and proof of the major role of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University in the development of science, education and culture in Ukraine and in the world.
