- Sunday, October 12, 2025
A grand event uniting science, history, and art, took place in Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University on the 11th of October – the Symposium and the Gala concert, which were held as a part of celebrating the 150th anniversary of CHNU. The event united members of Ukrainian and Austrian communities, scientists, alumni, diplomats, and friends of the University, reaffirming its role as the center of academic and cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Europe.
Ruslan Biloskurskyi, rector of Chernivtsi National University, addressed the guests with a welcome speech. He emphasized in it that the University isn’t just a place for studying, it is also a powerful developmental driving force of the region, a generator of ideas and people that change the oblast and the country.
A videomessage by Arsenii Yatseniuk, the University’s graduate, twice Prime-minister of Ukraine, statesman, became a special moment of the event. He thanked the Alma Mater for the knowledge he gained and emphasized the importance of the University’s community for the country’s future.
A panel discussion dedicated to the University’s 150th anniversary was an important intellectual event of the day. It united known scientists from Ukraine and Austria, who discussed CHNU’s historical path, its place in the European educational space, and prospects of its development. Alfred Praus, the president of the Ukrainian-Austrian Association, which was the initiator of the event, moderated the discussion. The other members of the discussion were as follows: Anatolii Kruhlashov, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Ihor Zhaloba, Head of the Department of International Relations and International Law of Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Dr. Börries Kuzmany, Associate Professor at the Department of History of Eastern Europe, and Thomas Németh, professor of theology of Christian East (University of Vienna).
Thanks to this discussion the event became a platform for Ukrainian-Austrian cultural and academic dialogue. Raiffeisen Bank Aval was the event’s partner and supported holding the Symposium and the festive day.
Special thanks to Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University’s graduate, Arsenii Yatseniuk, for financially supporting the meeting of alumni, thanks to which the concept of the event could be realized.
After the discussion, Karl von Habsburg addressed all the people who were present with words of welcome in honor of 150 years passing since the Day of the University’s founding. He mentioned that he is proud and happy that his ancestors contributed to creating such a powerful establishment. He remembered his father visiting our University. He wished peace and prosperity upon CHNU in all fields of activity!
A gala concert took place in the Marble Hall in the second part of the event. There were arias and works of art by Ukrainian and Austrian composers, which were performed by the «Kyiv Camerata» ensemble. The concert became a true ornament of the evening, symbolically connecting two musical traditions – Ukrainian and Austrian.
A charity auction was held after the concert. The money from it will go to support to Ukrainian military and to Chernivtsi National University’s charity fund. In particular, a portion of the money collected will be used for buying the Mavic 3 drone for Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University professor, and now soldier at the 4th Batallion Oleksii Khudyi (Sumy direction) and our staff member Yurii Romaniv, who now serves at the 42nd detached mechanized Brigade (Pokrovsk destination). There were collection boxes established in the Hall for all those willing to contribute to a common cause.
