University of Manitoba Becomes the First Canadian Member of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies

On June 17, 2025, the University of Manitoba became the first Canadian university to join the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies — an initiative established with the support of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. This marks a significant step in strengthening international academic support for Ukraine.

The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies brings together leading universities around the world to initiate or expand research dedicated to Ukraine — its history, culture, language, literature, identity, and related fields.

“The University of Manitoba’s joining the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies is a testament to the global interest in a deep and systematic exploration of Ukraine’s heritage and modern realities. It is also an important step in strengthening cultural and educational ties between Ukraine and Canada. We are grateful to our Canadian friends for their efforts in affirming knowledge about Ukraine in global academic discourse,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha.

Commenting on this development, Olha Budnyk, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on behalf of the Presidential Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sports, stated:
“Canada is one of the strongest centers of support for Ukraine globally. Here, the Ukrainian diaspora preserved our culture, language, and memory during the darkest times for our country, when these were banned at home. The University of Manitoba’s participation in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies as the first higher education institution from the North American continent is a tangible step toward strengthening partnerships and continuing the deep connection that unites Ukrainians on both sides of the ocean through education, science, culture, and historical memory. This cooperation will enable us to study Ukraine together — objectively, systematically, and with a modern perspective. It is important that Canadian youth know what our country is today, not only its past.”

Olha Kuryshko, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, emphasized:
“By joining the Coalition, the University of Manitoba helps shape a global academic space where Ukraine is represented clearly, truthfully, and with dignity. We are deeply grateful to our Canadian partners for this support. This cooperation also creates important opportunities to deepen global awareness of Crimea, its history, and the culture of one of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples — the Crimean Tatars.”

The Memorandum of Cooperation, signed between the Presidential Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sports and the University of Manitoba, outlines key areas of collaboration. These include support for Ukrainian Studies programs, initiatives to raise global awareness about Ukraine, the development of Crimean Tatar studies, academic exchange programs, and countering Russian disinformation. The document also encourages joint efforts in organizing international events such as conferences and seminars, and supporting cultural exchanges to deepen global understanding of Ukrainian identity and cultural heritage.

As part of this cooperation, the University of Manitoba plans to actively invite Ukrainian lecturers to deliver guest lectures and full courses, implement joint educational programs with Ukrainian universities, integrate Ukrainian Studies content into existing events, and organize exhibitions and presentations on Ukrainian themes.

Volodymyr Sheiko, Director of the Ukrainian Institute and one of the co-founders of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, highlighted the significance of this step:
“Today, the world is discovering Ukraine — our culture, science, history, and civil society. Through cultural and educational diplomacy, the Ukrainian state is amplifying our voices abroad and decolonizing knowledge about us. The involvement of Canadian universities in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies will elevate academic cooperation to a new qualitative level and serve as a crucial instrument for strengthening trust between our countries.”

Ukrainian Studies have been present at the University of Manitoba since the 1980s, when the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies was established. Today, its activities encompass a variety of formats, including undergraduate programs and interdisciplinary courses on Ukrainian-Canadian heritage, monthly lectures and reading groups, research projects, postdoctoral fellowships, and ongoing work on developing new courses. The core areas of Ukrainian Studies include teaching, public events, and research.

The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies was established with the support of Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska as a joint initiative of the Ukrainian Institute, the Presidential Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sports, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Crimea Platform Office), the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Its core mission is to advance Ukrainian Studies — including Crimean Tatar studies — by ensuring accurate and professional research on Ukraine’s history and culture, and by fostering the promotion of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages and cultural heritage.