University of L'Aquila (Italy) Joins the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies
During her visit to the Italian Republic, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Italian Minister of Universities and Research Anna Maria Bernini. During their meeting, a memorandum was signed for one of Italy's universities to join the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies.
The President's wife expressed gratitude for Italy's support of Ukrainian education and its people amidst the fight against Russian aggression. Currently, 1,048 Ukrainians are studying in Italian universities.
"We are sincerely grateful for the measures introduced by Italy to support representatives of the Ukrainian student and academic community who have been granted temporary protection in the country," Olena Zelenska stated.
During the meeting, the memorandum formalizing the University of L'Aquila's accession to the Coalition of Ukrainian Studies was signed. Anna Maria Bernini and the university's Rector, Edoardo Alesse, participated in the signing. Also present at the meeting were: Antonio Zoccoli, President of the Conference of Presidents of Public Research Institutions (COPER); Antonella Polimeni, Deputy President of the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI); and Giovanna Cassese, President of the National Council for Higher Artistic and Musical Education (CNAM).
The First Lady thanked the University of L'Aquila for its commitment to providing students with truthful information and acknowledged other Italian higher education institutions that have already become part of this project.
"We also highly appreciate the Italian Association of Ukrainian Studies, which makes a significant contribution to promoting Ukrainian literature and language. I am confident that participation in the Coalition of Ukrainian Studies will enrich academic life and enhance the reputation of Italian universities as leading centers for the creation of scientific knowledge in Europe. After all, studying Ukrainian today means knowing more about the present, history, and geopolitics," Olena Zelenska noted.
The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies is a Ukrainian initiative aimed at developing Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar courses worldwide, overcoming fakes and distortions in the academic environment, and fostering partnerships between Ukrainian and foreign universities.
In the last three months, 13 higher education institutions from Finland, the Republic of South Africa, the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, Estonia, and the Republic of Korea have joined the Coalition. In total, over 70 universities worldwide are interested in becoming part of this initiative.
