October 2025 Issue #2

Oct 17

Celebrating 410th Anniversary of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy!

Greetings from Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, I send greetings on the remarkable occasion of the 410th anniversary of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

From the very first generation of students to those studying today, a continuous tradition of knowledge, truth, and dedication to Ukraine stretches across centuries. Excellence in education, science, and the spirit of freedom continue to thrive and grow, despite the trials of history and the ongoing war waged by Russian aggression.

For more than a quarter of a century, the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America has been a trusted partner and ambassador of the Academy in the United States. We nurture our alumni network, support scholarship programs, educational initiatives, and projects for veterans, and foster collaboration between Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and American universities, foundations, and businesses.

Especially today, as Ukraine fights for its freedom, we feel a shared mission to bring the truth about Ukraine to the American public—its education, culture, spiritual strength, and scientific potential.

We are proud that Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is recognized in the U.S. as a symbol of academic integrity, civic responsibility, and intellectual courage.

Thank you to all scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and friends of the Academy for your dedication and love for Kyiv-Mohyla. May God bless Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Ukraine!

Marta Farion / President / KMFA

Halshka Hulevychivna, Historic co-founder of KMA,
Comes Alive on Stage

Halshka Hulevychivna is recognized as the founder of the Kyiv Brotherhood School, which later became Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Together with the first rector, Petro Mohyla, her name has inspired legends for centuries. The first historical record of her donation of land to the school dates back to 1615.

On October 13, the NaUKMA Museum hosted a theatrical performance featuring Halshka Hulevychivna. The show brought history to life, showing how her gift helped start the Kyiv Brotherhood School and shaped the Academy’s future. Visitors watched actors portray Halshka, her niece Anna, theologian Zachary Kopystensky, and future abbot Isaiah Kopynsky signing the original 1615 deed by candlelight, while audience members took part as witnesses. Upstairs, in the former refectory, the museum recreated important historical meetings. Visitors “met” Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny, Patriarch Theophanes III of Jerusalem, Job Boretsky, and Cossack leaders as they discussed the future of the Orthodox Church and Kyiv’s education in 1620. Period music and live storytelling transported guests to the 17th century.

Over three days, the creative group “Night at the University” welcomed 700 visitors, letting them experience history firsthand—where the past and present meet in the museum’s halls.

Photos by Anastasia Baklazhko and Tetyana Ryabchuk

“Halshka Hulevychivna,” painting by Ivanna Datsiuk (Volyn Brotherhood Museum, Lutsk)

Vyacheslav Bryukhovetsky – The Visionary Who Revived Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in 1991

410 Years of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is more than a date; it is a milestone that marks a remarkable journey that places Kyiv-Mohyla Academy among Europe’s oldest and most respected institutions of higher learning.

Vyacheslav Bryukhovetsky, the Academy’s first president and its revival visionary, who received the national recognition as Hero of Ukraine, literary scholar, and co-founder of Ukraine’s Rukh People’s Movement, played a pivotal role in shaping the university. He created a unique “territory of freedom” in a post-Soviet state - a place free of corruption, where respect for diverse opinions became a guiding principle.

Thanks to his determination, Ukraine embraced educational reforms and innovations, adapting the best global models. The next generation of leaders he nurtured is already making their mark across science, politics, culture, and public life.

On the inspiration to revive Kyiv-Mohyla Academy:

“The idea came from two sources: first, from not knowing which can be a blessing, because ignorance makes you believe revival is possible. Second, from fear. After returning from Canada, I asked young activists, ‘When will you study?’ They answered, ‘We must first build an independent Ukraine.’ I realized then that uneducated leaders could shape the country. That’s when I decided we must revive Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. At first, there were just five of us. These were the first who believed in me and helped make it happen.”

We honor and thank Vyacheslav Bryukhovetsky for his vision, courage, and lifelong dedication to education and to Ukraine.

Please help Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, USA continue its mission

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Kyiv-Mohyla Academy: A Legacy That Shaped a Nation

Four Centuries of Learning, Freedom, and Resilience

This year, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, one of Eastern Europe’s oldest universities, celebrates 410 years since its founding in 1615. Through centuries of war, occupation, and renewal, the Academy has stood as a guardian of Ukrainian thought, culture, and national identity.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that modern Ukraine would not be the same without Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” says Hennadiy Zubko, Chair of the Academy’s Supervisory Board. “For four centuries, it has shaped the minds and values of those who have led, defended, and transformed our nation.”

From its earliest days, the Academy has symbolized free thought and civic courage. Its students and professors have long led Ukraine’s intellectual, cultural, and political awakening. “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy has never been convenient for those in power,” Zubko notes. “It has never compromised its principles — because here, values come first.”

Those values — freedom, dignity, and justice — continue to define the Mohylianka spirit. In times of struggle, the Academy’s students and alumni have defended not only Ukraine but also the ideals of democracy and truth.

Even amid wartime challenges, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy remains a forward-looking institution. Its School of Professional and Continuing Education provides lifelong learning across Ukraine, while the Leadership Center for Ukraine’s Defenders retrains veterans for civilian life. A new Faculty of Health Studies, developed with international partners, addresses critical needs in healthcare and social resilience.

Today, the Academy is expanding its global partnerships, advancing sustainability, and moving toward energy independence. “People trust Mohylianka — they know its history, integrity, and impact,” says Zubko.

After more than four centuries, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy continues its timeless mission — to educate leaders who will build a democratic and prosperous Ukraine.

Vivat Academia! Glory to the Academy. Glory to Ukraine.

Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Opens Program for Ukrainian Students in Germany

This fall, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) in Germany launched a unique pilot program to support young Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The first group of students began their studies in Chemistry and International Relations under the Kyiv-Mohyla curriculum, taught both by Ukrainian and German professors at JLU. The program gives students a chance to experience true university life abroad while staying connected to Ukraine’s academic traditions.

“This initiative is more than an academic partnership — it’s a contribution to rebuilding Ukraine’s higher education and supporting young people determined to learn while preserving their identity,” said JLU President Professor Katharina Lorenz.

NaUKMA President Serhiy Kvit emphasized that the project reflects “international solidarity, educational diplomacy, and the spirit of Ukraine’s European integration.”

The two universities have been partners for over a decade. Since the beginning of the invasion, JLU has hosted more than 500 Ukrainian students, scholars, and educators. Their cooperation now includes student exchanges, Erasmus+ projects, a Kyiv-Mohyla office in Giessen, and the creation of a joint master’s program “Ukraine in Europe.”

This new program not only offers education to Ukrainian youth in exile — it also reinforces the presence of Ukrainian higher education in the European academic community, demonstrating resilience, partnership, and hope for Ukraine’s future

Ukrainian Community Leaders Begin Training Program at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

Leaders from 29 Ukrainian communities have started a short-term Professional Development Program organized by the Kyiv-Mohyla School of Professional and Continuing Education as part of the Community Recovery School.

Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) serves as the educational partner of this initiative, founded by the Association of Ukrainian Cities in partnership with Mariupol Reborn, aiming to prepare municipal managers for rebuilding and developing Ukraine.

This year, 120 community managers from 17 regions, including territories that are temporarily occupied, recently liberated, or heavily affected by the war, joined the program.

The program runs until March 2026, featuring five in-person workshops and ten online sessions. Modules cover community recovery strategies in challenging conditions, economic revival, veteran policies, human capital development, and public communications, with a focus on strategic planning under uncertainty and reinforcing local identity.

More details: https://tinyurl.com/4nrvfa6e

KMA Marks 410 Years with Military Training Recognition

For over four centuries, the KMA has educated military leaders, statesmen, scholars, and civic activists — from 17th-century Cossack officers to today’s scientists, community leaders, and participants shaping Ukraine’s education and culture.

Today, KMA continues this tradition, preparing future leaders and active citizens. Students and faculty contribute to modern Ukraine through volunteer support during the Russian Ukrainian war, participation in defense initiatives, educational and scientific projects, startups, and cultural and civic campaigns.

On October 15, 2025, in honor of the Academy’s anniversary, President Serhiy Kvit presented an Award to the military training program for its work as an exemplary organization and for preparing a new generation of Ukraine’s defenders.

Kyrylo Budanov Congratulates Kyiv-Mohyla Academy on its 410th Anniversary

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and a graduate of the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, congratulated the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy on its 410th anniversary.

In his message, Budanov emphasized the Academy’s historic role in shaping Ukraine’s intellectual and cultural identity. He praised its revival as a modern university of international recognition, fostering free thought, civic responsibility, and democratic values.

“As a proud graduate of the Kyiv-Mohyla community,” Budanov noted, “I share in its enduring spirit and sense of mission. Throughout history, Mohylianka’s students and alumni have stood up for Ukraine, and today, hundreds of them serve in the Armed Forces, defending their homeland and their Alma Mater from Russian aggression.”

He concluded his message with words of pride and resilience:
“Time passes, but the Academy endures. Слава Академії! Слава Україні!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2107730213296978

Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Hosts Its Third Annual Gender Equality Week

The National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy recently concluded its third annual Gender Equality Week, organized by the University’s Committee on Combating Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Bullying.

Over five days, students, faculty, and guests participated in lectures and discussions featuring experts in sociology, law, economics, cybersecurity, and Crimean studies. Topics included the evolving role of women in the military, state gender policy, the gender pay gap, and challenges women face in technical professions. A special session highlighted women’s contributions to the Crimean Tatar civic movement.

A key outcome was the signing of a memorandum between NaUKMA’s Department of Sociology and the Institute of Gender Programs NGO, fostering continued collaboration. A charity book auction also raised 22,000 UAH to support student scholarships.

“Educational initiatives like this are vital for sharing knowledge and raising awareness about gender equality in Ukrainian society,” said Tamara Martsenyuk, Head of the Committee. “Gender Equality Week has become a meaningful annual tradition that unites our community around these important issues.”