On 30 April 2025, SumDU welcomed honored guests –delegation of the Ukrainian Catholic University, headed by rector Taras DOBKO.

Among visitors, there were also Oleksii MOLCHANOVSKYI (head of the Office for Innovation), Lubomyr TARNOVSKYI (vice rector for administrative and financial affairs), Pavlo KOVAL (head of the Office for Veterans and Their Families), Petro TERLETSKYI (coordinator of the Volunteer Hundred, UCU chaplain) and Jeffrey WILS (UCU honorary senator).

Inna SHKOLNYK (first vice rector of SumDU) as well as vice rectors Anatolii CHORNOUS, Olena KOROL, Oleksandr BRYZHATYI, Volodymyr KASIANENKO and Oleksii MITSURA met with their colleagues from Lviv.

In a space of sincere dialogue, a professional exchange of experience took place regarding organization of educational process, research, international cooperation, financial and social aspects of development.

Representatives of UCU showed a deep interest in strategy of development and preservation of the SumDU wartime financial stability. SumDU continues to hold leading positions in the national educational space, demonstrating sustainable development despite the difficult security situation.

Taras DOBKO emphasized: “The only thing that separates us is a distance of several hundred kilometers. Everything else unites us: common destiny, common values, common faith in Ukraine. We are inspired by you, we are proud of you, but at the same time we want to be close to you, in unity and solidarity with you. It is important for us to feel that we are doing a common cause”.

These words are confirmed by concrete actions. The Ukrainian Catholic University has proven to be a reliable friend of SumDU. It is one of the first to express words of support and provide financial assistance to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by Russian aggression.

On behalf of the SumDU staff, Inna SHKOLNYK sincerely thanked for material and moral support, which is extremely valuable in this difficult time.

As part of the visit, the delegation got acquainted with the university infrastructure. They visited the facilities damaged by the missile strikes: the Congress Center and the Mechanical Engineering Unit. The guests also visited the University Clinic, where they examined the ReHab Rehabilitation Center and the Computer Tomography Center.

The guests were particularly impressed by successful work of the Center for Collective Use of Scientific Equipment and the Ulab laboratory. They visited the sports facilities (including the Palace of Student Sports, the swimming pool of the Olimpiyskyi Hotel, the Beach Volleyball Center, dance halls).

UCU representatives noted strategic thinking, modern educational technologies, and systematic approach of SumDU to development of science and education.

In conclusion, Taras DOBKO expressed hope that he will visit the university again in summer, and this time he will act as coordinator of the event within cooperation of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities.