On 27 October 2025, SumDU traditionally joined the All-Ukrainian Radio Dictation of National Unity. It is an annual event dedicated to the Day of Ukrainian Literacy.

SumDU has been participating in the radio dictation since launch of the Ukrainian-language flash mob. This year, the event was held in a mixed format. Some students, teachers, and pupils gathered within the university. The others joined online.

For the Day of Ukrainian Literacy, the SumDU Library prepared a symbolic exhibition “From the Ashes a Word Grows Again”. Part of the library collection was damaged during the recent shelling, but surviving books became a symbol of the Ukrainian word invincibility.

“The Ukrainian word does not burn. It, like a grain, falls to the ground, passes through fire and germinates – pure, strong, alive. And while the Ukrainian word sounds, the nation lives, Ukraine lives”, – noted exhibition organizers.

Olena SUSHKOVA (IFSK Faculty dean) told about history of radio dictation at SumDU:

“We started writing dictations from the very first year of its existence. First at the department, then at the faculty level, and last year this event became a university-wide event. It is very nice – to be together as the entire university community on this day”.

Volodymyr SADIVNYCHYI (head of the Department of Journalism and Philology) emphasized the importance of participating in the event:

“Someone is writing a radio dictation for the first time, someone for the 26th time. It is nice that among us there are those who started writing it as a student, and now as a teacher, journalist or university employee. At the beginning, the text was dictated over the radio. And when it all began, this idea would really grow into such a powerful unifying tradition”.

Larysa YAKUBENKO (representative of the Ukrainian National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting in Sumy Oblast, head of the Expert Council of SumDU Employers for the specialty “Journalism”) emphasized:

“I am writing a dictation to support the Department of Journalism and Philology, which suffered after the last university shelling. We are together, and we will endure everything. The university stands, Sumy stands – and Ukraine will live”.

Inna SHKOLNYK (first vice-rector) shared her impressions:

“The impressions are wonderful, because we are all together today. This is a good experience and a very sincere event”.

Students also noted special event atmosphere and emotions after the dictation, which this year was called “We must live!”.

Representatives of SumDU, who are currently abroad, also joined the dictation. Alla KRASULIA (head of the International Cooperation Department), Dmytro TSYHANIUK (director of the Department for Training of Scientific and Pedagogical Staff) and Kateryna ZHUK (PhD student of the Medical Institute) wrote the dictation during an academic visit to the University of Liverpool (Great Britain).

“It was important for us to feel like a part of the event, even thousands of kilometers from our native university. Writing a radio dictation at a partner university within the twinning program between SumDU and the University of Liverpool is symbolic. We represented not only our alma mater, but also the entire academic community of Ukraine, which, like the girl from the dictation, continues to cherish the native word and culture, despite the war. After all, as the text said: “There is no time for half a ton – we must live”, – noted Alla Krasulia.

Such initiatives demonstrate that the Ukrainian language and culture are heard and respected in all corners of the planet – from Sumy to Liverpool – where representatives of SumDU work and study, uniting Ukrainians regardless of distance.

The radio dictation of national unity is not just a literacy test, but a symbol of unity of Ukrainians worldwide. Over 300 participants wrote the radio dictation together with SumDU this year. For the SumDU community, participation in it is another opportunity to say: the Ukrainian word and the Ukrainian nation are invincible.