To mark Africa Day, Kyiv hosted the forum “Ukraine-Africa: The Past, Present, and Future of Relations”. It brought together representatives of government agencies, diplomatic corps, international foundations, civil organizations, and heads of Ukrainian institutions.

The event was attended by Andrii SYBIHA (Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs), Mykola TROFYMENKO (Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine), Ihor OSTASH (Director of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Academy), Olha BUDNYK (Advisor and Presidential Envoy for the Presidential Fund of Ukraine for Support of Education, Science, and Sports), Liubov ABRAVITOVA (Director of the Department of Africa and Regional African Organizations) and representatives of diplomatic missions from African states.

SumDU was represented by Vasyl KARPUSHA (rector) and Samir EL IDRISI (deputy head of the Center for International Education).

At the strategic session “Ukraine-Africa Horizon 2030: Shaping the Future of International Academic Cooperation,” Vasyl KARPUSHA presented SumDU’s long-standing experience in developing partnerships with African countries and emphasized importance of expanding international academic cooperation even amid military challenges.

As of 23 February 2022, the university had 2,150 international students from 54 countries worldwide, 840 of whom represented 21 countries on the African continent. The largest number of students came from Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana. It demonstrates a high level of trust in Ukrainian education and SumDU’s long-standing presence in educational market.

The university consistently develops international cooperation with partners from African countries in educational, scientific, and cultural spheres. SumDU participates in international educational initiatives, including Study in Ukraine; regularly takes part in exhibitions, online and offline events; actively expands its network of inter-institutional partnerships.

One example of successful international cooperation is partnership with private universities in Marrakesh and Casablanca (Morocco). In 2025, SumDU participated in an international education fair in Casablanca, following which a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Private University of Marrakech, and subsequently an agreement was concluded to implement a dual-degree program in the field of medicine. As early as the spring 2026 admissions cycle, 25 international students enrolled in the university under this program.

The partnership with Bingham University (Nigeria), established back in 2019, is long-standing and strategically important. During this time, a student transfer program in the field of medicine was implemented. The first-ever academic exchange of faculty members between SumDU and an African university took place in the fields of economics, computer science, and information technology. Currently, a dual-degree program is being finalized for the Master’s program in economic cybernetics. Besides, with support of SumDU, as part of the Ukrainian Bookshelf initiative launched by Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, a collection of Ukrainian books on history, culture, and contemporary life of Ukraine was donated to a partner university.

Another important example of international cooperation is partnership with Ghana Baptist University College (Ghana). 18 graduate students in economics were admitted to SumDU’s graduate program. University members conducted a series of training sessions, presentations, and lectures on the partner institution’s campus.

SumDU’s participation in the forum confirmed the university’s active role in shaping a new framework for international academic cooperation between Ukraine and African countries. It demonstrated readiness to continue expanding partnerships that open new opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers.

In addition to participating in the strategic session in Kyiv, thematic initiatives were also held directly at SumDU in honor of Africa Day. They were aimed at raising awareness about history, culture, and traditions of the continent’s peoples, as well as highlighting the university’s long-standing cooperation with international partners in the region.

An information booth dedicated to cooperation with African countries and completed joint projects was set up on one of the SumDU campuses, along with a thematic cultural space – an exhibition corner featuring authentic artifacts from various countries on the continent: decorative items, traditional masks, elements of national dress, and other objects. Some of the exhibits were brought back by SumDU staff from international business trips, while the rest were donated by international students and partners.

“The African continent is a strategically important direction for development of our university’s international activities. It is extremely important for us to preserve and build upon achievements made before the full-scale war and under current conditions. We maintain a constant dialogue with our partners, are open to new formats of cooperation, and are ready to join initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, as well as other state and international partners”, – concluded Vasyl KARPUSHA.