Chernivtsi and Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University
Chernivtsi (Ukrainian: Чернівці) is a city in western Ukraine, situated on the upper course of the River Prut. Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast (province) — the northern, Ukrainian part of the historical region of Bukovina. At the time of the 2001 Ukrainian Census, the population of the city was 240,600
Chernivtsi is an outstanding city of Western Ukraine, political and economical centre of Northern Bukovyna. The city is also considered one of the greatest cultural and educational centres of Ukraine. Chernivtsi region borders on Ivano–Frankivsk, Ternopil, Khmelnytsky and Vinnytsa regions of Ukraine, Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
Due to its geographical location and natural resources, the city was a constant attraction for foreigners — Tatars, Poles, Austrians, Hungarians, Russians, Jews, Germans etc. Contemporary German publicists George Heizen compares old Austrian Chernivtsi to a ship of delight with Ukrainian team, German officers and Jewish passengers aboard. A ship, holding permanent course between West and East under the Austrian banner. You can barely think of something more bizarre and undurable for the Central-Eastern Europe of the first half of the XX century than a company of a Ukrainian, a German and a Jew in a ship under the sail of tolerance! But this was a reality of cohabitation in the old Chernivtsi and Bukovyna. Today population includes Ukrainians, Russians, Romanians, Moldavians, Jews, and Poles.
Local and visiting celebrities — classical poets, monarchs and stage stars — in a fit of admiration called it a "small Vienna", located halfway between Paris and Istanbul. That was a hint to a unique combination of European intellectuality and Eastern mysteriousness of the city.
CHERNIVTSI – THE CITY OF OLD TRADITIONS COMBINED WITH INNOVATIONS
More than 606 years of history have created a dynamic and business–like spirit which fills the city. Chernivtsi has unforgettable architecture, exquisite art; it combines the elements of the culture of various nationalities and is famous for the warm hospitality of its inhabitants.
A material incarnation of the idea of multiculturalism and a glaring mosaic of different religions is realized in the downtown architectural complex, which endured until today, where Orthodox and Greek-Catholic churches, Catholic kostels, Lutheran kirks, Jewish synagogues of different directions and Armenian temples could peacefully coexist. Each of these memorials is in itself a symbol of a dialogue and cooperation between cultures and people.
Chernivtsi of today is a place where the past meets the future. The major part of the University lies in the heart of the city: everything here is close at hand. The city’s old part is compact and charming. Visitors of the city stroll through beautiful parks, feel inspiring atmosphere and beauty of the former Bukovinian Archbishop's Residence, now — Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, relax in the hotels, visit the performances in the Drama Theatre, considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe.
While living in Chernivtsi you will discover the spirit of ancient Bukovyna, legends of the Carpathian Mountains that are hidden in every corner of its ancient buildings. You will feel this atmosphere in the eyes of local citizens, who are devoted fans of their beloved city — the best one in the whole world.
Chernivtsi National University
Chernivtsi National University was founded on October 4, 1875 by decree Franz Josef, Emperor of Austro-Hungary.
In the beginning there were colleges of theology, philosophy and law. K.Tomashchuk, a renowned scientist and public figure, became the first rector of the University. The scientists of European and world fame taught and conducted their research at the University: economist J.Schumpeter, lawyer G.Gross, historian R.Kaindl, Slavic scholars O.Kaluzhnatskyi and S. Smal'-Stots'kyi and composer and writer S.Vorobkevych, among others.
After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and annexation of Northern Bukovina by the Romanian kingdom, until 1940 the university was one of the Romanian higher educational institutions.
In 1940, after the reunification of Northern Bukovina with Ukraine, the University was reorganized into a state higher educational institution with the instruction in Ukrainian. In 1989 Chernivtsi National University was named after Yuriy Fedkovych, the well-known writer of Bukovina, herald of Ukrainian national Renaissance.
Today in the university there are 2 institutes and 12 colleges; 71 departments, 16 thousand students majoring in 67 areas. Academic and research work is provided by over 900 professors (100 DScs, associate professors, about 500 PhDs), and 6 Specialized Scientific Boards on candidate and doctoral dissertations defence. Basic areas of scientific research are theoretical and applied semiconductors material study; development of new materials technologies, micro-circuits and devices for optical, radio, and microelectronics, semiconducting instrument-making; static optics, holography; technologies of module teaching; ecology, geography; History of Ukraine, linguistics and literary studies. The University is known for its 5 scientific schools. The Science-research Bukovina Study Center is affiliated with the University, which maintains relations with other centers of Diaspora.
The University together with other institutions in Ukraine founded "Bible and Culture" research center which studies the fundamental problems of humanities and social sciences.
Chernivtsi National University has 14 buildings, the Botanical Gardens, Zoological and Earth Science/Topography Museums, Publishing House, and Library with over 2.5 million books.
In October, 1999 Chernivtsi National University became the member of the International Universities Organization "Phi Beta Delta" (USA).
By the President's Decree the title of "National University" was awarded to Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi State University on September 11, 2000.
By decision of Session of Council of European University Association, held in Brussels on January 15th, 2009, Yuri Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University was granted a full individual membership in European University Association.
The architectural ensemble of the main campus of the university, the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans is included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.