JENKINTOWN, Pa. – On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, Jonathan Peri, president of Manor College, and Dr. Stephen Grieco, vice-president of academic affairs met via Skype with Igor Tsependa, rector, and Andriy Zagorodnyuk, vice-rector, of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, to sign a first-of-its-kind partnership agreement connecting the two institutions.
This agreement means that the institutions intend to: engage in joint research projects and scientific conferences; exchange scientific data, curricula and scientific literature; prepare scientific publications containing the results of joint research; participate in joint international programs and projects; exchange scientific, pedagogical staff and students; engage in scientific internship; and jointly seek support for the purposes of the objectives of this agreement.
“Our agreement with Precarpathian is a first among several anticipated. Manor College intends to be the American hub for the Ukrainian university collaboration in the United States. Our agreements will not only bridge the gap for students and faculty in our respective countries as it concerns our own institutions, but beyond that we have agreed to be prolific, and to introduce each other to future partners in both countries. It’s not just a win for both of us, but a win for all institutions who inform that they wish to join us. This is what the academy is and should be about,” said Manor College President Peri.
He added that “This is not just about academics either. This is about helping Ukraine to westernize so that we can help them to resist the negative influences that they fight against.”
For Manor College, America’s only institution of higher education that was founded by Ukrainians, this partnership is about opening the door for unlimited opportunities of global partnership with other institutions from Ukraine and around the world. This partnership also means that both institutions are to stay connected and in open communication with one another about upcoming events, programs and campaigns – with the hope that administration, faculty and staff from both institutions can be of some assistance to one another in terms of promotion and idea sharing.
On October 26, Manor College will host a Ukrainian dialogue titled “Ukraine: America’s Relationship and Moral Obligation” with Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick and Brendan Boyle. On the same date, the college will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the newly renovated Ukrainian Heritage Studies Museum, which will include the Maria Mazur Pysanky collection.