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Monash strengthens ties with Ukraine

7 September 2005

Monash will strengthen its studies in Ukrainian language and culture after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, in Ukraine.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins signed the MOU at Lviv University on 1 September before participating in the start of the school year celebrations at the university.

He said the agreement highlighted the importance of exchanges and developing relations between Australia and Ukraine.

Professor Maria Zybryzka will be the first to benefit from the agreement spending two months on an exchange program at Monash later this year.

The agreement, arranged by Associate Professor Marko Pavlyshyn, director of the Centre for European Studies at Monash, and Dr Oleksandr Mischenko, of the University of Lviv, aims to develop research and teaching links between the two universities.

It will also give Monash a further edge in the provision of Ukrainian language and cultural studies and research.

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chairman Mr Stefan Romaniw said the agreement also meant Monash would be well placed to help in a range of nation building activities as the Ukraine develops.

While in Ukraine Professor Larkins also met Deputy Minister for Education Boris M. Zhebrovskij to discuss closer educational links between the two countries.

Professor Larkins said that as an international university Monash was always seeking new partnerships and bilateral opportunities.