On May 18th, Mariupol State University held a large-scale scientific and practical conference dedicated to issues of internationalization of higher education.

This topic is very important in the context of euro integration of Ukraine because internationalization implies strengthening the international component in the activities of educational institutions through participation in academic exchange programs, simplification of the procedure for recognition of foreign degree certificates, attraction of foreign students, development of international cooperation in the scientific field.

More than 380 participants from 15 countries have expressed their willingness to share experience in implementing this process. There were representatives of universities, research institutions, schools, state authorities and local governments, diplomatic and business institutions.

At the opening of the forum, rector of Mariupol State University, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Professor Kostyantyn Balabanov greeted all participants, speaking about the successful experience of international cooperation of the University. Rector noted that Mariupol State University has signed more than 110 agreements about cooperation with international partners from 15 countries. More than 4,000 students and teachers from MSU took part in academic mobility programs during 26 years of University’s activities. They were studying at foreign higher education institutions and undertaking internship in 25 countries of the world (Greece, Poland, Italy, UK, USA, France, Germany, Cyprus). More than 1000 MSU graduates live, work and continue their studying in more than 30 countries of the world.

In addition, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Professor Maxim Strikha while speaking at the plenary session focused on the new mechanisms of state support for science in the system of higher education.

Vice-President of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Professor Oleg Topuzov underlined a significance of qualitative training of a teacher of the New Ukrainian school.

Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Ukraine Louis Telemachou, Consul General of the Germany to Donetsk (the city of Dnipro) Wolfgang Mössinger, Consul General of the Hellenic Republic to Mariupol Eleni Georgopoulou, advisor to the head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration Dmytro Liashov, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Donetsk Regional State Administration Olena Makarenko, the chairwoman of the Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine Oleksandra Protsenko-Pichadzhy also expressed their opinion on the subject. The Deputy Mayor of Mariupol Oleksandr Kochurin discussed organizational aspects of management of innovative activity of education managers in his speech.

An international scientific and educational community was represented by the lecturer of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Ukraine Olaf Mitteltstrass and a PhD student of the University of Manchester (UK) Anna Balazs, who undertakes an internship at the Department of Philosophy and Social Studies of MSU. Their report was about the student’s role in the internationalization process of Ukrainian higher education institutions and special aspects of intercultural education in Ukraine and in the UK.

The conference “Internationalization of Higher Education in Ukraine in terms of Multicultural World Space: State, Problems, Perspectives” is to be held at MSU from May 18th till 19th . The program of the conference includes 8 thematic sections and panel discussions, where the participants will discuss issues of multicultural education, development of university leadership potential, quality assurance of higher education, competitiveness of educational institutions in terms of globalization, exchange of experience, attraction of foreign students and participation in academic exchange programs.

The results of the forum will be included in the compilation of materials which consists of scholars’ abstracts from 56 Ukrainian universities and 19 foreign universities such as the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, China, and others. In addition, the participants of the conference developed recommendations for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, local government bodies and higher education institutions.

In addition, the participants of the conference had an opportunity to learn scientific achievements and articles of university teachers from all faculties. Monographs, textbooks of scholars, professional scientific publications and materials of university conferences were presented at the exhibition, in particular bibliography of different departments teachers' papers and publications which was prepared by the scientific library of Mariupol State University.