UzhNU is preparing to implement a double degree programme with Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (Poland)
Uzhhorod National University aims to launch a double degree programme with one of the largest public higher education institutions in Poland - Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. Double degree programmes are joint educational programmes of Ukrainian and foreign universities that allow students to obtain two degrees in parallel through integrated curricula. Thus, students of UzhNU will have the opportunity to obtain two diplomas - from UzhNU and a European university - without leaving Ukraine.
In a globalised community, international cooperation programmes help and create new opportunities for higher education. The impetus for the implementation of the double degree programme is the successful results of cooperation after the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Rector of UzhNU Volodymyr Smolanka and the Rector of Marie Curie-Skłodowska University Radoslav Dobrovolsky. Also in the summer of 2024, a memorandum of cooperation between the universities was signed in Lublin, which concerned a project aimed at reducing the impact of climate change on the local environment. This joint Polish-Ukrainian project won the selection within the framework of the Interreg international cross-border cooperation programme. 
On Tuesday, 4 February, a regular working meeting was held to discuss the implementation of the double degree programme between representatives of UzhNU management, the Faculty of Geography, the Faculty of Mathematics and Digital Technologies, the Institute of Chemistry and Ecology, the Department of International Relations, and the academic department. Currently, the most pressing issues in the process of implementing the programme are discussing the terms of admission, language of instruction, choice of study programmes, approval of tuition fees, etc.
Vice-rector Myroslava Lendiel notes: ‘During the visit of the Polish delegation headed by Professor Radosław Dobrowolski, we came up with the idea to launch a double degree programme for students studying natural and exact sciences. Since autumn, we have been working with representatives of the faculties. Our main task now is to select study programmes that are suitable for both our and the Polish side. We also need to decide for which level of education the programme will be applied - bachelor's or master's. We hope that we will be able to successfully implement this initiative, which, in turn, will help improve the level of internationalisation of our students.’
‘It is important that we have already had a meeting with representatives of the Polish academic department,’ says Anatolii Shtymak, Head of the Academic Department of UzhNU, ’We discussed various issues of cooperation. In particular, we paid special attention to the coherence of our educational programmes with the Polish ones. Fortunately, within the framework of the university's autonomy, UzhNU develops educational programmes that meet the standards of higher education in the speciality. And this makes our work easier, as we do not need a separate permit from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to implement such educational programmes that can provide our students with double diplomas. We also studied the issue of transfer (or credit transfer). This is a very important point for students, as thanks to transfer, students will not have to carry a double academic load. We are currently considering the possibility of studying one semester in Ukraine and one in Poland, which will contribute to a minimal additional workload for students who want to choose a double degree programme.’
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