Ukrainian studies recognized as a center of excellence (09/06/98)

Ukrainian studies recognized as a center of excellence

EDMONTON - The University of Alberta has singled out Ukrainian studies as one of its centers of excellence in research.

A recent university publication, "Making Sense Together, Celebrating Research", notes the leading role played by University of Alberta scholars in the field of Ukrainian studies in North America.

"Their work has put the University of Alberta at the forefront of research in Ukrainian history, Ukrainian literature and language, and Ukrainian culture studies," the publication noted.

Dr. Zenon Kohut, director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta, expressed his delight at the university's recognition of the first-rate research being done in Ukrainian studies on campus.

"The work being done at CIUS, the department of history and classics, the Ukrainian language and literature program, and in Ukrainian folklore is unparalleled in North America for its scope, depth and quality," said Dr. Kohut. "Such research excellence is particularly important at a time when Ukraine has achieved its independence, and knowledge about Ukraine and Ukrainians is sought by academia, government and business in the West, and when Ukrainian studies at the University of Alberta can have an impact on scholarship in Ukraine itself."

Ukrainian courses have been taught at the University of Alberta since the 1970s. The CIUS was established in 1976 after considerable lobbying by the Ukrainian Canadian community to provide institutional support for Ukrainian scholarship. The university houses a unique collection of materials on Ukraine, including the best library collection in Canada on 20th century Ukraine and excellent holdings on early modern Ukrainian history (16th to 17th centuries) and Ukrainian church history. The Ukrainian Folklore Archives contain an important repository of Ukrainian music recorded on this continent.

Ukrainian history is one of the university's strongest areas in Ukrainian studies, with six prominent scholars - the largest number in any academic institution in the world outside Ukraine working in the field. Their research covers a diverse range of topics from Ukrainian church history and early Ukrainian historiography to contemporary Ukrainian political and environmental history.

The Ukrainian language and literature program has special expertise in the early modern and modernist (20th century) periods. Its language research focuses on the theory and practice of second-language acquisition. Research in Ukrainian culture studies documents the Ukrainian experience in Canada and around the world.

"Indirectly, the recognition of the important and unique role of Ukrainian studies at the University of Alberta is also a recognition of the Ukrainian communities in Alberta and Canada, which have always made Ukrainian studies at the university level a top priority and have contributed generously to its development," said Dr. Kohut.

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