Kutztown and Precarpathian universities continue their academic collaboration (07/16/06)

Kutztown and Precarpathian universities continue their academic collaboration

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Two professors from Precarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, recently visited Kutztown University in Pennsylvania as part of the renewed collaboration agreement between these two institutions of higher education.

Prof. Natalia Chahrak of the tourism management department and Prof. Iryna Klanichka of the English Studies program visited Kutztown University on April 4-May 4. During this, their first visit to the United States, the professors lectured to American students regarding education, politics and everyday life in Ukraine.

They visited both public and private elementary schools, toured Washington and Philadelphia, and conducted their own research at the Kutztown University library.

On April 25 the professors visited the state legislature in Harrisburg as the honored guests of House Majority Whip David Argall and House Speaker John Perzel. The professors were acknowledged on the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and received an extensive private tour of the newly renovated capitol building. Rep. Argall's district includes Schuylkill County, home to many second-and third-generation Ukrainian Americans.

Precarpathian University's collaborative agreement with Kutztown was signed in 1993 but recently was re-instituted by Kutztown's new president, Dr. Javier Cevallos, and the new rector of Precarpathian University, Dr. Bohdan Ostafijchuk. The agreement includes student and faculty exchanges, collaborative academic conferences and research and cultural exchanges.

Next summer, American students will be able to earn three to six college credits in language, history or culture while enjoying the beautiful Carpathian Mountains at the Precarpathian University's facilities. Other planned exchanges will involve sports teams, and music and dance ensembles.

Kutztown and Precarpathian universities share similar academic disciplines, making for an ideal match. Both universities train elementary and secondary school teachers, as well as maintain extensive programs in the visual and performing arts, liberal arts and sciences, and business.

Kutztown University's mission includes a strong dedication to internationalizing the curriculum through study abroad programs and student and faculty exchanges around the world. Precarpathian University is seeking to build tourism to the region and to promote the beauty and health benefits of the nearby Carpathian Mountains through its newly created department of tourism.

For more information on the Kutztown student exchange program, contact Dr. Paula Holoviak, Ukraine Exchange Program coordinator, at (610) 683-4452 or holoviak@kutztown.edu.

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