Over a period of 15 years the permanent rector of the Ostroh Academy has succeeded not only in reviving and developing the university he heads, but also involving everyone around him in the process of persistent self-perfection. Even now the Ostroh Academy continues to implement new initiatives. In particular, the university has recently launched the specialty of Journalism and Literary Editing, a Ukrainian-Canadian Business School, and plans to launch a Polish-Ukrainian Political-Historical Graduate School.
“The education of the future journalists in the Ostroh Academy will be based on two fundamental things, professionalism and morality. As for the professional component, besides the traditional mass media, like newspapers, radio, and television, we will pay special attention to online journalism. The growing role of online publications is a global trend, the youth is with increasing frequency turning to web-based media, and Ukrainian journalists should not lag behind in what concerns innovative approaches to the profession, they should understand the processes that are taking place in international journalism. I don’t think that we will be pioneers on this path, yet we are among the first. At the same time, the Ostroh Academy understands that regulations and principles of Western journalism cannot be fecklessly implemented in Ukraine, that a Ukrainian journalist today should understand the political and historical processes taking place in his state, and feel special responsibility for his world. That is why in the education of our future journalists we will focus our attention on patriotism and morals, as it was done by our predecessor, the Ostroh Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy of the 16th century, and after all we are doing today, teaching students of other specialties.”
What will the Ostroh Academy work on in the near future, aside the educational process?
“We are actively cooperating with the Ukrainian mass media, in order to inform as many people as possible about the activity of the Ostroh Academy. The newspaper Den is our most reliable partner. Last year Larysa Ivshyna presented us with a collection of articles about the Ostroh Academy published by Den over the 15 years since the university was revived. This is a lengthy album. That is why I am ashamed when some of our politicians do not know what the revived Ukrainian oldest higher educational establishment is like now, whereas in other states it would be the nation’s pride. They should visit the Ostroh Academy, learn what scholarly schools are operating here. Suffice it to mention the school headed by the Shevchenko Prize winner Prof. Rafail Turkoniak, because it is by far the only scholarly center in Ukraine where students work on the translation of sacral texts from Ancient Greek and Latin. We also have the School of Source Studies established by Prof. Mykola Kovalsky, the scholarly laboratory of cognitive psychology headed by Doctor of Psychology at the Uppsala University (Sweden) Friedrich Johnson. Over 15 years the Ostroh Academy has managed to do what would have taken other universities hundreds of years. Some politicians cannot believe that this is possible. This is indeed a miracle, but this miracle has taken place at the Ostroh Academy. We are also finishing the construction of a new corpus. This is incredible too. For in our country hardly anyone has carried out large-scale state construction because of the crisis. And we are doing this, although we haven’t received a penny from the state.
“This also refers to the studying process — at the moment we are undergoing accreditation of master’s programs for such specialties as International Relations and Economic Cybernetics. We are also planning to launch the specialty Nuclear Physics at the Ostroh Academy. Since the Khmelnytsky Power Plant is located close by, and they are planning to build the third and fourth atomic reactors there, we simply have to launch a department to prepare such specialists. At the same time we are working on launching the specialty of Medical Psychology.
“The university continues to work in the direction of international cooperation. Recently we have concluded an agreement with the Canada’s Edmonton University, according to which a Ukrainian-Canadian Business School is going to be launched on the base of the Ostroh Academy. We are carrying out active negotiations with the Warsaw University on considering the opening of the Polish-Ukrainian Political-Historical Graduate School, whose students will receive two diplomas, that of the Warsaw University and the Ostroh Academy. Thus, at the moment we are intensively working on establishing liaisons with foreign partners and exchanging contacts. Of course, the Ostroh Academy conducts extensive student exchanges with Belarusians, some of our students are studying at Minsk University, and cooperation within the framework of Ukrainian-Canadian exchange programs is being enhanced.”
Taking into account the political and economical circumstances, Ukrainians frequently find themselves in complicated situation. As a successful manager and psychologist tell us please what would you advise for Ukrainians, so that they can work more efficiently?
“Above all I would advise Ukrainians to smile more frequently, when they approach each other, and always wish others what they wish themselves. Then you will always have a good mood and inspiration. But the most important thing is the ability to forgive and cooperate with people, in spite differences of opinion. Recently I experienced many betrayals, but I always forgive people who have offended the Ostroh Academy or me personally, and continue to work with them. Here lies the formula of our success. One should be able to forgive, understand and meet the other person halfway; one should program oneself for success. Because you will fulfill the program you create for yourself.”
You have succeeded in uniting around the Ostroh Academy many people, not only scholars, but also journalists, businessmen, and politicians. What is your secret?
“The secret is the colossal historical heritage of our alma mater, which unites people around itself. At the same time I define us as pragmatic patriots, because based on this historical legacy we have created concrete things, which we are not ashamed to show to the entire country, the media, and foreign partners. Den has acquainted us with many of our friends. Those are Yevhen Marchuk and Vitalii Haiduk, Viktor Nabrusko and Taras Kompanichenko, Anatolii Svidzynsky and Olha Herasymiuk. After all, we have always been assisted by the belief that by reviving the Ostroh Academy we are working for the sake of Ukraine, for its faith in its own strength. Out of young people who come to us we foster people who also believe in Ukraine. This is the most important thing. When I cooperate with representatives of various political camps, I am doing this only because I consider that constructive cooperation is positive for Ukraine, and is better than fruitless opposition. Owing to this we manage to succeed where others fail.”
