# University of Luhansk

The University of Luhansk, officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Luhansk (Ukrainian: Луганський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка, romanized: Luhansʹkyy natsionalʹnyy universytet imeni Tarasa Shevchenka, Russian: Луганский национальный университет имени Тараса Шевченко, romanized: Luganskiy natsional'nyy universitet imeni Tarasa Shevchenko, lit. 'Luhansk National University named after Taras Shevchenko'; often referred to as LNU), is the oldest university in Donbas region and has a reputation as one of Ukraine's most prestigious universities.
Following the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine and the establishment of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), this university was partitioned into two universities. One continues to operate in the same campus as before in Luhansk, and was later renamed to the Luhansk State Pedagogical University (Russian: Луганский государственный педагогический университет, romanized: Luganskyi gosudarstvennyy pedagogicheskiy universitet, LGPU) in 2020. The other one was forcibly relocated to Ukraine-controlled Starobilsk and, beginning in 2022, was later relocated to Poltava, Myrhorod, and Lubny, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The University of Luhansk grew out of an association of professors in the city of Luhansk that was formed by the Soviet authorities as Teachers' Training Institute in 1921.
In addition to cultural and practical participation in the work of the Ukrainian society, the university participates in international projects, such as an MBA joint program with Franklin Pierce University.

## History

* 1 March, 1921 (The University Day) – Regional Teachers' Training Courses were opened.
* 1923 – The first higher educational establishment was founded in Donbas region: Donets Institute of National Education (DIPE) in Luhansk.
* 1934 – Donetsk Institute of National Education was reorganized into Luhansk State Pedagogical Institute.
* 1939 – Luhansk State Pedagogical Institute was named after Taras Shevchenko.
* 1993 – Hrinchenko Studies Institute and Canada-Ukraine Renaissance Centre were opened at the University of Luhansk.
* 1998 – Institute obtained the IV level of accreditation; Luhansk Taras Shevchenko State Pedagogical University was founded on the base of the institute.
* 2000 – LNPU was recognised as the best university in Ukraine for sports achievements (2 silver and 1 bronze medals of the XXVII Olympic Games in Sidney), according to the results of the VII Open International Assessment "Zolota Fortuna" the university won two prizes: "Best Ukrainian Regional University" and "Great Contribution to Ukrainian Pedagogical Science Development."
* 2001 – the Eastern Branch of Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (the joint order No. 363 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) was founded at the University of Luhansk; the scientific research centre "Regional Higher Education" (a joint project with the Institute of Higher Education of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine) was founded; LNPU became a member and regional representative of the International Academy of Pedagogical Education in Moscow.
* 2002 – According to the results of the IX International Academic Assessment "Zolota Fortuna" the U of Luhansk received the Silver Stella and the Diploma "The 3-rd Millennium Best Quality of Education".
* 2003 – According to the President's Decree No. 1012/2003 on 11 September Luhansk Taras Shevchenko State Pedagogical University acquired the status of National University.
* 2004 – According to the results of the XI International Academic Assessment "Gold Fortune (Zolota Fortuna)" university was rewarded with the IV Degree Order "For Work Achievements."
* 2004 – Four branches of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine were opened at the university: the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, Donetsk O. Galkin Physical and Engineering Institute, the Institute of Industrial Economy and the Institute of Archaeology.
* 2005 – Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National Pedagogical University was awarded the silver medal in the nomination "Modernisation of Higher Education According to the Principles of the Bologna Declaration" at the VIII International Exhibition of Higher Education Institutions.
* 2005 – LNPU received honorary university title of "Leader of Modern Education" and got the diploma "For High Achievements in Pedagogical and Scientific Activities and Important Contribution to the Modernisation of the National System of Education."
* 2006 – Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National Pedagogical University was awarded the Gold Medal of the IX International Exhibition of Educational Establishments in the nomination "Introduction of New Forms of the Organization of Teaching Process."
* 2006 – LNPU acquired Honorary University Title of "Leader of Modern Education" and "Leader in Creation of Up-to-date Training Aids."
* 2006 – According to the Assessment of Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, is the best higher education institution in Ukraine.
* 2006–2007 – German Language and Culture Center of Goethe-Institute was established at the university. The Confucius Institute was opened that academic year.
* 2007 – Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National Pedagogical University was awarded with golden medal of the 10th Anniversary Exhibition "Modern Education in Ukraine – 2007" for "Introducing the Achievements of Pedagogy into the Practice of Education." Apart from this the university acquired the title "Leader of Modern Education."
* 2007 – According to the results of the Assessment of the Universities of Ukraine Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National Pedagogical University was named the best Ukrainian higher educational establishment by the Ministry of Science of Ukraine.
* 2008 – University of Luhansk officially became Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University.
* 2014 – Due to the War in Donbas the university was evacuated to Starobilsk. 20% of the staff remained in Luhansk running their own version of the university controlled by Luhansk People's Republic. 80% of staff and about half its pre-conflict 20,000 student (including 800 international students) were regained by the university. In the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election the university president Vitaliy Kurylo was elected as member of the Ukrainian parliament.
* 2020 – The Luhansk University in Luhansk People's Republic was renamed into Luhansk State Pedagogical University (LGPU).
* 2022 – Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the university in Starobilsk was evacuated to Poltava.

## Organization
### Institutes

* Institute of Economics and Business
* Institute of Physics, Mathematics and Information Technologies
* Institute of History, International Relations and Socio-Political Sciences
* Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology
* Institute of Commerce, Serving Technology and Tourism
* Institute of Culture and Arts
* Institute of Continuing Education and Distance Study
* Institute of Physical Education and Sports

## Campuses and buildings

* 3 academics buildings
* 7 dormitories
* sport center
* workshops
* household services centre;
* 3 libraries
* Dining room
* 2 stores
* Sanatorium
* Park museum of the ancient art of stone-cutting
* The Church

### Faculties

* Faculty of Foreign Languages
* Faculty of Natural Sciences
* Faculty of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications

### Colleges

* Stakhanov Pedagogical College
* Lysychansk Pedagogical College

### Schools and lyceums

* Luhansk Vocational Culinary Lyceum
* Bryanka Technologic Economic Lyceum
* Rubizhne O. E. Poray-Koshytsya Polytechnic School

### Departments

* Department of Statistics, Quality Monitoring and Curriculum Development
* Personnel department
* Documents turnover organizing department
* Scientific Research Department
* Economic department
* Administrative-economic section
* Centre of Innovative Technologies
* Editorial-publication department
* Accreditation and licensing department
* International Department

## Achievements
### Honors and prizes

* 2007 – Gold Medal at the Tenth Anniversary Exhibition "Modern Education in Ukraine 2007" for "Introduction of New Kinds of Pedagogical Science in Educational Process"; Honorary University Title of "Leader of Modern Education".
* 2007 – LNPU is the best university in Ukraine according to the Assessment of the Ministry of Science of Ukraine.
* 2006 – LNPU was the best university in Ukraine according to the Assessment of the Ministry of Science of Ukraine.
* 2006 – Honorary University Title of "Leader of Modern Education" and "Introduction of New Forms of Educational Process"; Gold Medal in the nomination "Introduction of New Forms of Education" – " Modern Education in Ukraine".
* 2005 – Silver Medal in the nomination "Modernization of Higher Education According to the Principles of the Bologna Declaration"; The Diploma for High Achievements in Pedagogical and Scientific Activities and Important Contribution to the Modernization of the National System of Education; Honorary University Title of "Leader of Modern Education".
* 2004 – Order "For Academic Achievements" according to the Eleventh International Academic Assessment «Gold Fortune» (Zolota Fortuna).
* 2004 – First Degree Diploma and Special Diploma of the Kyiv International Exhibition – Fair "Knizhkovy Sad – 2004".
* 2004 – Bronze Medal of the Fourth International Exhibition – Fair "Knizhkoviy Svit - 2004".
* 2004 – Diploma of the Special International Exhibition – Fair "Education. Science. Festival of Slavonic Books and Press".
* 2004 – Diploma of the First degree and Silver Nestor the Chroniclewriter of the Fifth Kyiv International Exhibition-Fair "Knizhkovy Svit – 2003".
* 2003 – Special Diploma of the Third Kyiv International Exhibition – Fair "Knizhkovy Sad – 2003".
* 2003 – Bronze Medal of the Fourth International Exhibition Contest "Modern Education in Ukraine".
* 2003 – Diploma of the Regional Exhibition "Book. Polygraphs. Publicity. Information."
* 2002 – Diploma "The Quality of Education of the Third Millennium" according to the results of the Eleventh International Academic Assessment «Zolota Fortuna» .
* 2000 – "The best Regional Educational Establishment" according to the Sixth International Academic Assessment "Zolota Fortuna" – 2000.

### Olympic champions among LNU alumni and faculty

* Mykola Chujikov - boat-race, XVII Games, Tokyo, 1964
* Volodymyr Byelyayev – volleyball, XIX Games, Mexico City, 1968
* Anatoly Chukanov – cycle racing, XXII Games, Montreal, 1976
* Valeriy Kryvov – volleyball, XXII Games, Moscow, 1980
* Fedir Lashchonov – volleyball, XXII Games, Moscow, 1980
* Viktor Bryzhin – athletics, XXIV Games, Seoul, 1988
* Olha Bryzhina – athletics, XXIV Games, Seoul, 1988; XXV games, Barcelona, 1992
* Hrihoriy Misyutin – artistic gymnastics, XXV Games, Barcelona, 1992
* Ihor Korobchynskyi – artistic gymnastics, XXV Games, Barcelona, 1992
* Oleg Kucherenko – Greco-Roman wrestling, XXV Games, Barcelona, 1992

### Olympic Games prize-winners

* Anatoliy Kuksov – football, XX Games, Munich, 1972
* Yuriy Yeliseyev – football, XX Games, Munich, 1972
* Tetyana Skachko – athletics, XXII Games, Moscow
* Ruslan Mezentsev – artistic gymnastics, Sydney, 2000
* Davyd Saldadze – Graeco-Roman wrestling, Sydney, 2000
* Iryna Yanovych – cycle racing track, Sydney, 2000
* Andriy Serdinov – swimming, Athens, 2004
* Tetyana Tereschuk-Antipova – hurdling, Athens, 2004

### Olympic Games' participants

* Viktor Savchenko – athletics, XXII Games, Montreal, 1976
* Volodymyr Skomorohov – athletics, XXII Games, Montreal, 1976
* Anatoliy Yarosh – athletics, XXII Games, Moscow, 1980
* Oleksandr Doroshenko – XXII Paralympic Games, Athens, 2004

## Honorable doctors and famous alumni

* Sergey Ivanovich Aksenenko – Soviet Ukrainian writer, journalist
* Alexander Udovenko – composer, studio "Kvartal-95"
* Oleksandr Doroshenko – two-time champion of Paralympic Games
* Oleg Fisunenko – geologist and paleontologist
* Vasyl Holoborodko – poet
* Dmitry Kozlov – lead writer, studio "Kvartal-95."
* Mykyta Kamenyuka – Luhansk football player known as "Zorya"
* Anatoly Shirshov – Mathematician and scientist
* Vitalii Kurylo – president of university, the academician of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine
* Vitaly Trifonov – head of Security Service of Ukraine.
* Oleksandr Vorobiov – Honored Master of Sports, Olympic bronze medalist, member of the Ukrainian national gymnastics team
* Andrey Yakovlev – head of the production TV films, channel "Inter"
* Yaroslav Minkin – poet, cultural activist, peacebuilder, human rights defender