According to the Interfax-Ukraine Culture project, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Ukraine has donated a selection of books in Greek and English to Mariupol State University to replenish its library collection, reports a journalist from the “Culture” department of the Interfax-Ukraine agency from the scene.
“After relocating from Mariupol to Kyiv, the support of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot Embassy has become even more important to us. Today, this is no longer just assistance, but a real contribution to preserving Mariupol State University as an important institution not only for the Donetsk region, but for all of Ukraine and Europe,” said Tetyana Marena, acting rector of Mariupol State University.
According to her, prior to the full-scale war, Mariupol State University housed the Konstantinos Levendis Library of Hellenistic Studies, which contained approximately 17,000 volumes and was one of the largest collections of Hellenistic literature in the former CIS.
Part of the library’s collection was destroyed as a result of Russian shelling of Mariupol, while a significant portion of the unique collection remained in the occupied territory and is currently under the control of the occupiers.
“We are proud to be a center for the preservation of the Greek language, culture, and history in Ukraine,” Marena emphasized.
Michalis Firillas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to Ukraine, noted that supporting Mariupol University became one of the first areas of cooperation after he became acquainted with the institution.
“We immediately felt that Mariupol University’s struggle was very close to our hearts. One of the first ideas was to donate Greek-language books to the library to restore what had been lost,” he said.
According to the ambassador, most of the donated publications are devoted to the history, culture, architecture, and literature of Cyprus and Greece and cover the period from antiquity to the present day.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine and former rector of Mariupol State University, Mykola Trofimenko.
“It was one of the largest Hellenistic libraries in the world. And it is very important that today we are continuing this story—a story of success,” noted Trofimenko.
“Mariupol University, located in the city of Mariupol, housed one of the largest collections of Hellenistic publications in the former CIS—about 20,000 books. It was the center of Hellenistic studies, the most prominent in Ukraine, and it remains so to this day. Unfortunately, due to the occupation, a significant portion of this collection is now in the hands of the occupiers. We hope that the collection has been preserved,” said the ambassador’s assistant, Iryna Chalova.
According to her, after Mariupol State University relocated to Kyiv, the university began building a new library of Hellenistic publications.
“A new collection is currently being formed at the university’s Kyiv library, and thanks to a donation from the Embassy of Cyprus, it has already been supplemented with new books. We hope that we will be able to restore the library to the scale that Mariupol University had before the war,” Chalova noted.
She also emphasized that Cyprus’s support has taken on special significance following the university’s relocation.
“After Mariupol University moved to Kyiv, the support from Cyprus and the Cypriot Embassy has become even more important. This is a tangible contribution to preserving the university as a vital institution not only for the Donetsk region but for all of Ukraine and Europe,” she added.
After the official part, participants were invited to mingle during a reception and were also offered a short tour of the campus and a visit to the newly established Museum of Greek Cultural Heritage, located on the first floor of the academic building.
Separately, Firillas, responding to students’ questions, noted that for future specialists in international relations, it is no longer enough today to be an expert in just one field.
“In international relations, language skills are obviously necessary. But, in addition to this, you need to develop expertise in other areas. A foundation in economics or finance, even if it is not a full-fledged program of study, is an important complement,” the ambassador said.
He also emphasized the importance of cultural understanding in diplomacy.
“I have always considered it very important to have a certain cultural connection—to understand history, the origins of language, and its roots. It is these things that shape the identity of modern people and modern humanity,” noted Firillas.
According to him, young Ukrainian graduates should be given more opportunities for internships and training within the European Union, particularly in Brussels, in legal or business institutions.
“There is a certain way of doing things, a certain language, and a certain ethos of approach to the common compromise known as the European Union. We all have national interests, but we all share a common goal, so we must make some concessions. For Ukrainians who want to work in international relations, such an experience would be a wonderful addition,” the ambassador said.
After the occupation of Mariupol, Mariupol State University was relocated to Kyiv and continues to operate as a Ukrainian institution of higher education.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/culture/1167746.html
Ukrainian higher education institutions and scientific establishments will continue to enjoy free access to key international scientometric and full-text resources Scopus and WoS in 2026, according to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
“Clarivate has confirmed uninterrupted access for Ukrainian institutions to Web of Science, InCites, and Derwent Innovation resources until December 31, 2026. The decision is aimed at supporting the Ukrainian scientific community and ensuring stable access to reliable scientific information in the context of the war,” the statement said.
It is noted that Elsevier has also confirmed the continuation of access for Ukrainian educational and scientific institutions to its scientific electronic resources, in particular Scopus and SciVal, in 2026, which will allow researchers and teachers to work with relevant international publications and use modern analytical tools.
In addition, Ukrainian universities and scientific institutions will have free access to full-text electronic resources on the Research4Life platform until the end of 2027.
“The Research4Life portal provides access to over 200,000 titles of books and journals from international publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, John Wiley & Sons, Taylor & Francis, Emerald, Sage Publications, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, IOP Publishing, and others,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Education noted that continued access to international scientific resources is an important element of integrating Ukrainian science into the global research space and supporting the ability of educational and scientific institutions to operate even in conditions of full-scale war.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science has announced competitions to fill rector positions at three more universities in Sumy and Zhytomyr.
According to the ministry, competitions have been announced for the positions of rector of the A. S. Makarenko Sumy State Pedagogical University, Sumy State University, and Polissya National University.
It is noted that Ukrainian citizens who are proficient in the state language in accordance with the level determined by the National Commission for State Language Standards (fluent command of the state language of the first or second degree), have an academic title and degree, and at least ten years of experience in scientific and pedagogical positions are eligible to participate in the competitions.
The deadline for submitting applications is two months from the date of publication of the announcement on the official website of the Ministry of Education.
As reported, on 3 September, the Ministry of Education cancelled the competition for the position of rector of the Kyiv National University of Technology and Design (KNUTD) due to a lack of candidates.
In October-November, the Ministry of Education announced competitions to fill the positions of rectors at 11 universities in Odesa, Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Kyiv, in particular: Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kharkiv National Economic University named after Semen Kuznets, National Technical University ‘Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute’, Kharkiv National Pedagogical University named after G. S. Skovoroda, National University of Food Technologies, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, Vinnytsia National Technical University, Vinnitsa State Pedagogical University named after Mikhail Kotsyubinsky, Kharkiv National Automobile and Road University, Central Ukrainian National Technical University, and Chernihiv Polytechnic National University.
At its meeting on September 25, 2025, the Union of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine summed up the results of the admission campaign and discussed ways to improve the rules for admission to universities in 2026.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science, relevant committees, rectors of leading universities from all regions of the country, as well as heads of frontline educational institutions.
The head of the Rectors’ Union, Petro Kulikov, opened the meeting and emphasized the key role of higher education in ensuring national stability during the war:
“Ukrainian universities not only continue education and science, but also form the personnel base for the post-war restoration of the state. Today, the Union of Rectors is a communication platform between universities, parliament, and the government.”
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykola Trofimenko stressed the importance of institutional strengthening of the Union:
“Today, the Union acts as a key partner of the state in shaping educational policy. We must consider the possibility of transforming it into the Association of Universities of Ukraine, which will allow us to represent the interests of higher education even more effectively.”
Deputy Chairman of the Union, Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Volodymyr Bugrov stressed the need to update the regulatory framework:
“The 2025 admission campaign was generally successful, but we see a need to improve admission rules and update legislation.”
Rector of Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University Viktor Hreshta highlighted the challenges faced by frontline universities and the need for state support for such institutions.
Rector of Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture Oleksii Dniprov emphasized the importance of increasing the transparency of admission procedures.
Viktoria Petrushenko, Rector of Vinnitsa National Medical University named after Pirogov, highlighted the risks of lowering passing scores in medical specialties.
Vadym Tkachuk, Rector of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, drew attention to the problems of indicative cost.
Maksym Tymoshenko, Rector of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy, called for ensuring the key role of creative competitions in art universities.
The meeting was also attended by members of parliament, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation, deputy ministers, heads of departments of the Ministry of Education and Science, in particular, Oleg Sharov, Director General of the Directorate of Higher Education and Adult Education, who answered questions from participants.
The approved document (decision of the Union of Rectors) states:
The Union of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine is an all-Ukrainian public organization that brings together university leaders to coordinate educational, scientific, and international activities.
Founded in 1992, the organization acts as an advisory partner to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and participates in the development of state educational policy and regulations in the field of higher education.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/projects/1110091.html
Hreshta, KULIKOV, Trofimenko, TYMOSHENKO, Union of Rectors, UNIVERSITY, Бугров, Дніпров, Петрушенко, Ткачук, Шаров
Algeria has officially launched a national initiative to attract foreign students, opening the country to those who wish to pursue higher education in the North African state. In April 2025, the Algerian government launched the digital platform STUDY IN ALGERIA — studyinalgeria.dz, which is part of an ambitious strategy to modernize and internationalize higher education.
University system and infrastructure
As of 2025, there are over 130 public and private higher education institutions in Algeria, evenly distributed throughout the country. They offer:
Studies are available in Arabic, French, or English, depending on the field of study and the institution chosen.
The Algerian education system (LMD)
The Algerian higher education system is based on the European LMD model, which includes:
Social protection and living conditions
Foreign students are provided with:
Simplified visa application
Algeria guarantees flexible visa procedures for foreign students, allowing them to complete the admission process as quickly as possible.
The platform studyinalgeria.dz allows you to:
Reference: the state of Algeria
Algeria has clearly established itself as a new educational destination on the global map. The STUDY IN ALGERIA program is an attempt to combine affordable quality education, cultural diversity, and a strategic geographical location for the future generation of professionals from around the world.
ALGERIA, higher education institution, STUDY, UNIVERSITY, СТУДЕНТ
The first Central Asian Universities Forum, organized by Times Higher Education (THE) with the support of the New Uzbekistan University, will be held in Tashkent on October 16-17 this year.
The forum will bring together more than 200 delegates from Central Asia and other countries, including representatives of academia, government policy and industry. Experts will discuss topical issues and innovative solutions that shape the future of higher education in the region.
The key topics of discussion will be:
The program of the forum will include lectures, panel discussions, workshops and experience exchange sessions, as well as presentations of the latest achievements in the field of educational technologies.
The forum will be preceded by a series of lectures by such world-renowned scientists as Jean Tirole (Nobel Prize in Economics), Luciano Recolla (one of the leading experts in theoretical astrophysics), and Eric Grimson (Chancellor and Vice President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
