The Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva participated in the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies presentation for foreign educational institutions, diplomatic missions, and non-governmental organizations. The Coalition will unite universities and institutions worldwide that study and research Ukrainian language, literature, culture, and history. Over 40 participants from Europe, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Korea, and Japan joined the event.

Olha Budnyk, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine on the Presidential Foundation for Support of Education, Science and Sports, and Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, addressed the participants. Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Olena Kovalska and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Ukrainian Community at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa also delivered speeches.

The event aimed to discuss the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies’ primary goals, functions, and ways for universities and institutions worldwide to join it. 

In her speech, the Permanent Representative emphasized the need to develop and implement Crimean Tatar Studies and the study of Crimea in the context of Ukrainian Studies to overcome Russian imperial narratives about Crimea. She also mentioned the work to engage international partners and governments in the work of the Coalition:

“During the Crimea Platform Summit, one of the panels was held where Ms. Zelenska called on the member states of the Crimea Platform to join the creation of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar Studies in various formats. We are now working on creating a project office to, among other things, contact the members of the Crimea Platform, who, we hope, will support the Coalition in various formats,” Tamila Tasheva emphasized.

The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies aims to unite initiatives and programs worldwide and promote the development of Ukrainian Studies, including Crimean Tatar Studies, to ensure an accurate and professional survey of Ukraine’s history and culture. The Coalition also aims to help decentralize and decolonize Eastern European and Slavic Studies, previously focused on Russia.

The Coalition was created with the support of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Presidential Foundation for Support of Education, Science and Sports, the Ukrainian Institute and the Office of the Crimea Platform.

Earlier, the creation of this Coalition was announced by First Lady Olena Zelenska at a conference in Washington, D.C. She emphasized the need to create Crimean Tatar Studies to honor the people of Crimea, who were enslaved by Russia and are being repressed there right now.

Members of the Coalition will have access to a broad range of opportunities depending on their level of participation, from information support for events and networking with global partners to deeper cooperation, including joint courses, academic exchanges, and access to Ukrainian archives. At the same time, they will commit to developing Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar Studies within their educational centers.

During the meeting, the participants discussed further steps of cooperation.