Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, met with Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, and representatives of Irish universities.
Olena Zelenska thanked educators for welcoming Ukrainian students and providing opportunities for them to study on the same terms as students of the European Union.
“This support for Ukrainian students and researchers has naturally laid the groundwork for another important step – the joining of Irish universities to the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies. It works to ensure that, through the establishment of Ukrainian studies, the study and understanding of Ukraine and its culture become an integral part of university programs worldwide,” the First Lady said.
During the meeting, representatives of the University College Cork and the University of Galway signed memorandums of understanding to join the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, while University College Dublin signed a letter of intent to participate in the initiative.
“It means that in Ireland, there will be new courses, new research, and new opportunities for students and faculty who want to study Ukraine and Ukrainian topics. This means that the truth about Ukraine – our culture, our history, our struggle – will become even more accessible to the world,” the First Lady noted.
Altogether, the Coalition now includes 47 universities from 16 countries: Finland, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, Korea, Estonia, Italy, Japan, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Sweden, France, and Ireland.
“We oppose Russian disinformation and distorted historical narratives by providing the opportunity to learn the real history and culture of Ukraine – free from the common imperial narratives,” the First Lady emphasized.