History
On 4 May 1988, the Faculty of International Relations and International Law of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv University was reorganized into the Institute of Ukraine International Relations and International Law, subsequently, in December 1990 to be renamed into the Institute of International Relations. Professor V.Pashuk was appointed the Institute Director. In 1994, when Professor V.Pashuk got a diplomatic assignment, the Institute was headed by University Prorector, Professor, (now Fellow of the Ukrainian NAS, Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ) L.Hubersky. Specialists were trained in three major areas:
With declaration of Ukraine’s independence, the Institute turned a qualitatively new page. By the Presidential Decree of 30 May 1995, the Institute of International Relations was designated the main organisation for graduate training of professionals in the field of international relations and foreign policy of Ukraine.
Through 1992-1999 the Institute was considerably redesigned.
It launched a new programme of International Information at the respective Chair of the same name. The architect and head of the International Information Chair was Professor V.Hondyul.
That period saw a number of new chairs coming into existence:
- Comparative Law Studies, reorganized in 2003 in the Chair of Comparative and European Law;
- International Private and Customs Law;
- International Organizations and Diplomatic Service;
- Comparative Political Science and Region Studies (Now Country Studies);
- International Communications and Public Relations;
- International Monetary and Credit Relations.
A new phenomenon in the Institute development was inaugurating the Department of Post-Diploma Studies, which emerged on the basis of the Faculty of Refresher Training, where a second Master Programme is offered, the Department is headed by Professor V.Matvienko
Since 2000 the Centre of European Studies has functioned at the Institute (headed by Professor O.Shnyrkov). In cooperation with the Universities of Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Greece, the FRG, France and Sweden it trains Masters majoring in: International Relations, International Law, International Economic Relations, International Information on the programmes of European Policy, European Law, Economics of European Integration, European Information Security and European Communications.
In 2002 the Institute pioneered the programme of International Business (the Chair of International Business).
In 2008, when the then Director of the Institute L.V.Hubersky was appointed Rector of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, the Institute was headed by V.Kopiyka, Doctor of Sciences (Political Science), Professor
In 2012 the Chair of Country Studies launched a new Master Programme of the same name.
In 2017 the IIR Business School was established as an international educational platform which aims at developing modern practical skills and connections of our clients for their successful business and personal growth.
School's mission is to exclude from the enormous cloud of information the most essential and useful one and to present it understandably to our student, caring about his comfort, time, personal needs, and, what is more important, about his internal development.
It’s important that the IIR Business School graduates should not only gain new skills, but also receive a “charge” of energy and inspiration to set and realize new goals in their businesses and personal lives.
The Institute today is a branched modern educational and research centre with a flexible academic process system, where 11 specialized chairs and all-Institute Chair of Foreign Languages; they offer training in six specialities: International Relations, International Law, International Economic Relations, International Information, International Business and Country Studies.
The Institute offers training to over 2500 students, doctoral students and trainees, over 250 of these coming from more than 50 countries of the world; 300 students are enrolled for extramural courses.
Over 200 highly qualified members of the teaching staff, professors and associate professors train the students. Of them, more than 25 are Doctors, Professors, and 80 academics who have PhD degrees (Candidate of Sciences) are Associate Professors.
Besides, well-known Ukrainian and foreign researchers, educators and practitioners from other departments of the University, other research and higher educational institutions of Ukraine and from abroad deliver lectures, teach practical courses, supervise diploma and course paper writing. Civil servants from the Office of the President of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada, Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Economic and European Integration, from other ministries and agencies of Ukraine, foreign political figures and diplomats make presentations for the students on a regular basis.
The Institute employs 40 full-time researchers. The Research Department is a depot of pedagogical cadres.
The Institute of International Relations hosts numerous national and international conferences, symposia, seminars, round tables on a wide range of international Issues. Furthermore, meetings with high foreign students, ambassadors of foreign states to Ukraine are organised. Specialised monographs, collections of scientific articles, specialized academic councils on defending Candidate and Doctor of Sciences dissertations.
The Institute chairs work on the scientific problems commissioned by ministries and agencies of Ukraine, take part in many international projects under the TEMPUS-TACIS, INTAS, RENAISSANCE Charity Foundation and other programmes, etc.
The Institute keeps enlarging and strengthening contacts with Universities and research centres from Ukraine and other countries. Within the framework of inter-university agreements, the Institute co-operates with over 60 partner institutions of higher learning from Belgium, Great Britain, Greece, Egypt, Iran, Spain, Canada, the CPR, the FRG, the Republic of Korea, Poland, Russia, the USA, France, Japan and others.
Among the Institute graduates are the 5th President of Ukraine, Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Minister for Economic Affairs of Ukraine; Minister of Foreign Economic Ties and Trade of Ukraine, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors of Ukraine to foreign states, Consuls-General, officers of Ukraine’s missions at the UN, UNESCO and other international organizations.
The Institute graduates have been elected to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine of different convocations. The Institute alumni make up the bulk of the apparatus at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, work for other Ministries, Agencies and other Ukrainian organisations active on the international arena.
Many of them are outstanding statesmen, influential politicians, decision-makers, CEOs of major businesses and organizations, famous scholars.
Additional information:
The history of the Institute of International Relations began in 1944, when based on of the Commissariat of Education of the USSR`s decree a new faculty of international relations was opened at the University of Kyiv on October 18, 1944. The main goal was to train practitioners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I. Vasylenko and N. Ovcharenko headed the faculty in the first postwar years.
The first head of the Department of History of International Relations was Professor O. Kasymenko, director of the Institute of History of the USSR Academy of Sciences. After that, the department was headed by V. Zhebokrytskyi and V. Tarasenko – diplomats who had previously worked at the Soviet Embassy in Washington.
1962. A department of international law was established at the Faculty of Law and Economics. The Department of International Law and Foreign Legislation, headed by Doctor of Juridical Sciences I. Lukashuk, was called upon to provide the educational process at the department.
Since 1971, the training of international specialists has been continued at the restored Faculty of International Relations and International Law. Structurally, the faculty included the Department of History of International Relations and Foreign Policy, the Department of International Law and Foreign Legislation, and the Department of Russian for Foreigners, which had previously been university-wide. The deans of the faculty at that time were well-known specialists, founders of scientific schools on international relations and international law: Professor H. Tsvietkov, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine A. Chukhno, associate professor O. Yeromenko, professors S. Zabihailo, A. Filipenko, V. Butkevych.
1972. Another specialty was opened at the faculty – “International Economic Relations”. Soon a corresponding graduating department of international economic relations was created (heads – professors V. Budkin, A. Filipenko).
1975. Based on of the faculty a correspondence department of advanced training of international lecturers with a two-year term of study was opened (the head of the department is Assoc. Prof. O. Hanusets). Citizens of Ukraine with higher education who were engaged in lecturing, teaching, and research work were enrolled in the department.
1976. The Department of Foreign Languages was established as a structural subdivision of the faculty, which provided training of domestic students for work as translators, taking into account the degree of international specialists. The first head was a well-known linguist, associate professor I. Borysenko. During the period of its operation (until 1990), the faculty trained more than 3,500 international specialists (mostly foreigners). Graduates of the faculty formed the basis of the initially small diplomatic corps in Ukraine and laid the foundation of pedagogical and scientific schools in the field of international relations and international law.
On May 4, 1988, the Faculty of International Relations and International Law of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv was reorganized into the Institute of International Relations and International Law, which in December 1990 was renamed to the Institute of International Relations. Professor V. Pashchuk was appointed as a director of the institute. In 1994, due to the transition of V. Pashchuk to diplomatic work, the Institute was headed by the Vice-Rector of the University Professor (now – Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Rector of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv) L. Huberskyi.
The new page in the history of the institute opened with the proclamation of Ukraine's independence. By the Decree of the President of Ukraine, the Institute was determined as the main educational and methodological center for training specialists for work in the field of international relations and foreign policy of our state since May 30, 1995 .
During 1992-1999 there were significant changes in the internal structure of the Institute. The Institute has started training specialists in the specialty “International Information”. The initiator of its creation and the head of the graduating department was Professor V. Hondiul.
In 2008, due to the appointment of L. Huberskyi as a Rector of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, The Institute was headed by Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor V. Kopiika.
The Institute has more than 2500 students, graduate students, and interns, almost 250 of them – foreigners from more than 50 countries; more than 300 people receive their second higher education by correspondence. The educational process is provided by a highly qualified teaching staff of about 200 people. 25 doctors of sciences, professors; 80 candidates of sciences, associate professors are among them.
Well-known scientists, teachers, and practitioners from different faculties, universities, and research institutions of Ukraine and abroad are involved in lecturing, conducting practical classes, supervising the external examination. Employees of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of the Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, other ministries and departments of Ukraine, foreign statesmen, and diplomats regularly perform for the students. The Institute has a research unit with more than 40 researchers. In addition to its direct purpose, it is also a reserve of scientific and pedagogical personnel for the educational process.
The Institute also includes the Center for Training and Retraining of Foreign Citizens; laboratories of: technical means of teaching, computer technology, methodical and publishing support of the educational process; scientific library, Internet center, etc.
The Institute of International Relations is a center for numerous national and international scientific conferences, seminars, and round tables on a wide range of world issues. In addition, meetings of students with high-ranking foreign guests, ambassadors of foreign countries to Ukraine are frequently organized. Professional monographs and scientific collections are published, specialized scientific councils for the defense of candidate and doctoral dissertations also function. Departments of the Institute work on scientific problems commissioned by ministries and departments of Ukraine, participate in numerous international research projects under international programs TEMPUS-TACIS, INTAS, the Renaissance Charitable Foundation, and others.
The Institute is constantly expanding and strengthening links with universities and research centres in Ukraine and abroad. International cooperation is carried out both within the framework of agreements of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and based on bilateral cooperation agreements between the Institute and leading foreign educational and research institutions. Within the framework of interuniversity agreements, the Institute cooperates with more than 60 partner universities from Great Britain, Belgium, Greece, Egypt, Iran, Spain, Canada, China, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Poland, Russia, the USA, France, Japan, and others.
Over the years of of the faculty and later the Institute existence, more than 10 thousand specialists have been trained here, including citizens of Ukraine and representatives of 90 countries.
Among the graduates of the Institute – Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: V. Kravets, V. Martynenko, H. Udovenko, V. Tarasiuk, D. Kuleba; Minister of Economy of Ukraine S. Terokhin; Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade of Ukraine S. Osyka; Minister of Justice of Ukraine S. Holovaty; Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine S. Kurykin; Deputy Ministers: A. Buteiko, V. Yelchenko, V. Ihnashchenko, V. Lipatov, N. Makarevych, O. Motsyk, V. Nalyvaichenko, V. Ohryzko, B. Sobolev, V. Khandohii, I. Kharchenko, O. Chalyi; Ambassadors of Ukraine to foreign countries: A. Buteiko (USA, Romania), S. Borovyk (Algeria), V. Vasylenko (Belgium, Great Britain), O. Horin (Singapore), I. Humennyi (Thailand), B. Humeniuk (Cyprus) , R. Demchenko (Serbia), V. Kyryik (Croatia), Y. Kochubei (France), Y. Kostenko (Austria, Germany, Japan), I. Lytvyn (Indonesia, China), I. Maidan (Iran), O Maidannyk (Argentina, Israel, Finland), N. Makarevych (Austria, Estonia), O. Motsyk (Poland, Turkey), Y. Mushka (Hungary), V. Ohryzko (Austria), A. Oliinyk (Iraq, Serbia) , V. Pashchuk (Argentina, Cuba), V. Prymachenko (Yugoslavia, Iran), O. Rybak (Libya), I. Sahach (Norway), I. Turianskyi (South Africa), V. Khandohii (Canada, Belgium), I. Kharchenko (Romania, Poland, Great Britain), O. Shamshur (USA), A. Shevchenko (Malaysia); General Consuls of Ukraine: S. Borovyk (Toronto), R. Demchenko (Istanbul), V. Korzachenko (Sydney), N. Kyrychenko (Toronto, Istanbul), O. Novosolov (Bonn), M. Tochytskyi (San Francisco), O. Tsvietkov (Edinburgh), Y. Yarmilko (Frankfurt); rectors of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: B. Humeniuk and N. Kulinych; employees of Ukraine's missions to the UN, UNESCO, and other international organizations.
Graduates of the Institute were elected to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to various convocations (I. Alieksieiev, V. Butkevych, S. Holovatyi, V. Horbal, K. Zhevaho, O. Zadorozhniy, V. Kapustin, V. Lebedivskyi, S. Matviienko, S. Osyka, V. Makieienko, N. Pylypchuk, P. Doroshenko, P. Riabikin, L. Tashkovskyi, V. Tropin and others). Graduates of the Institute make up the vast majority of the staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine as well as working in other ministries, departments and organizations related to Ukraine’s foreign relations.
The Institute is also proud of its numerous foreign graduates, including many prominent statesmen, influential politicians, diplomats, heads of large enterprises, institutions and organizations, and famous scientists. These are, in particular, former President of Georgia M. Saakashvili, President of the National Assembly (Senate) of Nigeria A.N. Vabara, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Bulgaria N.V. Iieu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan E. Mamediarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ambassador of the Republic of Bolivia F. S. Patrytsiia, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria D. Ebusi, Ambassador of Sierra Leone A. Konteh, Ambassadors of Georgia V. Chechelashvili and G. Katamadze, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic V. Hrivna, Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary and the Republic of Hungary F. Kontra, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria A. Nedelchev and many others.