Lecture by the head of the department of the State Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mr. Serhii HUMENIUK

On April 10, 2026, with the assistance of the Department of International Organizations and the Diplomatic Service of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, a practice-oriented professional meeting was held with Mr. Serhii GUMENYUK, Head of the Department of the State Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. This master class was held with students of higher education in the first year of the "Master's" OP "Diplomacy and International Cooperation", in the format of the educational discipline "Multilateral Diplomacy and Mechanisms of Regulation of International Conflicts" (Assoc. Prof. Viacheslav TSIVATIY). Topic of the master class: "Diplomatic Missions: Privileges and Immunities in Multilateral and Bilateral Diplomacy".

The lecture was devoted to the establishment of diplomatic relations between states and the institution of privileges and immunities, which exists specifically to ensure the performance of the functions of the diplomatic mission and its staff. Many examples from diplomatic practices and real situations from the stated topic were given. 

Diplomatic privileges and immunities begin to apply to persons defined in international law from the moment they cross the border of the receiving state and remain in effect until the said persons leave the host state. A diplomat and members of his family enjoy the privileges and immunities established in international law also during transit through a third country. The lecturer emphasized the fact that diplomatic privileges and immunities are not given in order to ignore the laws, rules and customs of the state of residence, but for the purpose of more effective performance of the diplomatic mission and its staff in accordance with the norms of international law and domestic law of the host country.

During the master class, Serhii GUMENYUK gave many examples from diplomatic practices and real situations on the stated topic. Use of the case-study method – analysis of problematic situations in the field of international relations, foreign policy and diplomacy. The use of the case-study method in the field of international relations helps to increase the effectiveness of the educational process through its differentiation, to form individual personality qualities through the formation of self-analysis skills, and to promote the development of communicative and social skills of students of higher education through work in groups. No less important is the case study method in the conditions of distance learning, which will be revealed in our further research and educational practices.

Of particular interest and value for those seeking higher education during the discussion is the ten-year practical experience of the lecturer in the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and during his long-term foreign business trips (in particular, the Republic of Moldova), especially in the conditions of martial law in Ukraine.

Lectures by invited diplomats-practitioners are an important component in the system of formation of professional competences of international graduates who specialize in the Department of International Organizations and Diplomatic Service (Head – Prof. Viktor MATVIENKO). The use of tools of scientific and educational, cultural and public diplomacy in the educational process makes it possible to establish institutional contacts with leading scientists of Ukraine and foreign countries.

The lecture was made possible thanks to the long-term practice of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, within the framework of which diplomats-practitioners join the teaching of academic disciplines. In this way, students of higher education receive invaluable knowledge and professional competences in the field of practical diplomacy in order to be better prepared for their future profession.

See you again at the Center for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the National Institute of Foreign Studies, which functions under the Department of International Organizations and Diplomatic Service (Prof. Viktor MATVIENKO, Associate Professor Viacheslav TSIVATYI)!

Many thanks to the methodologist-coordinator of this project, Mrs. Natalia POLYN! See you soon!

Huge thanks to the respected lecturer, Serhii GUMENIUK for the lecture! The students of higher education thanked the distinguished guest with thunderous applause for the interesting lecture and received comprehensive answers to all their questions.