South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University

South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky was established as Pedagogical Institute at Richelieu Lyceum in Odesa on 2 May 1817. Since that time, its name has been changed several times (Teacher's Institute, Institute of Public Education, Odesa State Pedagogical Institute named after K. D. Ushynsky, South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky, South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky) it has been liquidated and reestablished. Before 1941, the University was one of the biggest in Odesa in terms of the number of students and the leading one in the USSR in terms of quality of teachers training. During World War II, it was the only pedagogical educational institution relocated to Turkmenistan by the Resolution of the Government and continued its work there.
By the Resolution of the Ukraine Government, the University was named after distinguished scientist-educator Kostiantyn Ushynsky for its outstanding service in training teachers. In 1970, Odesa State Pedagogical Institute named after K. D. Ushynsky was awarded Certificate of Appreciation of the Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Currently, the University is a flagship teacher training University of the southern region of Ukraine with 17 acknowledged scholar schools, 62 specialities for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral training programmes at ten faculties, four divisions and one institute. Within the period of its existence, more than 100,000 students have graduated from the University and have been employed at the Ukraine educational institutions, more than 30 graduates have worked abroad.
South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky is a member of International Association of Universities, East European Association of Universities, Association of European Universities, International Association of Pedagogical Universities of Central and Eastern Europe, Swedish National Scientific Association, AGEC – "European Association of Choral Communities for Public Activity", European Council's Higher Education and Research Committee (Strasburg), Norwegian-Ukrainian University Alliance, a well-known European organization "Observatory of the Magna Charta". The University collaborates with more than 100 Ukrainian educational institutions and numerous universities in Europe, Asia and America. At present, there are 12 academicians, almost 70 Doctors of Sciences, professors 18 lecturers educators hold the titles of Honorary Workers of Science, Education, Arts and Sports they are laureates of state prizes. A significant number of scientists have received international awards they are members of various national and international academies, communities and associations.
The University is proud of its sports achievements: 25 Olympic champions, more than 50 champions and winners of European and World Championships, 29 Honoured Coaches and Masters of Sports of USSR, Ukraine, etc. The University is well-known far beyond the country it collaborates with educational and research institutions of various countries. There is International Distance Learning Centre, the only one in the south of Ukraine's educational research, information and cultural centres of Israel, Turkey, the USA, Lithuania, People's Republic of China (Confucius Institute). Lecturers and students participate in more than 30 international projects. The University is a coordinator of project studies according to international programmes TEMPUS, Visegrad Fund, Fund "Ukraine-Norway", etc.
There are almost 500 lecturers together with foreign professors working at 38 departments. Scholar schools established at the University are well-known in Ukraine and abroad for their achievements in pedagogy, psychology, physics, and mathematics. There are 7 Specialized Academic Councils for defending candidate's and doctor's theses in 12 specialities. Postgraduate training programmes are offered in 34 specialities; one can take a doctoral training programme in 11 specialities. The University facilitates holding more than 30 international and all-Ukraine research conferences every year and regularly publishes six scholarly journals. The University is proud of its outstanding educators-scholars, students and graduates, who have contributed a lot to the development of science and education globally.