Mykhailo Korda emphasized: “We are open for the world and the world is open for us!”

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada in Ukraine Roman Vashchuk was delighted with the highest European standards that are implemented into the learning process of I.Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University: “Mr. Mykhailo, today Ukraine is committed to Europe, you’ve already been there.”

So we decided to talk with Mykhailo Korda, the rector of the medical university, on the main aspects of international affairs and their importance for the Ternopil university.

“International cooperation of our university with universities and research centers all over the world is very important for the university educational process development. Today we collaborate with more than 40 international institutions. First of all, we pay much attention to academic exchange programmes, we invite leading international professors to give lectures to our students. This year, professors from the United States, Sweden, Austria, Poland and other countries read lectures at our university. The lecturers of TSMU also trained at universities abroad,” the rector said.

Moreover, a programme of obtaining two diplomas, Ukrainian and Polish ones, takes place in the Ternopil Medical University. According to the agreement between the heads of the universities, the students of I.Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University can go into higher education on special terms (part time education) at University of Security in Poznań (Poland). So, this year, 4 students were enrolled at the university in Poznan. After graduation, these students will receive a European diploma, which will enhance their competitiveness in the world job market.

 “A number of joint research projects with international universities have been implemented. Our scientists train in the USA, France, Spain and Greece. Our cooperation with Polish universities is very close. Also, many of our students are currently studying abroad; they participate in academic exchange programmes and conferences. They can gain the necessary experience and practical skills in the best universities of Europe. The most advanced laboratories and clinics abroad are open for them; they have an opportunity to get acquainted with the latest medical equipment,” Mr. Mykhailo said.

TSMU is a member of the international programme Erasmus Mundus MEDEA, which is financed by the European Union (EACEA). Currently, six students of the medical university take part in the exchange programmes in European universities: four students have been enrolled at the University of Vilnius (Lithuania) and 1 student – at the University of Thessaloniki in Aristotle (Greece) for the autumn semester of 2015-2016 academic year. Also, one student has got a scholarship for studying at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), where he will be studying for 10 months.

Also due to the bilateral agreement, four TSMU students have been enrolled at Wroclaw Medical University (Poland) for 2015-2016 academic year.

We also asked Mykhailo Korda about international students at TSMU. Why is the Ukrainian university so attractive for them?

“First of all, the high quality of education and reasonable fees are so attractive for them. We follow the European standards, and the cost of studying is much lower than in the medical schools of the USA or Europe. By the way, tuition fee for international student is five times more than for Ukrainian one. We use these funds for university development: necessary equipment for laboratories, classrooms repairs, etc. This is a sound investment in the university development and also the economy of our city,” Mr. Mykhailo said.

Recently, the media accused the Ternopil universities that international students, who study there, register fictitious marriages with Ukrainian girls to receive residence permit in our country.

“We provide quality education and these young people came here to gain knowledge. Special immigration police is responsible for fictitious marriages. They monitor such cases and use appropriate efforts. Honestly, I do not know any such a case about our students. I have not heard that any international student work as a doctor in Ternopil region,” Mr. Mykhailo said.

The project “Nursing Initiative is to release personal trauma” have been implemented at I.Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University. It is supported by the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine. TSMU cooperates with the MacEwan University in Canada.

“Taking into account the proficiency of TSMU specialists and its collaboration with universities in Canada, we provide 240 thousand UAH. (15 thousand dollars) for implementation of the course on treatment of post-traumatic syndrome into nurses’ training,” the Canadian Ambassador Roman Vashchuk said.

Professor Mykhailo Korda said that this project will be implemented at all medical colleges of Ukraine in spring 2016. “We have developed it together with Canadian colleagues. In January – February next year, a National Conference supported by the Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine will take place to discuss the results of its implementation. The Ministry of Public Health intends to implement this training course for nurses, and then for doctors, all over the Ukraine,” Mykhailo Korda said.

As you can see, Ternopil State Medical University has developed international cooperation much. The university administration takes all efforts the whole world to be open for their students.

Zoriana DERKACH (published in the Svoboda newspaper, January 1, 2016)