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Top doctors from Ukraine keen to collaborate with Charles University

On 7 May 2025, a six-member delegation from the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine visited Charles University. The delegation was led by Iryna Hrytsai, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration. The discussions held between the foreign partners and Charles University Rector Milena Králíčková, along with representatives from the university's Department of International Relations, focused on the development of cooperation within international projects.

Other members of the delegation included Pavlo Liubymov, the head of the Regional Department of Foreign Economic Activity; Sergiy Okovytyy, Rector of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University; Sergii Ryzhenko, General Director of Mechnikov Hospital; Andrii Sirko, the head of the Local Centre of Cerebral Neurosurgery; and Radii Shevchenko, Director of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Centre of Emergency Medical Aid and Disaster Medicine.

The delegation was welcomed by Charles University Rector Milena Králíčková, the head of the CU International Relations Office Sylvie Boumová, and the head of the Erasmus+ Programme at CU Jelizaveta Getta.

“The cooperation of Charles University with the Dnipropetrovsk region is very active and interdisciplinary. We will do our best to ensure its continuation,” said Rector Králíčková.

The main topic of the meeting was potential cooperation in the field of combat medicine, where Ukraine's Mechnikov Hospital ranks among the top institutions in the country. “Mechnikov Hospital has already performed more than 40,000 surgeries on wounded patients and is open to sharing this experience with the medical faculties of Charles University,” said Sergii Ryzhenko..

The delegation also expressed strong interest in cooperation in the field of psychology, particularly in trauma processing, chronic stress management, and mental health care for war veterans.

Another key topic was the expansion of collaboration between CU and Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU), one of CU’s most active partners in Ukraine. This year, for the third time, Charles University secured the Capacity Building Project in Developing Countries, focusing on the development of internationalization, digitalization, inclusion, well-being, and resilience at DNU.

Additionally, a Czech Language and Culture Centre was recently established at DNU. As a result, this year’s capacity-building activities will also include training in Czech language didactics, provided by CU’s Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies.

“The establishment of the Czech Centre at our university is a significant investment in long-term cooperation between the Dnipropetrovsk region and the Czech Republic. Charles University's willingness to advise us on effective teaching will take our work to the next level,” emphasized DNU Rector Sergiy Okovytyy.

Ukrainian studies are also a shared priority. At CU, this field has a long tradition, particularly at the Department of East European Studies at the Faculty of Arts, which joined the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies on May 5.

The delegation also discussed opportunities under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility programme, which enables Ukrainian students and academics to undertake short- and long-term stays at Charles University. The programme helps participants gain new knowledge, adopt innovative methodological and pedagogical approaches, and build networks across disciplines.

“Projects within the International Credit Mobility framework enable cooperation across various disciplines and faculties. Therefore, we definitely plan to prepare such an interdisciplinary mobility initiative with DNU,” stated Sylvie Boumová, Head of the CU International Relations Office.

Further opportunities to discuss collaboration in these and other frameworks will be available during the professional internship of DNU representatives, taking place at CU from November 3 to 7.

Text: Odbor zahraničních vztahů UK

Photo: Marcela Uhlíková

Date: 7. 5. 2025