The Invisible University for Ukraine (IUFU) is a distinguished certificate program, offering ECTS credits, tailored for undergraduate (BA), graduate (MA) and postgraduate (PhD) students from Ukraine and abroad. The initiative is spearheaded by Central European University in collaboration with Imre Kertész Kolleg at the University of Jena, alongside other Ukrainian institutions such as Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and Ukrainian Catholic University, as well as global university partners. Additionally, courses on Western Balkans are supported by a number of partner institutions from Southeast Europe. IUFU receives support from the Open Society University Network, with co-funding from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
The educational program comprises three essential components: thematic lecture courses online, mentoring (conducted in English and Ukrainian), and skill-building sessions focusing on academic English, academic writing, and career support for future education. Distinguished scholars from Central European University, other partner institutions, and globally renowned specialists contribute to the program’s teachings, with mentoring provided by advanced doctoral candidates from these institutions.
Course Offering in Spring 2024
i. Intellectual Debates in Modern Ukrainian History and Contemporary Public Sphere (Ostap Sereda and Balázs Trencsényi)
ii. Rethinking Nationalism: Conceptual Frameworks and Political Challenges (Valeria Korablyova and Vladimir Petrović)
iii. Sustaining Rule of Law and Democracy in Ukraine amidst War and Post-War Reconstruction (Olena Boryslavs’ka and Nazarii Stetsyk)
iv. Cultural Diplomacy during the War: Practices and Institutional Strategies (Yana Barinova)
v. European Union Enlargement and Reform: A Common Path for Ukraine’s European Future (Veronica Anghel and Inna Melnykovska)
vi. Beyond War and Peace: Rethinking the Balkans for Ukraine (Aleksandar Pavlović, Marija Mandić and Olesia Marković)
For more information on this semester’s courses, consult CEU webpage!
Main Organizers of IUFU
Ostap Sereda
Program director, Associate Professor in History at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv and recurrent guest professor at CEU.
László Kontler
CEU Professor, History, Acting Rector of Közép-európai Egyetem → More info
Vladimir Petrovic
Research Professor, Institute of Contemporary History, Belgrade, and CEU Democracy Institute → More Info
Joachim von Puttkamer
Professor in History at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena and Director of the Imre Kertész Kolleg
Nazar Stetsyk
Associate Professor, Department of Theory and Philosophy of Law, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
Balazs Trencsényi
CEU, Professor, History Department, lead researcher of History WG, CEU Democracy Institute
Renáta Uitz
CEU Professor, Legal Studies, Co-Director of CEU Democracy Institute
