Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University

The history of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn State University started in 1940 when the Teachers' Training Institute was founded which in 1951 was reorganized into the Pedagogical Institute. In 1952 the Institute was named after Lesya Ukrainka. In 1993 according to the Degree of President of Ukraine on the basis of Lutsk Pedagogical Institute Lesya Ukrainka Volyn State University was established, subordinated to the Ministry of Education. In the process of university vital activity the authorities of the university constantly take care of successful combination of educational process with research work, thus stimulating professional improvement of the teachers' staff and creating the students' needs for self-expression, logical thinking, the wish to reach the source of scientific truth. The University long-term plan subjects combines fundamental themes with applied ones, which is aimed at solving the problems of theory and practice.

Scientific Symposia "Common roots - common future", "Our wonderful Kin", "European Region Bug - problems and perspectives" and constantly functioning seminars "Ukrainian-Polish relations", "Transformation of the Ukrainian Economy" have won immense prestige and have been marked by a vast international representation. In 1998 166 teachers made scientific reports at 52 conferences in more than 40 cities of Ukraine and abroad, including Paris, Prague, Warsaw etc. Two specialized Counsels for the defense of Candidate theses function successfully at the University: Solid State Physics and physical culture and sport. More than ten professors, doctors of sciences are members of specialized Counsels in other institutions of higher learning, experts of Higher Certifying Commission and of State Certifying Commission. One of the priority trends of the development of Science and Technique in Ukraine is "New substances and their Technology". In this respect the results of long-term investigation carried out in the laboratory of Physical-Chemical Basis of Materiology headed be the rector of the University prof. I.D. Olekseyuk.

Many fundamental investigation in various priority trends of scientific activity in the field of natural sciences, the humanities, psychopedagogical and socio-economic sciences are being carried out at the university. For about ten years scholars of the University have been taken an active part in the scientific groundation of ways and trends of implementation of the national programme of liquidation of Chernobyl catastrophe consequences. Research workers of the Institute of Health and Physical Training and the Biology faculty learn the peculiarities of psyco-phisiological and physical development of children living within the radiative territory, work out practical recommendations for optimal motional regimes and physical loadings on human body under such conditions. Since 1998 the State budget theme "Medicobiologic aspects of Chornobyl Catastrophe consequences for different groups and categories of Volyn population" has been worked out by common efforts of the leading scholars of the University, doctors of medical and sanitary-and-hygienic institutions of the region, the regional rehabilitation centre "Chornobyl", scientific centre of radiative medicine of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and Ternopil Medical Academy.

The level of the university collaborators information securing has considerable been improved lately. The university computer network of international system "Internet" works at the university. All the faculties and other subdivisions of the university are embraced by this computer-information centre. The lack of information is also liquidated by the Press centre, socio-psycological Service, scientific-analytical department. In fact, all the faculties and subdivisions of the university supplied with modern personal computers (more than 300 units), copying equipment (printers, Xeroxes). The stock of the library has 603 thousands of copies. The pride of the university library is the department of rare and diaspora books.

There are some scientific schools at the university headed by professors L.S. Gitik, I.D. Olekseyuk, A.B. Svidzinsky, L.K. Olyander, V.L. Udalov, R.A. Artsishevsky, L.R. Kalapusha, V.D. Lagutin, V.P. Kolesnyk and others.

The main research trends are:
I. Health protection.
II. The problems of statesystem development.
III. New substances and materials.
IV. The problems of a new content and methods of teaching and education.

At the disposal of students and collaborators of the university there is a sporting-recreation camp "Hart", which is situated on the bank of the Svityaz within the territory of Shatsk natural national park.

There is the dispensary at the university where annually about 700 students improve their health. This complex includes the canteen, which seats 100 persons, a stadium. At present a rehabilitating centre is being created on the basis of this dispensary, which will be used not only for improving health, but also for research work and teaching in speciality "physical rehabilitation".

In the dispensary the dentists phisiotherapeutical surgeries work, besides manual therapeutics and water-cure treatment are offered. There is the university students' health centre and dentist surgery which are supplied with necessary facilities and equipment. Every student and collaborator of the university can receive necessary medical aid.

For purpose of health improvement a sport complex is used and the swimming pool is hired.

The authorities and the trade union committee of the university do their best to create excellent conditions for education, accommodation, recreation and rest for the students and collaborators.

Gymnasiums, stadiums, reading-halls and the library are at the disposal of every student and collaborator of the university.