A commemorative medal “100 years of the Ukrainian Free University” has been issued in Ukraine. It is dedicated to the anniversary of the Ukrainian educational institution, created outside Ukraine by the Ukrainian intelligentsia in exile, with the Ukrainian language teaching.
It is reported by UA with the reference to the National Bank of Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian Free University, having united around itself many leading Ukrainian scientists of the 20th century, became a scientific and educational institution for the Ukrainian diaspora, which did not want to lose its identity. Having changed three European cities and rebuilt in post-war Munich, the university remains to this day the center of knowledge about Ukraine in Europe. It strives to be an intellectual bridge between Ukraine and the states of the European Union, is an important source of Ukrainian studies in the German-speaking environment” – the National Bank of Ukraine statement.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, the circulation of the medal is 10 thousand pieces, the diameter is 35 millimeters, the material is nickel silver.
“The obverse of the coin, on the smooth background at the top – the inscription” Ukraine “, under which the year of issue – 2021; the small State Emblem of Ukraine (on the left, on the background of a fragment of the flag of Ukraine), a fragment of the flag of the European Union (on the right) in the center – a diagram of the change in the location of the university at different time intervals and inscriptions: Vienna / 1921 / Prague / 1921 / Munich / 1945; below on a matte background – a laurel branch, under which is the logo of the Banknote Mint of the National Bank of Ukraine.
On the reverse of the medal, on a mirrored background, there is a university logo (above) in the center – a stylized image of a bridge as a symbol uniting different sides, peoples, countries, etc .; inscriptions: 100 years (under the bridge), Ukrainian Free University (below in a semicircle)” – is written in the description.
The artists are Volodymyr Taran, Oleksandr Kharuk, Serhii Kharuk, the sculptor – Volodymyr Demyanenko.
The Ukrainian Free University was founded in Vienna at the beginning of 1921, later it was decided to transfer the Ukrainian Free University to Prague. The grand opening in Prague took place on October 23, 1921. The first rector of the institution was the Ukrainian literary critic, linguist Oleksandr Kolessa.
The Ukrainian Free University had two faculties – philosophy and law. During the interwar period, prominent Ukrainian scientists, statesmen and politicians Avgustyn Voloshyn, Dmytro Antonovych, Dmytro Doroshenko, Vadym Shcherbakivskyy, Ivan Borkovskyy, Ivan Pankevych were instructors of the University. After World War II, the Ukrainian Free University moved to Munich, where it continues to work today. In 1999, the third faculty, Ukrainian studies, began to work. The Ukrainian Free University is the only Ukrainian university outside Ukraine that has managed to maintain the continuity of the educational process for 100 years.