Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, State Higher Vocational School in Chełm (Poland) and the Broshniv-Osada territorial community launched the project “The Gate to the Central Gorgany: Intercultural Dialogue on the Polish-Ukrainian Border” as part of the сross-border сooperation program “Poland – Belarus – Ukraine 2014-2020”. It was presented during the international conference “Intercultural Dialogue on the Polish-Ukrainian Border: the Case of the Boykos’ Culture”.
“As one of the members of this international project, the university works in close contact with the Broshniv-Osada territorial community as part of the cooperation between the university and territorial communities to support and develop the region, so it is special for us. In addition to the fact that we have the opportunity to involve several faculties and our students in the project, it will result in new tourist routes and raise important historical and environmental issues”, said Ihor Tsependa, the Rector of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
This project is important for the university, as its successful implementation is an opportunity to continue similar projects in other parts of Prykarpattia with other territorial communities, added the Rector.
The main goal of the project is to promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Boikivshchyna region on the Polish-Ukrainian border, to strengthen intercultural ties, to implement joint measures to preserve the heritage and increase tourist attractiveness. These are joint scientific conferences and the restoration of certain monuments of historical and cultural heritage, often common to our two peoples – Poles and Ukrainians. Therefore, one of the project partners is also the State Higher Vocational School of Chełm (Poland).
The Vice-Rector of the school, the senator of the Republic of Poland, Józef Zając said that his educational institution has long been cooperating with Precarpathian University on joint research in the fields of mathematics, pedagogy and international relations. Now they are going to work together on the issue of intercultural dialogue on the Ukrainian-Polish border.
“We organize joint seminars, have joint research and publications in the field of mathematics. As part of this cooperation, we already have three joint patents and are working on two more. We try to ensure that our activities are not only theoretical but also have practical application”, said Józef Zając.
“The participation of our institution is connected with expert activities, in particular in the field of ethnographic research as well as in the formulation of a strategy for the development of tourism in this region. We will carry out a detailed methodological analysis of the existing ethnographic studies because we understand that ethnography is an important component of tourism development, and tourism development is an important factor in the development of the region”, said the Vice-Rector of State Higher Vocational School Beata Fałda.
An administrative meeting of the partners took place at the project launch conference. In particular, they discussed an ancient unique Catholic church of St. Cecil, built in the 18th century, which could become one of the most attractive tourist destinations.
“Our community is the first and the only one in the Rozhniativ district that participates in the cross-border project. For us, this is not only an opportunity to receive funds for community development but also to gain invaluable experience in setting up quality grant projects in cooperation with Precarpathian University”, said Taras Manoryk, head of the Broshniv-Osada territorial community.
During the presentation of the project, its author, director of the Educational and Scientific Center for Sociological Research of the Precarpathian Region at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University Olha Maksymovych outlined the main expectations from its implementation. She said that the study of the region showed an incredibly low interest of tourists in this part of Prykarpattia despite its incredible natural, cultural, ethnographic potential.
“The Rozhniativ district is ranked 18th in the assessment of the infrastructural prerequisites for the development of the region. We hope to return to this assessment in a year – when the project is completed, and preferably five years after its completion – to see some significant changes”, said Olha Maksymovich.
Following the meeting, the partners specified and agreed on a joint plan of further actions for the study and promotion of the Boykos’ cultural heritage and the implementation, in particular, the official registration and protection of the wooden Catholic Church of St. Cecil. On the basis of this guideline, Ukrainian and Polish specialists will conduct research, prepare thematic articles and interviews and work on the preparation of regulatory documents in government bodies.
The event was organized with the financial support of the European Union under the Cross-Border Cooperation Program “Poland – Belarus – Ukraine 2014-2020”.
Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University is responsible for this information. Its content does not reflect the position of the European Union or the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Cross-Border Cooperation Program “Poland – Belarus – Ukraine 2014-2020”.