Visit of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Etienne de PONCENA

On March 24, 2021, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine Mr. Etienne de Poncins visited Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics. The delegation also included Alliance Française Coordinator in Ukraine Tom Bellamy and Alliance Française Director in Kharkiv Fabrice Didier.

During the meeting between Rector Volodymyr Ponomarenko and Ambassador Mr. Etienne de Ponsen, the parties discussed new projects in the field of education. Mister Rector noted the achievements of the University in the dissemination and development of Francophone programs at the University. Fruitful cooperation since 2005 with the University of Lyon-2, France has become the basis for the opening of double degree diplomas programmes in Business Informatics and Tourism. Cultural heritage. Leisure”. To date, more than 350 graduates of the University have received double diplomas. Many years of Ukrainian-French cooperation with the University Agency of Francophonie and the Alliance Française network have become the basis for the University’s participation in international projects supported by the French Government. The number of students studying French has grown since 2013 from 225 to 563 in 2021.

Assistant Rector for International Projects, Ms. Irina Zolotareva spoke about the participation of S. Kuznets KhNUE in the FESU project on the development of social entrepreneurship together with the Universities of Laurent and Lille, France and on the implementation of the project hub on social entrepreneurship and the development of entrepreneurial skills in students.

Volodymyr Yermachenko, Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation, stressed the internationality of S. Kuznets KhNUE, because today the University has about 850 students from 52 countries, which is 12% of the total contingent. That is why the University is actively developing educational programs with teaching in English and French.

Fabrice Didier, Director of the Alliance Française in Kharkiv, outlined the prospects for future cooperation and development of the program together with the University of Lille, France.

Mr. Ambassador left an entry in the book of honorary guests of KhNEU. S. Kuznets and promised the full support of the Embassy of France in Ukraine for future joint projects of the University.

Also, during the visit, the honoured guests visited the student Coworking – space and Fablab.

Link to the photo:  https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN8C_l2hbtcGGZT4q8UUgYHuCD3sQ3wLWB-_73gNIWHVzbOAI1BlANmf-JcpUfPOw?key=UkJNaWs2TVNjSVZCVVJjM3A4V2JSNWpOVUFDU21n