Visiting Ukrainian scholar urges international exchange

As the Ukraine nears the 10th anniversary of its independence, the country's institutions of higher learning are working to build a more civic-minded society by engaging in an international exchange of students, teachers and ideas.

Recently, an educator from Kirovograd State Pedagogical University (KSPU), located in south central Ukraine, visited Newark to explore the possibility of establishing academic, research and student links with the University of Delaware. She was sponsored by Carol Vukelich, director of the Delaware Center for Teacher Education, with center coordinator Sylvia Brooks servings as her host adviser.

"We worked closely with Ludmilla," Brooks said, "and placed her in contact with several University personnel who we thought would be helpful for her research."

Ludmilla Garkusha, a professor of English at KSPU, won a highly competitive award from the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) of the U.S. Department of State, and she came to UD as a visiting scholar to study women's groups and associations, with the larger goal of strengthening democracy in the Ukraine by helping to foster civic values there.

Among the groups and associations studied by Garkusha were the League of Women Voters, in Delaware and in Montclare, N.J., and the Newark chapter of the American Association of University Women.

"My research target is to study the activities of American women's groups," Garkusha said. "From what I observed, I can say that the level of communal activities, participation and concerns of women's groups, as well as other NGOs (nongovernmental organizations associated with the United Nations), is much higher in the United States than in the Ukraine.

"Before, in the Ukraine, people were supposed to be united, but their personal interests were ignored," Garkusha said. "Now, society is supposed to be more sensitive to the interests of the people, and people can come together and exchange ideas and build on this."

Another key factor in determining the level of activity in citizen interest groups in emerging democracies, like the Ukraine, is the economic circumstances that people find themselves in, Garkusha said.

"Among most American women's groups, the most active members are retired or among the well-off groups of the population," Garkusha said. "In the Ukraine, most women are involved in bread-winning and housekeeping activities–things that leave little time and strength to do civic work."

To address these issues and the disparity in income and opportunity among women in America and the Ukraine, Garkusha suggested that an initial group composed of KSPU professors and staff, as well as other women career professionals, join forces to take advantage of various international exchange programs that focus on areas of individual interest and expertise.

She would like to see these small groups return to the Ukraine and share the results of their studies with other small groups of women, and in the process spread the idea of group activity among the women at all levels of Ukrainian society. This would help women reduce educational expenses while preparing for better careers and gaining the confidence needed to realize their full potential as individuals and members of community groups.

This exchange in ideas among groups of educators, students and career professionals in the United States and Ukraine also would allow participants to discover the many differences and similarities.

Garkusha noted the differences between UD, which has about twice as many students and a much larger campus than KSPU. Founded in 1930 as a teacher training college, KSPU evolved into a teacher training institute. With new departments being added it now ranks as one of the most prestigious teacher training institutes in a country that is roughly the size and population of France.

While there presently is no program in place, Garkusha said she would like to see a joint UD-KSPU venture, where there would be an exchange of academic and research educational opportunities, as well as the development of a long-term collaboration between the two schools. Such a partnership would permit KSPU students and professors to participate in short-term exchange programs, conferences, seminars and workshops in America that would greatly enhance their creative potential, she said.

"I am very impressed with the level of academics and methods of teaching at UD," Garkusha said. "There is an atmosphere that encourages interaction and a level of expertise that is very high."

While any exchanges between UD and KSPU would have benefits for both, Garkusha said that such a program would allow Ukrainians an important opportunity to see American democracy, including social activism, in action.

"This would help us in developing a model for Ukrainian political, economic and civic revival," Garkusha said. "It's what we might call a people's diplomacy."

On an individual level, Garkusha said she would like to take with her the enthusiasm and commitment displayed by Americans involved in educational and cultural activities.

"I would like to take back to Ukraine the attitude of the people here at UD–the way they talk to and challenge each other," Garkusha said. "The people talk about serious problems–they get involved and they do things."

–Jerry Rhodes