Reputation

In 2009 Delovoy magazine ranked NaUKMA as the second best university in Ukraine, being nationally the strongest in humanities, third best in economics and second best in law.

University traditions

Every year on October 15 the school celebrates Academy day and NaUKMA students wash the monument of famous Kyiv-Mohyla alumnus philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda. This action is called “Clean Skovoroda”. During the annual graduation ceremony, held on June 28, the monument of Skovoroda in front of the university is also decorated with a bonnet. Another tradition during the ceremony is to carry the university turtle named Alma around the new graduates who make wishes while touching her shell. One more student tradition is theatrical performances called verteps. They are performed during different festive events. Lastly, it is a tradition to open each academic year with a welcome event for the new students, followed by a lecture by a famous scientist. The ceremony of new student initiation includes taking a traditional student oath. During the first term at NaUKMA, students of all faculties introduce themselves to the academic community during the acquaintance ball.

Student life

Despite the relatively small number of NaUKMA students (about 3000 in 2006) there are a number of extracurricular activities on campus. Famous student organizations are: the Student Council, the Christian Students Union, Mohyla Intellectual Club, the Student Brotherhood, the ecological club Zelena Hvylya, and the Youth Center for Humanities. Sports courses are compulsory for NaUKMA students in their two years of study. These courses include elements of calisthenics, sport (soccer, basketball, volleyball and swimming) and fitness exercises.

Arts and music at NaUKMA are represented by the Center of Culture and Art and the Center for Contemporary Art.

Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is mentioned in a number of novels. The main characters of Nikolai Gogol's novel Taras Bulba Ostap and Andriy Bulba were alumni of the old Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Kyiv-Mohyla Collegium is mentioned in several novels by Pavlo Zahrebelnyi including Southern Comfort and I, Bohdan. Kyiv Theological Academy is mentioned in Nikolai Leskov's Pecherskie Antiki.

To note the importance of the university in Ukraine's history, a postage stamp dedicated to Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and its revival was issued in 1992. Moreover, a building of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is portrayed on the 500 hryven' banknote.

Vocabulary:

to found – засновувати

alumnus – колишній вихованець

scientist – вчений

a famous composer – відомий композитор

to enter the university – поступати в університет

to graduate from the university – закінчувати університет

to celebrate – святкувати

monument – пам’ятник

to decorate – прикрашати

to carry – нести

to touch – торкатися

a turtle – черепаха

to make a wish – загадати бажання

performance – вистава

oath – присяга

to take an oath – присягати

extracurricular activities – позаурочна діяльність

compulsory – обов’язковий