12-19 May 2025
Cadiz (Kingdom of Spain)
From 12 to 19 May 2025, Tetiana Opryshko, Director of the Library at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, took part in the Library Staff Week “Exchange of Experience in Libraries”, organised by the Library of the University of Cadiz (Spain) as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
This event was attended by 15 representatives of libraries from 12 countries of the world, namely:
- Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University (Ukraine);
- Odessа Polytechnic National University (Ukraine);
- Kathmandu University (Nepal);
- Technological University of Havana, CUJAE (Cuba, Latin America);
- Université Alassane Ouattara (Côte d'Ivoire, Africa);
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy);
- University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina);
- University of Malta;
- University of Nairobi (Kenya, Africa);
- University of Zagreb (Croatia);
- University of Science and Technology of Oran (Algeria, Africa);
- University of Costa Rica (Central America);
- World Maritime University, Malmö (Sweden).
The programme included a series of meetings between the staff of the universities mentioned above and the staff of the University of Cádiz Library, as well as visits to the premises of the University of Cádiz campuses in Bahia de Algeciras, Puerto Real and Jerez to demonstrate the services offered by the Library to the university community. The participants were accompanied by the Director of the University of Cádiz Library, Jesús Fernández García, at all events.
The program participants made presentations about their libraries, which allowed them to analyse the similarities and differences in the resources and services offered. The presentation about the library of Grinchenko University was the first on the agenda and aroused considerable interest among colleagues. An important issue for foreigners was also the work of the university library in wartime. Library Director Tetiana Opryshko presented the host representatives with souvenirs from Grinchenko University and a gift to the University of Cadiz Library - a book by Serhii Plokhii about the Russian-Ukrainian war.
One of the key events was a visit to the CUNEAC Centre for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the University of Cadiz. Its head, Andres Santana, recalled his trip to Ukraine and his acquaintance with Grinchenko University. Information about this event is available on the Centre's website.
The mobility ended with a meeting with the leadership of the University of Cadiz, Ms María Jesús Ortega, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer, and Ms Marcela Iglesias, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, discussing ways of further cooperation and presenting certificates to the participants. Information about the 4th Library Staff Week is also available on the University of Cádiz website.
This Library Staff Week has proved the importance of academic mobility for the professional development of the staff of Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University and the establishment of international cooperation with foreign universities and libraries.
Materials provided by Grinchenko University Library
