04 June 2025
Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University
On 4 June 2025, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine, Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu, visited Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University.
The distinguished guest was greeted by Acting Rector Oleksandr Turuntsev, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs, Head of the Academic Council Nataliia Vinnikova, Dean of the Faculty of Romance and Germanic Philology Valentyna Yakuba, Head of the Department of Romance Philology Anastasiia Kopytina, Head of the Department of Germanic Philology Rusudan Makhachashvili.
During the University tour, the Ambassador visited Viktor Ogneviuk Gallery, the Wall of Memory to those at Grinchenko community who lost their lives in the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Digital Hub.
The official meeting continued in Viktor Ogneviuk Hall of the Academic Council. The Acting Rector of the University Oleksandr Turuntsev delivered a welcoming speech, emphasising that “cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain is an example of cultural dialogue and support in the field of education” and thanked the Embassy for its trust and significant contribution to the development of Spanish Studies at the University.
Ambassador Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu delivered a lecture on Spanish-Ukrainian relations in the context of the current situation. "I am very pleased to see a real interest in the Spanish language and culture in Ukraine. Your University is a place where the future of Ukrainian-Spanish relations is being born," the Ambassador said in his speech. The lecture was attended by students and teachers of the Faculty of Romance and Germanic Philology, the Faculty of Law and International Relations, the Faculty of Journalism, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. The participants of the meeting had the opportunity to talk to His Excellency and ask questions.
Students and teachers of the Faculty of Musical Art and Choreography prepared musical gifts for the Ambassador. In particular, the choreographic group ‘Lybid’ (directed by Honoured Artist of Ukraine, Associate Professor of the Department of Choreography Vira Synieok and Lecturer of the Department of Choreography Kostiantyn Kalievskyi) performed a choreographic composition to the music from Georges Bizet's opera “Carmen”; the guitar ensemble “Anima” (directed by Senior Lecturer of the Department of Instrumental and Performing Arts, Doctor of Arts Mykhailo Honcharov) presented “Spanish Dance” by Dan Lerman; the folk instruments ensemble (headed by Honoured Artist of Ukraine, Associate Professor of the Department of Instrumental and Performing Arts of the Faculty of Musical Arts and Choreography Andrii Semeliak) performed the musical piece “Ukrainian Souvenir” by Heorhii Banariuk arranged by Dmytro Motuzka.
In memory of the visit, the Ambassador was presented with a painting of the Archangel Michael prepared by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design.
During the meeting between the head of the diplomatic mission of the Kingdom of Spain in Ukraine and the leadership of Grinchenko University, the prospects for the University's further participation in projects supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Ukraine and cooperation with Spanish higher education institutions were discussed.
Grinchenko University sincerely expresses its gratitude to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu for his visit, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, Spain and the Spanish people for their continued support for Ukraine.
Materials provided by SRL of Internationalization of Higher Education
