October 16, 2025
University of Silesia in Katowice

On October 16, 2025, Nataliia Vinnikova, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs, Head of the Academic Council at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, Doctor of Science in Philology, Professor, together with Svitlana Sysoieva, Academic Secretary of the Department of Philosophy of Education, General and Preschool Pedagogy at the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Full Member of the NAES of Ukraine, Doctor of Science in Pedagogy, Professor and Head of the Scientific Research Laboratory of Educology at Grinchenko University (2010–2017), took part in the opening ceremony of the new academic year at the University of Silesia in Katowice.

As Head of the Academic Council of the University, Nataliia Vinnikova, in a solemn atmosphere, presented the robe and diploma of Honorary Doctor at Grinchenko University to Ewa Ogrodzka-Mazur, Head of the Research Group on General Pedagogy and Research Methodology at the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science of the University of Silesia in Katowice, Doctor habilitated in the field of Humanities, Professor, and Foreign Member of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. The decision to confer upon her the title “Honorary Doctor at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University” was adopted by the University’s Academic Council on March 27, 2025.

Ewa Ogrodzka-Mazur is a renowned scholar in the fields of multicultural and intercultural education, school pedagogy, the development and upbringing of children and youth in multinational countries and axiological education. She is also the author of pedagogical technologies aimed at stimulating personal development in the educational process, as well as theories and models of research in the field of intercultural education. Under the coordination and with the participation of Ewa Ogrodzka-Mazur, a number of international projects have been implemented at Grinchenko University. She is the co-editor of the Polish-Ukrainian annual edition “Educology”, a co-organizer of numerous academic events at the University, and has repeatedly undertaken research internships at the Scientific Research Laboratory of Educology, headed by Svitlana Sysoieva, who, on behalf of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, delivered a congratulatory speech during the conferral ceremony.

As part of the ceremony, Nataliia Vinnikova presented Letters of Appreciation from the University, signed by Acting Rector Oleksandr Turuntsev, to the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice, Doctor habilitated, Professor Ryszard Koziołek and to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Educational Science at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Doctor habilitated, Professor Katarzyna Marcol, in recognition of the long-standing and fruitful cooperation between the institutions.

In her speech, Nataliia Vinnikova expressed her hope not only for the continued successful implementation of joint research projects and academic mobility for participants of the educational process, but also for the development of new directions in intercultural dialogue and scholarly cooperation.

During the visit, the parties also exchanged the newly signed updated cooperation agreement between the University of Silesia in Katowice and Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University.

Honorary Doctor at Grinchenko University, Ewa Ogrodzka-Mazur, sent a letter of gratitude addressed to the Academic Council and the academic community of the University.

Materials provided by SRL of Internationalization of Higher Education