Meeting of the International Association of Rectors of Pedagogical Universities in Europe

Viktor Andrushchenko,

President of the Association of Rectors of Pedagogical Universities of  Europe, Rector of Mykhailo Drahomanov Ukrainian State University

Dear members of the Rectors' Association of Pedagogical Universities of Europe!

Dear colleagues and friends!

We have gathered in this difficult time to discuss the urgent issues of the role of education in preparing generations capable of stopping the war, to join forces for the approach of Ukrainian victory.

The war started by the Russian aggressor shook the world. Everyone feels threatened. And that's understandable. The last thief of the 21st century - the President of Russia Vladimir Putin - threatens to destroy the Ukrainian people, cross borders and seize Europe, and most importantly - to use nuclear weapons.

He must be stopped, disarmed and humbled, put on the bench of the Hague Tribunal.

The leaders of the world community are persistently looking for ways to stop the aggressor, to protect the world from destruction and disappearance.

One of the most realistic proposals for solving this problem is the Ukrainian "Peace Formula" proposed by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

  This formula is supported by the world community, which strives for peace, solidarity and justice.

We - representatives of the scientific and educational community, teachers, scientists, heads of university communities, teachers and student youth - do not stand aside either.

Supporting and appreciating the heroic defensive feats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, sanctions against the aggressor, we appeal to common sense, strength of spirit, science and culture, the power of human unity and intellectual virtues, thanks to which the peoples of the world have always climbed the ladder of progress.

As the first chancellor of Germany, Otto von Bismarck, once wrote: "Wars are won not by generals, but by teachers and parish priests."

Of course, victory requires weapons, military training of those on the front lines, and the support of the international community.

However, it is not only weapons that win. A person wins - armed, strong in spirit, impregnated with all human virtues. The training of such a person is the supreme task of civilization.

The main burden for the implementation of this task rests on the teacher, education, science and culture figures, and especially on university rectors, who must train an effective teacher. This is our historical mission today, and we must fulfill it with honor.

Not so long ago, we founded the Association of Rectors of Pedagogical Universities in Europe, prepared and adopted a document of strategic importance - the Pedagogical Constitution of Europe.

Its goal is to unite efforts, consolidate the scientific and pedagogical community in the formation of a new teacher for the united Europe of the 21st century.

This is an ambitious and large-scale project aimed at deepening the Lisbon and Bologna agreements, in particular in the part of forming the axiological platform of the European education system.

It establishes the main principles of the agreed transuniversity policy, regulates pedagogical activity and defines the general mechanism of training of pedagogical personnel.

We intend to train a teacher who will educate new generations of Europeans who are able to live in a common European House in respect, understanding and cooperation, based on universal human values such as democracy and human rights, peace and environmental security, solidarity, etc., first established by the Great Charter of Universities.

The importance of this initiative, especially today and in the future, is difficult to overestimate.

Our project was supported by the leaders of many countries in Europe and the world, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the European Parliament, highly respected figures of science, culture and art, wide circles of the European educational space, in particular,

- The then Chairman of the Committee of the European Parliament on Culture and Education Doris Pak;

- President of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, Academician Vasyl Kremen;

- The then Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany (2012-2014) Pavlo Klimkin;

- Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine (2000-2006) Dietmar Stüdemann.

Special support for the project was provided by the 2018 Kyiv Summit entitled "Dawn of Europe" with the participation of the presidents of the countries of the Baltic and Black Sea region.

We were supported by the presidents of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk and Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, highly respected political, scientific and public figures of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Norway, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Macedonia, other European countries.

The text of the Pedagogical Constitution of Europe was signed by 25 rectors participating in the forum from 11 European countries.

It would seem that the process has started... Unfortunately, a pandemic and war stood in its way. Russia has opened "Pandora's Box", disorder and opposition of peoples. It was joined by some weedy Ukrainian politicians - those who carry out invasive plans, are afraid of the truth, profess cruelty and violence, stand in the way of peace, progress and freedom.

Today it has already become clear that Russia will not win. Its outrages will be condemned, and the perpetrators will be punished. The ideals of peace and justice will bloom again on the banner of victory, on the territory of Ukraine, Europe and the world.

Civilization will return to the space of freedom. And it is the teacher who is entrusted with the task of educating the ability, need and desire of new generations to live together in peace and harmony in an united European House with mutual understanding, respect and support.

People need peace, stability and development. And it is primarily the teacher who can instill in them the ability for such a life. I am convinced that it is the teacher who is the irresistible force that nurtures the spirit, exalts a person, sets him (her) up for constructive cooperation.

By combining their efforts with other factors, the school and the teacher, the university and education in general will form a new European identity, a spiritual platform for creative life, a new outlook and a new culture.

I invite you to unite, appeal to common sense, mutual support and constructive cooperation in the fields of enlightenment, the upbringing of a humanistic worldview of children and youth of all countries of Europe and the world, to victory over evil, violence and injustice.

I expect constructive suggestions from you, dear colleagues.

With respect to you.

Together to victory!