In a discussion that observed both Ukraine’s problems and progress, Dmitro Melnichuk, rector of the National University of Ukraine, spoke to an audience of about 30 people Wednesday afternoon at the Memorial Union.

His speech “Results and Problems of Continuous Reforming of the National University of Ukraine,” touched upon a brief history of Ukraine, a part of the former Soviet Union, and the newly formed relationship between Iowa State and NAUU.

NAUU, which has a student body of about 17,000 students and 1,300 faculty members, is now a university with “a lot of autonomy,” Melnichuk said.

Now NAUU has the opportunity to open new departments and majors, while being considered “independent” in terms of international relationships.

Melnichuk, who jokingly compared his role to that of a president and provost in one at NAUU, said NAUU was interested in remodeling their curriculum based on the styles of several American and European colleges and universities. Iowa State, he said, was “at the top of the list.”

“As a result of working with this university, we’re learning how to restructure our university,” Melnichuk said.

Many prominent directors of ISU’s agriculture department were present at the speech.

“I think what’s most important in this partnership between ISU and NAUU is that there is a mutual benefit, since [both the administrations] are learning from one another,” David Acker, director of international agriculture, said. “It’s definitely a two-way street.”

Melnichuk said NAUU has been working with the “linkage” project for about three years.

NAUU is now structured so a student in Ukraine completes high school after the 11th grade and then is required to take an entrance examination to be accepted into a major university like NAUU, Melnichuk said.

There are vocational schools for students to attend if their grades are not acceptable by university standards.

“Gifted and talented students can go to the university, while less talented students can go to the community college,” Melnichuk said. “This [system] is a great driving force for a student to work hard.”

A science degree typically takes six years to achieve, Melnichuk said. A “specialty” degree can be obtained after the bachelor degree. If students choose not to take classes, they can work as interns for many years, Melnichuk said.

Melnichuk said of all the goals for NAUU, the most important is to “learn of peculiarities of the higher education system in the United States and Europe and to search for an opportunity to integrate with them.”

NAUU is the “only university in Ukraine that can be proud of this accomplishment,” he said.

Many of NAUU’s newer facilities [departments] are similar to ones found at ISU. Melnichuk said in the future NAUU would like to incorporate agrochemistry, plant and agrarian technologies, animal science and veterinary medicine and forestry into stronger parts of their department. Melnichuk said there are 14 facilities at NAUU. Economics is the most popular major, he said, but he hopes animal science will gain popularity.

“We don’t have a perfect system yet,” Melnichuk said. “But what we’ve to accomplish here is to have some similar types of points of touch with the higher education system here.”

Melnichuk said many higher education systems in Europe, including Germany, are trying to implement a more “American” or “Western European” type of collegiate system.

“There’s a drive for unification to develop certain standards,” Melnichuk said. “We’ve had to require a lot of serious research to find out about the system.”

While admitting there is a lot of work ahead for NAUU, Melnichuk said he “would like very much to work together.”

The speech was immediately followed by a reception, which featured comments by Dr. Volodymyr I. Vlassov of the agribusiness cooperation from the embassy of Ukraine.