Post-release on the results of Cultural and educational event on the topic “Ukrainian-Czech perspective on Mykyta Shapoval – a statesman, a scientist, a public figure, and a creative person”

As part of the plan of actions of the NAES of Ukraine for the implementation of the Concept of Civic Education in Ukraine for 2024–2030, the Institute of Higher Education of the NAES of Ukraine held a cultural and educational event on the topic “Ukrainian-Czech perspective on Mykyta Shapoval – a statesman, a scientist, a public figure, and a creative person”, which was presented to the audience by Anzhela Savchenko – director of “Kyiv Frescoes” tourist agency, guide on Ukraine, manager of cultural heritage projects of “Kryla” NGO, an independent researcher of local history.

In the course of the event the audience got acquainted with the little-known figure of Mykyta Shapoval (1882–1932): a native of Bakhmutchyna, where the fiercest battles during the current Russian-Ukrainian war have been going on for the past two years; minister of the government of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, public figure, educator and scientist, initiator of the foundation of the Ukrainian Academy of Economics, Higher Pedagogical Institute named after Drahomanov, and a number of other educational, cultural, artistic institutions; the founder of Ukrainian sociological thought, whose contribution became visible thanks to his stay in exile in Czechoslovakia.

It is worth noting that the publication of little-known facts from the life of Mykyta Shapoval became possible due to the realization of the project “Salt of the Earth. Mykyta Shapoval”, which was carried out by the “Kryla” NGO with the financial support by the European Union and the non-profit, non-governmental platform of cultural initiatives “Isolation Foundation” in March-April 2023.

On the basis of the published archival materials and the field research conducted before the beginning of the full-scale phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the developers of the project have managed to actively bring back from oblivion the name of Mykyta Yukhymovych Shapoval – a scientist, educator and public figure, Minister of the Government of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, a successful forest manager, the initiator of the establishment of a number of educational, cultural and artistic institutions in exile in Czechoslovakia.

The results of the realization of the project “Salt of the Earth. Mykyta Shapoval” can be found in the publication:

Mykyta Shapoval. An outline of biography. Letters / ed., preface by A.M. Savchenko; comments by A.M. Savchenko, M.V. Kulishov. Kharkiv: Machulin, 2023. 168 p.

The recording of the online version of the event is available by the link:

The staff of the Institute of Higher Education of the NAES of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to “Kryla” NGO and particularly to Anzhela Savchenko for cooperation and acquaintance with little-known, but significant figures of Ukrainian education, science and history, – and hopes for further cooperation within the framework of the implementation of the Concept of Civic Education in Ukraine for 2024–2030.