On 10 June 2026, Sumy National Agrarian University hosted an international academic dialogue. As part of the UK–UA Visiting Professors Programme, run by the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sport, the university was visited by Professor Mark HORTON of the Royal Agricultural University, Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise — a renowned British scientist, archaeologist and researcher in sustainable development.
The UK–UA Visiting Professors Programme is implemented by the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sport, in collaboration with the UK–Ukraine Academic Diaspora Network and the MHP-Gromady Charitable Foundation. Its aim is to engage lecturers from leading British universities in working with Ukrainian higher education institutions to strengthen international academic cooperation, develop science and support the training of specialists for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
It is significant that Professor Mark HORTON’s visit to SNAU formed part of a broader Ukrainian-British academic dialogue. The day before, SNAU Rector Ihor KOVALENKO, Vice-Rector Yurii DANKO and Professor Mark HORTON visited the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sport. During meetings with Mykola TROFIMENKO, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, and Yuriy PETRUSHENKO, Director of the Fund, further areas of cooperation between Ukrainian and British universities were discussed, including the development of joint research initiatives, academic mobility and international scientific projects aimed at Ukraine’s recovery and the strengthening of its scientific potential.
What makes this visit particularly significant is that a world-renowned professor has personally travelled to the border university to meet with students, postgraduate students, lecturers and researchers. In the context of the war, such meetings are not only a demonstration of international support for Ukrainian education, but also a testament to the trust placed in Ukrainian science and its role in the country’s recovery.
Throughout the day, Professor Mark HORTON delivered two public lectures in English with simultaneous interpretation, making them accessible to a wide audience. The discussion was attended by undergraduates, postgraduates, early-career researchers, participants in the joint educational programmes run by SNAU and the Royal Agricultural University, as well as representatives of the regional media.
The first lecture focused on Ukraine’s historical ties with the European world and the role of the Eastern Vikings in shaping the international trade and cultural networks of the Middle Ages. Using examples from archaeological finds, historical sources and contemporary research, the professor demonstrated that Ukrainian lands had been at the centre of global processes for centuries, and that Kyiv was one of the key hubs of Europe’s international connections.
The second lecture shifted the discussion from the past to the present and the future. The focus was on issues relating to the assessment and restoration of soil damaged by the war, the use of modern geospatial technologies, GIS systems, field research and land monitoring methods. It is precisely these tools that are helping to form the scientific basis for the post-war recovery of communities, the agricultural sector and Ukraine’s environmental security.
During the meetings, participants not only listened to the speaker but also actively took part in the discussions. They discussed the role of science in the country’s reconstruction, the importance of international academic cooperation, the development of contemporary research, and the training of specialists who will work on the reconstruction of Ukrainian territories after the war.
Professor Mark HORTON’s visit marked another step towards strengthening SNAU’s international partnerships and developing joint research projects with British colleagues. Thanks to the UK–UA Visiting Professors Programme, the university students and researchers are gaining access to cutting-edge international expertise, which is already helping to find solutions to the challenges facing Ukraine.
Sumy National Agrarian University would like to express its gratitude to the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for the Support of Education, Science and Sport, the programme’s partners, and Professor Mark HORTON for their substantive academic dialogue, openness to collaboration, and support for Ukrainian science.
