Ukrainian Agreement

Thy Yang
Director of Multicultural Center
Dickinson State University

Email:  Thy.Yang@dickinsonstate.edu

Mailing address
291 Campus Drive
Dickinson ND 58601

Phone: (701) 483-2322 or 1-800-279-4295

Dr. Tetyana Kalna-Dubinyuk
International and Extension Director
National Agricultural University of Ukraine

Email: TATIANKD@YAHOO.COM

Mailing Address:
National Agricultural University of Ukraine
15, Geroyiv Oborony Str., Kyiv, 03041, Ukraine

Phone Number:
Office: (38044) 267-8061 or (38044) 267-8567
Fax: (38044) 257-7155

THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT OF COOPERATION
Between the National Agricultural University of Ukraine, Russia and Dickinson State University, Dickinson, North Dakota, USA

This agreement between the National Agricultural University of Ukraine and Dickinson State University officially acknowledges and confirms mutual interest in improving higher education through the development of joint projects in agriculture and related disciplines. Based upon joint interests, demonstrated need, and availability of resources, these two organizations agree to cooperate and collaborate in the following areas:

1. Training programs related to community development, nutrition and healthy lifestyles, small business development, legislative issues related to agriculture, rational land use, social infrastructure improvement in rural and urban areas based on modern technologies;
2. Network development, new training and extension programs available at Dickinson State University and National Agricultural University of Ukraine;
3. Agricultural and continuing education for community leaders, farmer and managers in business and financial management;
4. Agri-industry programs designed to increase the efficiency of agricultural commodities;
5. Utilization of new technologies to enhance agricultural production and safety.

The National Agricultural University of Ukraine and Dickinson State University hereby acknowledge their shared commitment to develop innovative and creative partnerships and joint ventures designed to meet the heretofore mentioned objectives. Prior to finalizing individual visits, projects, initiatives or exchanges, representatives of both organizations will secure approval from the appropriate supervisor(s). It is understood that neither party assumes financial obligations as a result of this memorandum. Financial arrangements will be negotiated separately for each project and will depend upon the availability of funds.

Relationship continues to strengthen between Ukrainian University and Dickinson State

Dr. Tetyana Kalna-Dubinyuk visited Dickinson State University in early August to confirm the National Agriculture University of Ukraine's continued interest in a partnership agreement with Dickinson State University.

Dr. Kalna-Dubinyuk is an associate professor of economics at the National Agricultural University of Ukraine. Her visit is part of Dickinson State University's ongoing effort to establish global relationships as part of its Global Awareness Initiate. She previously visited Dickinson State University in 2004 to express interest in expanding its international relations with universities around the globe. "The purpose of Dr. Kalna-Dubinyuk's visit was to follow up on the preliminary agreement between the two universities that was achieved this summer. We are trying to clarify the direction we should go," said Dickinson State University Assistant Professor of Agriculture Dr. Andrew Novotorov.Dr. Novotorov is an enthusiastic and active participant in creating relationships with universities in the former Sovier Union and the Ukraine. He feels continued communications will help maximize the mutual benefits of collaboration.Earlier this summer, Dr. Gary White, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Studies and Scott Hanson, assistant professor of accounting, visited Russia and the Ukraine to enhance the existing relationships with three Russian universities and the Ukrainian university.Dickinson State University President Lee Vickers hopes to establish student/faculty exchange programs, a dual degree program, a cultural exchange program in cooperation with Dickinson's Ukrainian Cultural Institute, and joint curiculum development. Ultimately, these new relationships could lead to business partenrships between Russia and the United States."We are very excited about the possibilities of forming a partnership with the National Agricultural University of Ukraine. Cooperating with our international partenrs, we can prepare our students to live, learn and lead in rapidly changing global economy and multicultural society. Dr. Dmytre O. Melnychuk, rector of the university, has been invited to visit Dickinson State this fall," said Dr. Vickers.

Dickinson State University signs international partnership with Titan Machinery Inc.

Dickinson State University has signed a partnership agreement with Russian institution - Nizhniy Novgorod State Agriculture Academy and Ukrainian institution - National Agriculture University of Ukraine and Titan Machinery Inc., a leading agriculture and construction equipment company in Fargo, N.D. The agreement was inked during a vist to Russia by a delegation of Dickinson State University faculty members just last month.

The agreement between Dickinson State University, Nizhniy Novgorod State Agriculture Academy, National Agriculture University of Ukraine, and Titan Machinery Inc., calls for the three schools to partner together with Titan Machinery, Inc. to develop long term international business relationships in Ukraine and Russia.

Under the agreement, selected agriculture or business students from the Ukraine or Russia universities will be offered a year-long training program in North Dakota. This includes attending classes in the fall and spring semesters at Dickinson State University and working at Titan Machinery as a summer intern. At the end of the year, it will be determined if the students stay another year and attend additional classes for an associate's degree at Dickinson State University or work as an employee for Titan Machinery in their native country. As many as four students a year could participate in this initiative.

Titan Machinery owns and operates multiple dealerships in 17 locations located in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota with annual sales of $154 million. They have been in business more than 25 years and offer one of the largest pools of new and quality used agriculture and construction equipment in the United States. They offer brand names such as CaseIH and New Holland as well as Case Construction through the Krider Equipment stores.

Titan Machinery is supportive of establishing partnerships with Ukraine and Russia and is willing to offer students a $2,500 scholarship to attend Dickinson State University. In addition, Dickinson State University will also offer students a Global Awareness Tuition Waiver.

Ukrainian Week at DSU, Feb 28-March 4, Pictured left to right, Dr. Lee Vickers, Colleen Rodokowksi, coordinator of Business Challenge, Agnes Palanuk, executive director of Ukrainian Cultural Institute, Honorable Borys Bazlevskyi, consul general of Ukraine in Chicago and Dr. Susan Hales, director of Center of Multicultural Affairs

Ukrainian week celebrated at Dickinson State University Dickinson State University, in conjunction with the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, hosted Ukrainian Week on the campus of Dickinson State University, Feb. 28-March 4, 2005. The week was filled with educational programs and presentations – including an appearance by the Honorable Borys Bazylevskyi, consul general of Ukraine in Chicago – designed to celebrate and bring attention to the region’s Ukrainian heritage. The theme for the week was “Ukraine, a Democracy in the Making.” Events kicked off on Feb. 28, with a discussion of the four stages of Ukrainian statehood by Emil Anheluk, president of the Ukrainian Cultural Institute’s board of directors and Agnes Palanuk, executive director of the Ukrainian Cultural Institute. The Honorable Borys Bazylevskyi appeared on campus and gave presentations titled, “Ukraine’s Road to Democracy 1991-1995” and “Leadership in a Global Society.” “Last November and December, Ukraine saw some exciting things happen,” Bazylevskyi stated about the political upheaval termed the “Orange Revolution.” “The people went out in the streets and insisted that the will of the people be respected.”The week’s scheduled events concluded on March 3 with a program by Kristina Gray, a doctorate candidate at the University of North Dakota. She gave a presentation about Ukraine’s Holodomor famine which took place in 1932-33. The Russians imposed famine was reportedly responsible for 7-10 million deaths.

Dr. Kalna-Dubinyuk discusses topic of women in Ukraine at DSU
Dr. Tetyana Kalna-Dubinyuk, associate professor of economics and head of Extension Department at the National Agricultural University of Ukraine (NAUU) appeared on the Dickinson State University campus in May 2004 for a discussion on “The Changing Role of Women in Ukraine.”NAUU is one of the largest agricultural universities in Ukraine with more than 17,000 students. It is located in Kyiv.While on campus, Dr. Kalna-Dubinyuk spoke to officials about creating a long term exchange program called “Dickinson – Kyiv Exchange.”

International diplomats visited Dickinson State University in April
March 25, 2003As part of its Global Awareness Month celebration in April and in response to growing international concerns, Dickinson State University welcomed four international dignitaries to campus. His Excellency Ambassador Kostyantya Gryshchenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine; the Honorable Kyu-ho Choo, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea; noted Afghanistan speaker Fauzia Sharifi Assifi; and Dr. Lois Aroian, deputy director for the Office of South African Affairs’ Bureau of African Affairs for the U.S. Department of State all addressed crowds at the university. Ambassador Gryshchenko appeared on campus April 22. During his remarks, he made reference to the vital role the Ukraine can play in a future global economy.“ We are a nation that is 12 years old,” said Ambassador Gryshchenko. “We shook off 400 years of colonial rule and 80 years of Soviet Communist oppression. We need to fuse our efforts and integrate our potential with the rest of the world.”The ambassador noted during his address that the Ukraine is one of just seven nations in the world with the capability to design and build aircraft, and one of just six nations with the technology and ability to launch technology into outer space. That technical and engineering capability made the Ukraine a valuable component of the former Soviet states and makes the nation an equally valuable strategic partner to the United States.“ For that region, the Ukraine has the highest level of education,” noted Ambassador Gryshchenko. “I would say it is probably of higher quality than the education received in many states here. It is a very rigorous system.”The ambassador noted his nation is focused on attempting to become a part of NATO, as well as to draw itself close to the European Union. The ideologies of the Ukraine, he observed, parallel both organizations’ stated objectives and goals.Ambassador Gryshchenko presented his credentials to President Bill Clinton in February 2000. He received his education at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations’ Department of International Law in 1975. Prior to his designation as Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States of America, Gryshchenko served as the Ukrainian ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg for two years. He has also served as the Head of Mission of Ukraine to NATO, a deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, permanent representative of Ukraine to the Organization for Proliferation of Chemical Weapons in Brussels, a minister of foreign affairs of both Ukraine and the USSR and a staff-member of the United Nations Secretariat in New York City.

“Dickinson State University was delighted to play host to these international dignitaries,” said Dickinson State University President Dr. Lee Vickers. “Their appearance on campus helps to increase the overall level of global awareness on campus and in the community, especially during this time of conflict within the world. This also demonstrates one of the many ways we bring the world to Dickinson State University.”