During his stay in Zaporizhzhya as part of “German Weeks in Ukraine”, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine Dr. Wolfgang Messinger met with students and teachers of Zaporizhzhya National University. In a friendly atmosphere they discussed topical issues; in particular they were talking about the development prospects of relations between Ukraine and Germany. The students from different courses of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, representatives of the Philology Department, as well as those students who study German as a second foreign language took part in discussion.
The Pro-rector for Research Hennadiy Vasyl'chuk opened the event and introduced the distinguished guest to the students. Young philologists were also accompanied by the academic teaching staff’s representatives of the Faculty of Foreign Languages: the chairholder of German Philology and Translation Serhiy Vapirov, and the teachers of this Department, associate professor in the Department of second language teaching Alla Mamedova and others.
As at the previous meeting, in the circle of academic teaching staff and university management, the students were interested in the cooperation issues among both states, including the scientific, technical and other areas, cultural topics, and the possibilities of academic exchange of students and teachers etc.
The question of current interest touched upon the German support of our country in the framework of the conflict settlement in the East of Ukraine and realization of peace between parties to an armed conflict. The guest assured the participants that German representatives would continue to provide full support to the Ukrainians, because they have chosen the European path of development.
During the discussion of cooperation in the education sector, Dr. Messinger noticed that on the specialized information resources that exist for shared access on the Internet, those who wish can find information about the educational scholarship programs and grants offered by Germany for foreign youth. The main factor for obtaining higher professional education on the basis of the German universities is the knowledge of the appropriate language. Furthermore, the information about studying abroad (or academic exchange) can be obtained at the ZNU department of international relations by phone – 289-12-77, or on the department's website: http://sites.znu.edu.ua/international-relations/
There are ample opportunities for youth employment in Germany. Dr. Wolfgang Messinger noticed that engineering and technical professions are particularly in-demand in his country.
During the meeting with a foreign guest, the issues of ecological situation in European countries were discussed. A priority for Ukraine in reforming its political and economic system today is decentralization. For that matter, it is noted that Germany is a country with the federal structure, which has many years of experience and is ready to share it with Ukrainians.
Olena Khlystun
