Published: 29 Jun 2022 | Last Updated: 29 Jun 2022 12:16:58

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Stepan Gzhytskyi University (SGU) in Ukraine to provide critical support to the education and research institution during the war with Russia.

As part of the MOU, the RVC and SGU will aim to foster cooperation and a long-term partnership between the institutions by first developing a framework to support the continuation of SGU’s education and research capacity during wartime. The partnership will then consider developments post-war that would mutually benefit staff and students, such as exchange opportunities and research collaborations.

An initiative by Universities UK and Charles Cormack Consulting, this partnership is part of a wider scheme, endorsed by the UK Government and the Office of the President of Ukraine, to provide significant and ongoing support and partnership between UK and Ukrainian universities and bolster the UK Government’s support for Ukraine.

More than 70 UK universities are taking part in the scheme; the RVC’s partnership with SGU is the only ‘twinning’ which focuses on veterinary medicine.

Professor Stuart Reid CBE, President and Principal of the RVC said:

“The RVC is proud to partner with Stepan Gzhytskyi University and is humbled by the opportunity to support Ukraine during this incredibly difficult time.

“Veterinary and biological sciences are shared strategic areas for the RVC and SGU and we are committed to providing immediate support with a longer-term view of developing a strong and lasting collaboration between our two institutions and our two countries.”

Professor Volodymyr Stybel, Rektor at Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies of Lviv, said:

“For our University, this is a significant step forward in the field of internationalization. It is a great honour for us to have such a partner as the Royal Veterinary College. We are sincerely grateful to all the British people for their huge support in such a difficult time for us. We hope for our joint victory over terrorism and fruitful cooperation!”

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact:

• Jasmin De Vivo jasmin.devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk 
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with reciprocal recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada.
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in line QS World University Rankings by subject, 2022.
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.  
• A research led institution with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.

About Stepan Gzhytskyi University

• Stepan Gzhytskyi University is a multi-faculty university based in Lviv which houses the oldest veterinary school in Ukraine, founded in 1784.
• It has a specialist emphasis on veterinary sciences, biosciences, and biotechnology as well as economics, management, tourism, and law.
• The University has an international outlook and maintains ties with more than 50 universities around the world and has positioned itself to be one of Ukraine’s leading centres for research, education, and innovation.