On April 23, 2026, the solemn inauguration ceremony of the Honorary Doctor of the University — Pavlo Oleksandrovych Kryvonos, Ukrainian statesman, diplomat, General Director of the State Enterprise "Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions" was held at the National University of Ostroh Academy.
The celebrations were held in the presence of the university management, members of the Academic Council, lecturers, students, and honorary guests. Among those invited were several notable individuals, including Ukrainian entrepreneur and philanthropist Myroslav Baldis, founder of the sanatorium complex "Derenivska Kupil." Also in attendance was Volodymyr Petriv, the director and artistic director of the Rivne Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre, who is a laureate of the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine and a People's Artist of Ukraine. Additionally, there were representatives from the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions, including seven graduates of the National University of Ostroh Academy.
Ihor Pasichnyk, the President and the Chairman of the Academic Council of the National University of Ostroh Academy, opened the ceremony, introduced the guests and announced the inauguration of the Honorary Doctor of the NaUOA.
During the ceremony, Professor Ruslana Kalamazh, the Vice-Rector for Educational Work, presented the biographical note of the inductee, Pavlo Kryvonos. While addressing the audience, she also announced an excerpt from the minutes of the Academic Council meeting:
«The Academic Council has elected Pavlo Kryvonos, the Director General of GDIP, as an Honorary Doctor of the National University of Ostroh Academy. This decision recognises his many years of dedicated and selfless service for the benefit of Ukraine. His significant contributions include advancing Ukrainian diplomacy, establishing an international dialogue platform at Ostroh Academy through the annual Diplomatic Forum, and raising awareness of Ukraine's cultural, educational, and historical heritage among the foreign diplomatic community. Additionally, his efforts have supported the employment and professional development of the NaUOA students and fostered the formation of a young generation grounded in spirituality and patriotism.»
Members of the Academic Council of the NaUOA, including Vice-Rector for Educational Work Professor Ruslana Kalamazh and Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Linguistics Associate Professor Inna Kovalchuk, presented Pavlo Kryvonos with a diploma and traditional honours, which included a ring, mantle, and hat signifying his status as an Honorary Doctor.
«Today, with great honour, sincere gratitude and deep respect, we welcome Pavlo Kryvonos to the community of Honorary Doctors of the National University of Ostroh Academy. Pavlo Oleksandrovych is inscribed in the history of our university as a person whose professional path, wisdom in statecraft, and civic position serve as an example for current and future generations. Vivat to the newly elected Honorary Doctor of the Ostroh Academy, Pavlo Kryvonos!»
The next part of the celebrations included the inaugural lecture by the NaUOA Honorary Doctor, Pavlo Kryvonos. During the lecture, there was a lively and meaningful discussion with students and faculty about vocations, public service, diplomacy, and our responsibility to our country.
In his speech, Pavlo Kryvonos shared his memories of his professional path, discussing his experience serving the state, the challenges he overcame at different stages of his career, and the principles that underpinned his work. He emphasised that true professional success is impossible without loyalty to values, internal discipline, respect for people, the ability to take responsibility, and the willingness to work in the interests of Ukraine.
Pavlo Kryvonos devoted a separate part of the lecture to the activities of the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions. He spoke about the GDIP's role in providing the necessary conditions for the activities of diplomatic missions in Ukraine, as well as the projects implemented and the institution's achievements. In his speech, he expressed the view that modern diplomacy is not only official meetings and protocol events but also painstaking daily work aimed at building trust, establishing partnerships, representing Ukraine in the world, and creating space for constructive international dialogue.
Pavlo Kryvonos also focused on those initiatives that combine diplomacy, culture, education and youth development. In this context, cooperation with the National University of Ostroh Academy is of particular importance, including support for platforms for international dialogue, participation in joint events, and creating opportunities for students to understand the field of diplomatic activity better.
The lecture aroused keen interest among the student audience. After the speech, there was a question-and-answer session, during which students had the opportunity to ask questions about personal and professional values that help to work in the state and diplomatic spheres. In his answers, Pavlo Kryvonos emphasised the importance of honesty, responsibility, patriotism, respect for the interlocutor, openness to dialogue and worthy representation of Ukraine at the international level.
A separate block of questions concerned the organisation of diplomatic events. The students were interested in how such work is formed, what the role of details is in the diplomatic minutes and what exactly makes diplomatic events truly effective. Pavlo Kryvonos emphasised that behind every large-scale international event there is a well-coordinated team, a high level of responsibility, accuracy in every decision and the awareness that even the smallest details affect the overall impression of the state.
During the conversation, the topic of cooperation between the GDIP and the National University of Ostroh Academy was also raised. They discussed both already-implemented joint initiatives and prospects for further cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that such cooperation is extremely important for the professional development of students, the expansion of their worldview and the formation of an understanding of modern diplomacy as a multidimensional sphere, where statesmanship thinking, communication culture, international communication and strategic vision are combined.
«It is a great honour for me to receive the title of Honorary Doctor of the National University of Ostroh Academy. I am sincerely grateful for this high award and perceive it as a sign of great trust. I believe that the cooperation between the GDIP and Ostroh Academy will continue to strengthen the connection between education, youth and the diplomatic environment for the benefit of Ukraine.»
Pavlo Kryvonos's inaugural lecture became the intellectual and value accent of the event. It testified that the title of Honorary Doctor of the National University of Ostroh Academy is awarded to individuals whose life path, professional achievements, and civic position serve as a significant example for the university community.
This event became a landmark for the National University of Ostroh Academy, as it once again testified to the university's deep connection with the Ukrainian diplomatic community, its openness to international dialogue, and its loyalty to the traditions of honouring personalities who establish Ukraine's authority in the world through their work.
