The Fulfillment of the Idea: Establishing a Multi-Thousand International Humanitarian University in Odesa
The establishment of a new higher education institution can be compared to the creation of a film. Both require three essential elements, namely, a leading idea, a visionary director capable of bringing it to life, and, of course, a professional team ready to work creatively and diligently to achieve success.
The idea of founding an International Humanitarian University in Odesa, offering diverse academic programs, was repeatedly discussed in the early 1980s and 1990s. However, due to a lack of financial resources, an unclear vision for implementation, and the absence of a decisive commitment to launch the project, the establishment of a humanitarian university in the southern region remained merely an idea for many years.
Everything changed in the early 2000s, when Sergiy Kivalov, President of the Odesa National Law Academy, took on the project of establishing the International Humanitarian University. Incorporating the best principles of academic organization from ONLA, Sergiy Kivalov together with the university's management and staff began actively working on the development of an innovative higher education institution.
From the very beginning, it was decided that the International Humanitarian University would follow the tradition of leading European universities by adopting a corporate educational model, and would operate as a non-profit institution. As a result, all revenue generated through educational activities was reinvested directly into the University's development. Moreover, its non-state ownership structure facilitated investment in the infrastructure of the International Humanitarian University, strengthened international partnerships with leading European institutions, and enabled IHU's integration into supranational organizations and associations.
2004 – The management and staff of the International Humanitarian University congratulate President Sergiy V. Kivalov on his 50th anniversary.
2007 – President of the International Humanitarian University, Sergiy Kivalov, and Rector Mykola Kovalenko, together with the management and staff, reflect on the history of the university's founding on its 5th anniversary.
As recalled by Professor Mykola Kovalenko – Rector of the International Humanitarian University from 2004 to 2011 – "According to the founders' requirements and the content of the university's founding documents, the key innovations in training 21st-century specialists included, first, mastering fundamental scientific achievements alongside applied professional knowledge; second, achieving proficiency in computer technologies relevant to their field; third, attaining fluency in foreign languages."
Thus, the International Humanitarian University was established on August 20, 2002 as a non-state higher education institution with collective ownership. The university's founding documents were registered by the Executive Committee of the Odesa City Council on August 22, 2002, under No. 803, and by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (Registration No. 239) on August 23, 2002.
Almost immediately after its establishment, specifically on December 24, 2002, the Odesa National Law Academy and the International Humanitarian University signed an agreement to create a joint educational and research complex , which was approved by Order No. 36 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine on January 23, 2003, along with the official regulation of the complex.
The fruitful cooperation within the "Academy-University" educational and research complex enabled the university to effectively address many challenges during its early years. Thus, the first premises of the International Humanitarian University were located in one of the academic buildings of the Odesa National Law Academy at 7 Akademichna Street, where a commemorative memorial board is now installed. Many IHU professors worked part-time at the university, while teaching at ONLA. Also, students of IHU had the opportunity to study at the military department of the Odesa Law Academy and received support in various other areas as well.
The first academic building of the International Humanitarian University is located at the Odesa National Law Academy
The concept of the International Humanitarian University is shared directly by its founder, Sergiy Kivalov
However, the educational process at the International Humanitarian University did not begin immediately on August 20, 2002. First and foremost, it was necessary to license the academic programs with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Since IHU was one of the first private higher education institutions in independent Ukraine, and the first non-state university of such scale, the licensing process was extremely challenging.
The first rector of the International Humanitarian University, Ilya Ivanovich Karakash (2002-2004), recalls: "The first licensed program was 'International Economic Relations', followed by 'Organization Management' and 'Management of Foreign Economic Activities', and then 'Law'. I remember how meticulously our curricula and management were discussed at the Ministry, literally, every program underwent rigorous scrutiny. When licensing the 'Enterprise Economics' program, the expert council of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine at Kyiv National Economic University rejected our application twice, and it was only after the third meeting that we received a positive outcome."
Another crucial task undertaken by the small team at IHU—comprising just five members at the time (the president, rector, first vice-rector, accountant, and dispatcher)—before enrolling students was the creation of the university's coat of arms. At that time, only a few higher education institutions in Ukraine had their own heraldic symbols, yet for an institution with an international scope, this was of great importance. Therefore, the IHU team approached this endeavor with a deep sense of responsibility: they consulted heraldry experts, invited artists and designers. The task was entrusted to members of the Union of Artists of Ukraine. The university adopted the Latin motto "Pro bono publico" — "For the public good." Since then, this coat of arms has become the official symbol of the university, adorning numerous IHU documents with its refined aesthetics, printed materials, and later serving as an inspiration for the emblems of the International Academic School "Odesa" and the International Educational Corporation.
Notably, this heraldic project led to an unexpected and promising development for the university — one of the coat of arms' creators, Oleksandr Tokarev, later became the head of the Department of Art and Design at IHU and the first dean of the Faculty of Art and Design. Along with his co-author, artist V.O. Mezhevchuk, he was later honored with the title of Distinguished Artist of Ukraine.
The Timeless Coat of Arms of the International Humanitarian University
2005 – Matriculation Ceremony at the International Humanitarian University
Despite thorough preparation for the university's launch and its innovative approach, IHU developed gradually. The first student intake in 2003 consisted of only a few dozen individuals. Structurally and organizationally, the International Humanitarian University at that time included the Institute of National and International Law, the Faculty of Linguistics and Translation, the Faculty of Computer Science and Innovative Technologies, and also the Economic and Legal College.
The history of Institute of National and International Law (INIL) began in August 2003. The first enrollment of students included 50 people. Training was conducted at all educational and qualification levels. At the same time, students specializing in "International Law" received a dual diploma, qualifying them as both international lawyers and translators. From the first months of its opening, the Institute actively engaged in organizing international scientific conferences, roundtable discussions, and legal brain-ring competitions.
To support its academic and research activities, INIL included the following departments: Department of Theory of State and Law; Department of Criminal Law, Procedure, and Criminology; Department of Civil and Commercial Law and Procedure; Department of Constitutional Law and Public Administration; Department of International Law and Comparative Jurisprudence.
2006 – Educational and Methodological Seminar at the Institute of National and International Law
English Lexis classes are taught by Svitlana Hunchenko.
Since 2003, the Faculty of Linguistics and Translation has been training philologists in the specialization "Translation" (studying: English as the primary foreign language; German, French, Italian - as the second language; Arabic, Greek - as the third language); since 2011, the faculty began training bachelors in the specialization "Language and Literature" (Eastern languages: Arabic, Chinese, Turkish, Japanese). In August 2003, 12 applicants were enrolled in the first year of study at the University's translation program, and they were taught by nearly 40 lecturers, primarily part-time lecturers from Odesa National Law Academy.
Over time, student enrollment steadily increased, reaching 100, then 200, and by 2010 it exceeded 400 students. The faculty operated through two key departments: Department of Translation and Linguistics and Department of Foreign Languages for Professional Communication.
The Faculty of Computer Science and Innovative Technologies (FCSIT) began its journey in August 2003 and initially provided training for specialists in two specializations: "Computer Engineering" and "Information Security". Unlike faculties of other universities with similar specializations, FCSIT actively established international cooperation, which allowed IHU students to participate in numerous international programs, complete internships at world-class IT companies, and collaborate on joint projects with specialists from other countries (particularly China). The faculty was structured around three key departments: Department of Computer Engineering; Department of Information Security; Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling.
Borys Tymofeev, a lecturer and future head of the computer lab, teaches students the foundational knowledge of electrical engineering.
2010 – Rector of IHU Mykola Kovalенко and student of the Faculty of Economics and Management, Kateryna Zakharchenko, at a scientific conference
In August 2006, the Faculty of Economics and Management was established with the goal of preparing qualified managers with a higher economic degree. Like other structural divisions of the International Humanitarian University, the Faculty of Economics and Management, in addition to providing top-notch, practice-oriented training, focused on mandatory study of several foreign languages by students, their participation in international projects and exchange programs (including ERASMUS MUNDUS), and also taught future economists how to work with computer programs, databases, and registries. This is precisely why, in just the first few years, the faculty's student body grew from 15 to 900 students. The faculty operated two key departments: Department of Economics and International Economic Relations and Department of Management.
To implement a tiered approach to specialist training and improve the quality of students in the senior years of the university, the Economic and Legal College was created as a structural unit. The regulations for it were approved by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine No. 251 dated March 26, 2003. The college has licensed relevant specialties for educational activities, under which junior bachelors are trained.
In line with the strong traditions of the Odesa National Law Academy, the young team of IHU placed significant emphasis on developing the scientific library. In 2003, the University acquired 50,000, and in 2004 – 80,000 books for the library's collection. An agreement was signed with the International Humanitarian University regarding library services for IHU students and staff, and valuable editions were transferred, including the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Millennium Library," and books from various fields.
2008 – Students of the Economic and Legal College with Director Stanislav Podlieniev and President of IHU Sergiy Kivalov
IHU students actively use the library's electronic catalog
Educational complex of the International Humanitarian University (2005 to present)
Scientific Herald of the International Humanitarian University
On April 13, 2005, another significant event occurred – the International Humanitarian University moved to a new building at the 5th station of Velykyi Fontan, which quickly took on a new appearance. The founders transformed a 3-story building into a 5-story one and thoroughly renovated the premises. The large courtyard was transformed into a true work of park art, where a sculptural group honoring the founders of IHU was harmoniously placed. It was created by the famous Odesa artist, Honored Artist of Ukraine Oleksandr Kniazyk.
Subsequently, the development of the university's material and technical base took place on a self-financing basis. Thus, due to the high scientific activity of university professors, the Academic Council of the University decided to establish its own periodical publication. Based on the decision of the State Committee of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the university was issued a certificate for the right to publish a domestic national periodical publication under the name "Scientific Notes of the International Humanitarian University."
