Our University

Kharkiv National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture was established on the 12th of June, 1930. It developed from the faculty of Civil Engineering of Kharkiv Technological (later Polytechnical) Institute and Architectural faculty of Kharkiv Institute of Arts. Before 1998 it was called Kharkiv Civil Engineering Institute. The names of many outstanding researchers including Acad. О.М. Beketov are associated with our University. The monument to the outstanding architect Beketov is set in front of the main building. It was opened in 2008.

In 1932 the Institute was housed in its own building (now the National University of Radio Electronics is situated there, 14, Lenin Ave). In 1933 there were 800 students but in 1934 the number of students increased up to 1, 200. During the Great Patriotic war (1941-1945) most of the students and members of the staff defended the Motherland. When entering the main building you can see the memorial plaque bearing the names of 40 heroes who gave their lives in the battles for freedom and independence. The Institute was evacuated and came back to Kharkiv in 1943. The training building, laboratories, and the hostel were destroyed. The Institute moved to the building in 40, Sumskaya St. designed according to the project of the well-known architect O.G.Molokin in 1927. This building was almost ruined and the students as well as the staff themselves restored it. In 1944 there were only 404 students.

Originally there were four faculties. Nowadays the University has the following faculties: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Economics and Management, Faculty of Part Time Studies. It also has Preparatory Faculty and Courses, as well as the Faculty of Post-diploma Education. The period of training lasts 5 or 6 years. The University trains Bachelors and Masters. The academic year consists of two terms concluded by winter and summer sessions when students take their tests and exams. During the first two years they study mathematics, physics, foreign languages, history of Ukraine, social sciences, etc. The last three years of the curriculum include subjects within the student’s field of specialization.

The total number of the students having been trained for the 85-years period of the University existence is more than 55, 000. It trains civil engineers, architects, designers, specialists in sanitary engineering, in machine engineering, economists, banking and financing specialists, ecologists, managers and others. There are post-graduate departments at the faculties. The post-graduate departments prepare highly qualified professionals in 28 specialties. There are four specialized dissertation Councils in 10 specialties. Several scientific schools which are well-known not only in Ukraine but also abroad form the main scientific potential of the University. The leading ones are schools of Acad. M.S. Bolotskih, Acad. D.F. Honcharenko, prof. A.L. Shagin and others.

The head of the University is the Rector assisted by the Vice-Rectors. Each faculty is headed by the Dean and two Deputy Deans. The staff includes many brilliant lecturers, researchers, and trainers. Among them there are 65 Professors and 310 Assistant Professors. Twenty lecturers are Academicians and associates of different branch academies. They are well-known not only in Kharkiv and Ukraine but in other countries by their research work.

Since 1950 the University has trained students from all over the world. Over 1, 500 students from more than 80 countries became experts in civil engineering and architecture. The University has international links with many universities and institutes in Ukraine and abroad. Scholars of the University are involved in the projects of international grants.

Prof. T.V. Sergeyeva has been the head of the Department of Foreign languages for many years. This department is the coordinator of several European educational projects. INFINITY project is aimed at increasing the mobility for university students, teachers and scholars in the partner-countries of EU. In the frame of this project students and trainers of our University take part in European joint events, international seminars, workshops and practice. SEHUD project is aimed at architecture and sustainable development of the modern cities. One of its goals is to create curricula and teaching materials in urban development. It also develops interactive work of universities, enterprises, municipal and public organizations involved in urban development. European partners of our University in this project are Milan Polytechnic, University of Cambridge, University of Saragossa, Technological Educational Institute of Athens. SENSI project deals with regional sustainable development on the basis of eco-human synergetic interaction. Its main objective is to create multidisciplinary curricula for students of engineering. Such educational establishments like Vienna University of Technology, Polytechnic of the University of Orleans, Polytechnic University of Valencia take part in this project.

Our University remains one of the leading higher educational establishments of Ukraine. It is also one of the major national centers of the civil engineering science.

Activity 5. Find out the words which correspond to the following definitions.

1) the process of teaching and learning

2) the group of people who work for a particular organization

3) a person whose job is to design buildings

4) someone who gives lectures in a university

5) a person who is responsible for a faculty

6) one of the two periods of time that an academic year is divided into

7) the faculty where specialists in management are trained

Activity 6. Ask your partner the following questions.

1) When was Kharkiv State Civil Engineering Institute established?

2) How many faculties were there originally?

3) What facilities are there at the University?

4) How many students have been trained at the University up to now?

5) Who is the Rector of the University now?

6) What do you know about your faculty?

7) What do you know about post-graduate department on your faculty?

8) Have you taken part in the conferences or seminars in our University?

9) Do you know any information about international projects in our University?

Activity 7. Imagine you have met some students from Great Britain. Give them information concerning your University. Use the plan below.

1) the name of your educational establishment

2) what faculties it has

3) what specialists it trains

4) what your profession is

5) some information about your faculty

6) international links of the University

7) students’ activities (sport, art performances)