221 Years of History Shaping the Future: Karazin University Celebrates Its Founding Day

Imagine Kharkiv in 1804 — a city just beginning its journey toward great science — and a man who believed that education could change the future. Vasyl Karazin achieved what seemed incredible: in just a few months, he convinced both the government and local society of the necessity to open a university in Kharkiv. He created not just an educational institution, but an intellectual magnet that has attracted curious, brave, and free-minded people for more than two centuries.

Since then, 221 years have passed. Yet Karazin University remains the heart of Kharkiv — an institution in unison with its city, even when it lies near the front line. The university has withstood powerful missile strikes, repaired thousands of broken windows, yet never missed a single day of learning. On the contrary — it has grown stronger and more united, because here, education is also a form of resistance.

Today, Karazin is more than history. It is a university that speaks the language of the future. New scientific ideas are born here, artificial intelligence technologies are developed, and research is conducted in biomedicine, social sciences, and sustainable development.

Karazin is open to the world: students and faculty participate in international programs, collaborate with leading universities in Europe and America, and create joint educational projects. The university values academic integrity, respect for diversity, and freedom of research.

Even in times when Kharkiv lives under the sound of sirens, the university continues to be a place that preserves not only knowledge but also humanity. The Karazin community supports those in need, creates safe learning spaces, and assists veterans, students, and faculty who continue their work despite the war.

What matters most at Karazin is not the buildings or even the rankings (though it consistently appears in the top QS and THE lists). What matters most are the people — the Karazin community, which continues to teach, research, help others, and dream despite the challenges.

On November 17, we celebrate not just the university’s founding day. We celebrate the day when an idea was born — an idea that has survived empires, wars, and eras, and still shapes the future.

Happy Birthday, Karazin University. You are proof that knowledge is stronger than darkness.