The University Celebrates 252 Years Since the Birth of Vasyl Karazin

On February 10, we celebrate the birthday of Vasyl Nazarovych Karazin — a prominent educator, scientist, innovator, and the visionary who gifted Ukraine one of its foremost educational and research institutions — Karazin University.

His ideas were far ahead of his time. As early as the beginning of the 19th century, he spoke about the development of science, ecology, technology, and education —topics that today form the foundation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Vasyl Karazin conducted meteorological research, studied chemistry, physics, and economics. He was the first in Ukraine to establish a meteorological station, advocated for the sustainable use of natural resources, developed innovative soil fertilization methods, and his scientific pursuits spanned dozens of fields.

His greatest achievement was the founding of a university in Kharkiv, a city that then had a population of only about 10,000. At the time, the idea of establishing a higher education institution in Slobozhanshchyna seemed impossible. Yet Vasyl Nazarovych did not give up and ultimately succeeded — the university was founded. Today, it stands as one of Ukraine’s oldest and most prestigious educational institutions, having recently celebrated 220 years since its establishment!