Karazin Impresses: Interesting facts about the first years of its existence

Karazin University is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in Ukraine. It boasts a strong faculty and numerous distinguished alumni.

But did you know that in its early years, the university had very few students — only 57? At the time, studying required knowledge of Latin, as many lectures were delivered in that language. This posed a challenge for graduates of public schools, where Latin was not taught.

Moreover, the university’s initial teaching staff was composed mainly of foreigners, particularly Germans. Among them were the philosopher Johann Schad, the physician Franz Brunner, the historian Christoph-Dietrich von Rommel, and others.

These scholars brought advanced scientific methods and Enlightenment ideas to the university, contributing to the formation of an academic culture rooted in critical thinking and academic integrity.

They not only delivered lectures but also played a key role in the development of the university’s library, laboratories, and museums.