International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On 11 February, the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 2016. This initiative aims to promote equal opportunities in the scientific sphere and to overcome barriers that for a long time have limited women’s participation in research and the academic community.

Historically, women’s access to science was restricted. Educational and academic rights were achieved gradually through the persistence of women themselves and the support of the progressive scientific community. In Ukraine, one of the centres of these transformations was V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, today widely known as Karazin University.

As early as the 19th century, approaches to expanding women’s education were taking shape here, enabling women to engage in university-level studies. A significant milestone was the establishment of the Higher Women’s Courses in 1907— the first higher education institution for women in Kharkiv, offering programmes in History and Philology as well as Physics and Mathematics.

The educational process at the Courses was coordinated by a Higher Pedagogical Council, where leading professors and lecturers viewed the development of women’s education as an important public mission. It was within this academic environment that the foundations were laid for further changes, which in 1917 resulted in the official recognition of women’s right to study at the University on an equal basis with men.

The subsequent history of Karazin University is closely associated with the names of women whose scientific and pedagogical achievements have had national and international significance. Among them are researchers, educators, and public figures who made substantial contributions to the development of society, education, and the humanities, natural sciences, and technical disciplines.

Today, women scientists at Karazin University conduct research across a wide range of fields — from fundamental sciences to modern technological areas. Upholding the principles of equality and creating conditions for the professional realisation of women researchers remain an integral part of the University’s sustainable development policy.

We extend our sincere congratulations to all our colleagues whose daily work strengthens and advances science, education, and research, making a meaningful contribution to shaping the future.