28 April 2023
On April 28, 2023, the annual XXVII Public Student Readings “I Vote for Peace” took place as part of a joint project with Bath Spa University, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the founding of Academician S. Demianchuk International University of Economics and Humanities. At the plenary session, the Rector of IUEH - Vitalii Demianchuk, the Mayor of Rivne and a graduate of the University - Oleksandr Tretiak, Prof. Ian Gad - Head of European Projects Development at Bath Spa University, David Newman - Chief Secretary of Bath Spa University, and representatives of the Rivne Regional Administration gave welcome speeches. During the plenary session, they discussed the importance of educating children in the spirit of peace and promoting peace around the world. In particular, international partners expressed their support for the Ukrainian people and reiterated that the UK stands in solidarity with Ukraine.
This year's Section 9 was dedicated to the international community, and in particular to colleagues and partners from the Bath Spa University, who have been so active in supporting Ukraine since the very first day of the war.
More than 100 participants took part in the section: professors, teachers and students from the BSU, students and teachers of IUEH, stakeholders, students of the Rivne Regional Scientific Lyceum.
Essays and poetry were presented by British university professors (Ian Gadd, John Strachan, Rachael McDonald, Thomas Howard Morris, Ania Glapiak, Gerald Woodward, Mark Henfield, Maggie Gee) and students (Emma Taylor, Macy Hall, Tasha Mapes, Rachel Lindon, Henrietta Lang), as well as students of the Rivne Regional Scientific Lyceum (Liubov Undir and Daryna Polishchuk).
The audience was touched and impressed by the depth and multidimensionality of the authors' interpretation of the problem of peace, their understanding of the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, their creativity, and their desire to promote peace through the power of words.
The atmosphere of the event was conducive to an active discussion, which was joined by students of the first (Bachelor's) and second (Master's) levels of the program “Language and Literature (English),” teachers of the Department of Romance and Germanic Philology and representatives of the Bath Spa University.
This year's student readings “I Vote for Peace” are marked by the pain of what Ukraine has experienced over the past year. We are grateful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, we are proud of our soldiers who tirelessly defend us and the unbearable hope of Victory and Peace! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to our Heroes!