Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU)
Photo credit: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Founded in 1834, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) is Ukraine’s largest national higher education institution and it is recognised as one of its most prestigious. For almost two centuries, the University has combined quality education and modern science, tradition and innovation. The university has a long history of achievement and excellence and it is the university of choice for many gifted students who, in turn, receive the opportunity to become leaders in their fields, professions, and in public life.
Currently, Taras Shevchenko University encompasses 13 faculties, 7 educational and scientific institutes, 3 educational institutes, 1 educational and scientific center, 2 colleges, 1 lyceum, and preparatory departments. More than 30,000 students, about 2,000 foreign students, and about 3,000 university teachers who are engaged in more than 400 educational and scientific programs in 25 fields and 59 disciplines, more than 500 scientists, and 25 research laboratories.
Among higher education institutions in Ukraine KNU occupies a leading position in international rankings and KNU is among the TOP 50 universities in Eastern Europe. In 2024, KNU became the only Ukrainian university to be included in the Shanghai Ranking.
Among the graduates of KNU are well-known scientists and statesmen, including two presidents of Ukraine.
Some of the unique scientific objects of the KNU have been included in the State Register of Scientific Objects as National Treasures: the horizontal solar telescope of the Astronomical Observatory; two collections of plants of the O. Fomin Botanical Garden; the fund of vintage, a rare and valuable book collections of the M. Maksymovych Scientific Library; the Kaniv Nature Reserve.
International cooperation
KNU has concluded more than 345 bilateral agreements with higher education institutions and other international partners from 65 countries, including the University of Oslo, Nord University, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Fil. Dr. Jan-U. Sandal Institute and Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics.
KNU is successfully implementing 26 double degree programs, including 4 programmes at the Faculty of Economics, one of which is a program of the Department of Finance. A range of educational programs at the university are taught in English.
As for projects, KNU is participating in more than 30 international projects (Erasmus + KA2, Jean Monnet projects, Horizon program).
The Department of Finance and its cooperation with Norwegian partners
The main areas of research of the Department of Finance are the financial system of public finance, the budget system and financial policy of the state, state financial control, financial aspects of the social function of the state, financial market and stock exchange activities, fiscal policy and tax system, finances of business entities, international financial systems. The Department of Finance trains students in such areas as Corporate Finance and Public Sector Finance.
The Department of Finance has taken part in five joint projects with Nord University (Norway):
- Master level cooperation (Master of Science/ Double Degree). This cooperation was focused on the establishment of research cooperation and a double degree in the field of Sustainable Management and was funded by the Eurasia Program (CPEA-2010/10117) administered by SIU (today’s HK-dir) with total funding of NOK 5.5 million. During 2016-2019, the cooperation was continued, thanks to a new project “Norwegian-Ukrainian cooperation in Public Sector Economy Education: Accounting, Budgeting and Finance” (NUPSEE). This project (CPEA-2015/10005) was funded by SiU (today’s HK-dir) with NOK 6 million. Between 2018 and 2025, the program enabled 33 students from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv to earn a double degree from both Nord University and their home institution. In 2016-2020, students of the Department of Finance took part in Business practice in Norway (a one-week summer course), and in 2017-2020, students of Nord University Business School took part in Business practice in Ukraine (a one-week autumn course). (More information).
- PhD cooperation, cotutelle, joint supervision (2018 – 2022). In 2018, Nord University Business School was granted the project “Norwegian-Ukrainian Cooperation in the Field of Public Sector Accounting, Budgeting and Finance: Research and Education” (NUPRE). This initiative is funded by the Eurasia Program (HK-dir), with a total budget of approximately NOK 3 million (CPEA-LT-2017/10004). NUPRE laid a foundation for a research collaboration as a strategic, long-term initiative that contributes to the development of Ukraine’s public institutions through high-quality education, joint research, and sustained academic exchange. The result of the cooperation was the PhD theses of Melnyk, V. (2024). Management of personal finance in the digital era: the case of Ukraine before and during the war. Doctoral thesis no. 106, Nord University. (More about the PhD cooperation)
- Internal Control and the COSO framework: Application to the university sector in Ukraine, financed by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (DIKU)CPEA-ST/10022 (2018 – 2019)(NOK 0,3 mill/Eurasia (HK-dir). The project’s aim was to develop an online competence improvement course in Internal Control, by applying the framework provided by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) for Ukrainian universities. Through cooperation between four public universities, one in Norway (Nord University Business School) and three in Ukraine (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ternopil National Economic University and Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University), the online course was developed, placed on Canvas, an e-learning platform, and tested during 2018-2019. Twenty-two participants took the course in 2019, successfully completing it by December 2019. Thereafter, each participant received a certificate, issued and signed by four partner universities. (More about the project in this report)
- “The Universities’ Reaction to Big Obstructions: Building resilient higher education to respond to and manage societal crises” (TURBO) (2024-2026) (ca. 8 mill NOK/ EU). The project is financed by the EU, Erasmus+. The participants of the project are Nord University (Norway), which is the main coordinator of the project, Kozminski University (Poland), International Foundation for Social Adaptation, and seven Ukrainian universities, one of which is Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (https://site.nord.no/turbo/). The main aim of TURBO is to increase the resilience, preparedness, and responsiveness of Ukrainian higher education institutions (HEIs) by building their capacities, improving competencies, and sharing experiences. The project participants from the Faculty of Economics of KNU developed a microcredit program ‘Business in a Digital Environment’ as part of the project. The first group of internally displaced persons took classes from February to June 2025 and got certificates. (More about the microcredit program)
- ERASMUS KA1 Global Mobility. The mobility of master students coming from KNU to Nord University was secured by obtaining ERASMUS KA1 Global mobility grants. In 2022, NOK 2.8 million was awarded to continue supporting Ukrainian students studying in Norway through 2025. Between 2018 and 2025, the program has enabled 131 Ukrainian master’s students to complete a semester exchange at Nord University in a program on Public Sector Economy. (More information).
Moreover, in 2017, the Department of Finance was a partner of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in conducting the Young Entrepreneurs 2017 Program.
In addition to the joint projects described above, KNU lecturers have joint publications with representatives of Nord University and other institutions, participate in conferences organised by Norwegian partners, undergo internships in Norway, and are invited by Norwegian institutions as guest lecturers.