History Students Engage in Cultural Exchange with Ukrainian Peers

First-year students from Seton Hall University and Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) met virtually on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, for a cross-cultural discussion that highlighted student life, shared values and resilience amid the challenges of war.

The session connected students in Professor Maxim Matusevich’s History Freshman Seminar with their peers at UCU in Lviv. Guided by UCU faculty members Halyna Kurochka and Tetiana Basiuk, the conversation ranged from topics such as favorite shows, sports and study habits to more profound reflections on cultural identity, mental health and the realities of living through Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Matusevich said the discussion offered Seton Hall students a unique window into the daily lives of their Ukrainian peers. “It was an important moment of empathy and awareness,” he said. “Hearing directly from students who are balancing their studies with the strain of war made a deep impression. These interactions remind our students that history and current events are not abstract; they are lived experiences.”

The discussion followed the formal partnership established between Seton Hall and UCU through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2025, which aims to strengthen academic collaboration, joint research and cultural exchange between the two Catholic institutions. The agreement builds on a series of successful shared classes and faculty initiatives that began in 2024.

UCU, located in Lviv, is one of Ukraine’s most selective universities and like Seton Hall, it integrates Catholic values into its academic life. The two universities share a commitment to promoting human dignity, justice and solidarity, principles that have taken on renewed meaning as the war continues.

Matusevich said such dialogues are vital to maintaining awareness of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for freedom and independence. “Through these partnerships, students on both sides not only learn from one another but also affirm the enduring value of education and humanity even in difficult times.”

The October exchange highlights how Seton Hall and UCU are building a model of global learning rooted in shared values and understanding, one conversation at a time.

Categories: Education, Nation and World