Signing of the Memorandum
Rennes 2 University officially became a member of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies (GCUS) by signing a memorandum of cooperation on Monday, December 1, 2025. Under this agreement, the university commits to developing activities related to Ukraine and promoting its culture, history and languages, including the Crimean Tatar language.
With this signature, France becomes the most represented country among the coalition’s partners, and Rennes 2 is now the third signatory among the 12 French higher education and research institutions that have joined the coalition.
The ceremony took place at the Sorbonne in the presence of:
- Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine
- Philippe Baptiste, French Minister of Higher Education and Research
- Andriy Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
- Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of GCUS
- Nataliia Omelchenko, spouse of the Ambassador of Ukraine to France and President of the association Les Amis de la Culture Ukrainienne
This significant gesture adds to the many other initiatives led by Rennes 2 University in support of Ukraine, including: the regular hosting of Ukrainian students; the visit of the rector of the University of Kyiv in 2024; participation in the European Dialogues Against the War in 2024; the integration of an associated Ukrainian partner in the European University Alliance EMERGE; a partnership agreement with an additional Ukrainian university in 2025; the hosting the Ambassador of Ukraine to France in 2025; and participation in the “Journey to Ukraine” Festival in 2026.
