The aim of the visit of Lutheran and Reformation pastors was to get acquainted with the Ukrainian Catholic University, the academic programs, offered by the institution and which could foster the improvement of the Church ministers’ academic level, and to deal with the cooperation opportunities.

On the first day, the meeting with the IES administration was held. The IES director Pavlo Smytsnyuk told the IES history and presented new directions of its activity. The meeting attendants discussed the opportunities of cooperation within academic projects. In particular, they outlined the creation of one-year certificate program for students, deacons, volunteers, church ministers, teachers of weekend schools, leaders of youth groups and leaders of small groups of DELKU and CREC.

The delegation also had an opportunity to visit the UCU students’ campus, had a look at academic buildings, Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi Center, a library, which is located in it, and to meet the vice rector on academic issues.

On October 15, Lutheran and Reformation pastors had a meeting with the administrative board of the Philosophical-Theologian Faculty and heads of the departments of Bible Studies and Theology. Within this meeting they discussed teaching theological courses, that will be lectured within the certificate program, and program format.

IES is planning this certificate program will be launched in January 2022.

One of the directions of the IES activity for the next years is an expansion of cooperation with Protestant Churches.