Students from Seton Hall University and Ukrainian Catholic University participated in a live international classroom exchange on February 18, 2026. The session was part of the Global Talk series, connecting students enrolled in Nathaniel Knight, Ph.D.’s course on Kyivan Rus’ and Muscovy at Seton Hall with those from Halyna Kurochka’s class at Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU). Using Microsoft Teams, the discussion centered on interpretations of Kyivan Rus, the Mongol invasion, and how medieval history continues to influence modern Ukrainian identity.
This initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both universities in 2025. The agreement aims to support ongoing academic collaboration and student-centered learning between the institutions.
“The class was truly engaging and meaningful,” said Kurochka. “My students really enjoyed the conversation and mentioned how attentive and respectful the American students were, especially toward their ideas and opinions. Despite a few minor technical glitches, everything went very well overall.”
During the session, UCU students presented research on the Mongol invasion of Kyivan Rus and joined breakout groups with Seton Hall peers. These small-group discussions enabled participants to compare historical perspectives, question assumptions found in Western textbooks, and reflect on how medieval events shape national consciousness today.
“The class within Global Talk was an excellent opportunity to spread the word about Ukraine and true Ukrainian history,” said Nataliia Kryvoberets, a student at Ukrainian Catholic University. “It was a valuable experience for both sides, and I look forward to meeting again with the students of Seton Hall University.”
Other UCU participants highlighted different aspects of the exchange. Solomiia Surmach praised Seton Hall students’ preparation for the discussion while Iryna Severina noted that sharing Ukrainian historical perspectives internationally is particularly important given current global circumstances.
Knight commented that his students benefited from this collaborative approach: “The breakout groups seemed to be the high point,” he said. “Every group I stopped in on was having a lively conversation. The UCU students gave a presentation that dovetailed well with what we’ve been discussing in class, and I got the sense that my students really enjoyed it.”
Faculty from both universities emphasized that their shared Catholic Intellectual Tradition helped shape these conversations by encouraging dialogue, respect for human dignity, and pursuit of truth through engagement.
As joint courses and other initiatives are planned for future semesters under this partnership framework established by last year’s agreement, faculty hope such exchanges will continue fostering academic dialogue and deeper cultural understanding among their students.
