Development Program of the Department of Foreign Literature for 2025-2030
THE CONFERENCE “LITERATURES AND CULTURES IN THE FACE OF WAR”
At present, the department is a leading research center. The lecturers of the department are scholars who shape modern trends in Ukrainian literary studies, recognized researchers in national literatures of English-speaking, French-speaking, German-speaking, Spanish-speaking countries
The research interests of Professor T. Mykhed include American studies, English studies, Gogol studies, and comparative studies. Professor N. Zhluktenko’s primary research areas are focused on the history of XIX-XX century world literature, the genre poetics of the foreign novel in the XX century, Shakespeare studies, the history and theory of literary criticism, and ecocriticism. Professor I.Megela explores a broad range of topics, including the history of world and Ukrainian literature, literary relations, translation studies, narratology, ancient and biblical plots and motifs in world literature. Professor T. Bovsunivska`s research focuses on problems of cognitive literary studies, the theory and history of Romantic literature, literary comparative studies, and genre studies. Professor L. Miroshnichenko concentrates on the modern English novel, literary skepticism, the poetics of women’s prose, and Dutch literature. Doctor of Philology, Associate Professor O. Boinitska examines the literature of Great Britain of the 20th–21st centuries, historiographic prose, and memory and national identity issues. Associate Professor N. Bilyk’s research interests concern classical and contemporary British literature, as well as issues of intermediality. Associate Professor O. Kabkova investigates cultural diffusion and the work of bilingual artists. Associate Professor Yu. Matasova conducts research in psychoanalytic theory, the history of ideas, and comparative studies conducts research in the field of psychoanalytic theory and the history of ideas, as well as comparative studies. Associate Professor N. Liubarets directs her scholarly interests towards feminist criticism, gender studies, the interplay between music and literature, modernism, and literature for children and adolescents. O. Shestopal, PhD in Philology, thoroughly studies the theory of theatricality, contemporary Spanish and Latin American literature, and the interplay between literature, cinema, and theater. PhD in Philology O.I. Kobchinska focuses her research interest on the study of contemporary French and Franco-Maghrebian literature, alongside multicultural and intermedial studies. The research interests of PhD in Philology H.Kanova include intermedia studies and comparative studies.
The department’s specialists continue to fruitfully develop the departmental research project “Modern Literary Studies: Crossroads of Interpretations”, initiated in 2016.Based on the rich traditions of the department and the international experience gained by its specialists, the department produces publications that reflect the project’s issues, creates methodological recommendations that help to implement scientific achievements in practical teaching, and participates in various scientific, educational and training events.
In October 2019, the department’s specialists, together with colleagues from the Bordeaux Montaigne University and with the participation of researchers from the Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, held an international thematic colloquium “‘Minor’ Voices, Major Influence”. The development of the main scientific topic by French colleagues from the scientific laboratory of cultures and literatures of Anglophone countries, taking into account the interests of the department’s lecturers of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, was productive and mutually interesting.
The department’s productive and varied research environment contributes to the high-quality training of specialists in foreign literature within the PhD educational and scientific program in Specialty Philology 035. At present, four PhD students of the department are working on research projects in English, American, and French literature. In particular, a fourth-year PhD student Oksana Savych, whose research on the contemporary French literary process focuses on “The Reactualization of History in the Novels of Pascal Quignard” (supervised by Prof. L. Miroshnichenko), received recognition from the University’s Academic Council. In March 2021, O. Savych became a laureate of the Taras Shevchenko Award of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv for PhD students.
An important component of the department’s work is encouraging students to engage in research work. Our students participate in academic conferences, the annual “They Write for Children” round table discussions, and research paper competitions. In the 2019-2020 academic year, at the All-Ukrainian Shakespeare Competition for Student Research and Creative Projects named after Vitaliy Keys, the works of second-year students Oleksiy Havryliuk and Nadiya Dmytrenko (supervised by Prof. N. Zhluktenko) won prizes and were awarded diplomas of the 1st and 2nd degrees, respectively. Previously, department students Yulia Cherniak and Olha Kovalchuk (supervised by Prof. T. Mykhed) also won this competition.
Articles by master’s students (M. Borzova, Yu. Babenko, S. Stupak) and bachelor’s students (K. Fedina, D. Fomina) were published in professional journals. These publications highlight the department’s traditional culture of cooperation with students who are interested in scientific research.
Faculty members of the Department of Foreign Literature engage in active and creative cooperation with students of various bachelor’s and master’s degree educational programs, paying close attention to student specialization, particularly in the study of Western languages and literatures. The special courses offered by the department’s faculty attract the interest of students of the Master’s Programs in Philology: “Multicultural Studies of Literature in the USA and Western Europe” (in English) by Prof. N. Zhluktenko; “Methods of Interpreting the Shakespearean Code in Modern Foreign Literature” by Prof. T. Mykhed; “Foreign Comparative Literature Studies” by Prof. T. Bovsunivska; “The Habsburg Myth and Its Reception in World Literature” by Prof. I. Mehela; “Western Theories of Literature” (in English) by Prof. Mykhed, Prof. L. Miroshnychenko, and Assoc. Prof. O. Boinitska; “Archetypal Literary Criticism” by Assoc. Prof. Yu. Matasova; “Gender Studies in Literary Studies” by Assoc. Prof. N. Liubarets.
The Department of Foreign Literature is a graduate department with two educational programs. The first program is a Bachelor’s level education and professional program: “Foreign Literature and English Language: Theory and Methodology of Teaching,” specialty 014.021 “Secondary Education” (subject specializations) (program coordinator: Assoc. Prof. N. Liubarets.). The second program is a Master’s level education and scientific program: “Foreign Literature and the English Language: Theory and Methodology of Teaching,” specialty 014.021 “Secondary Education” (The English Language and Foreign Literature) (program coordinator: Assoc. Prof. O. Boinitska). The programs provide comprehensive preparation for specialists in teaching foreign literature and English in a modern Ukrainian school, with a unique literary-centric approach.
The department’s specialists are receptive to new methodological approaches and the reasoned adoption of innovative practices. This foundational openness is a significant component of the long-established pedagogical tradition. At the same time, the department’s traditions adapt to new challenges, the most recent of which is teaching during quarantine.
Professional Development of the Department of Foreign Literature
Research approbation by students and PhD students of the Department of Foreign Literature (November 2022)
Professional Development of the Department Teaching Staff (April 2023)
Annual All-Ukrainian Scientific Readings with the Participation of Young Scientists “PHILOLOGY OF THE 21st CENTURY: NEW RESEARCH AND PROSPECTS” (April 2023)
- Tetiana Mykhed (Doctor of Philology, Professor)
- Olena Kobchinska (PhD in Philology, Associate Professor)
- Nataliia Bilyk (PhD in Philology, Associate Professor)
Research approbation by students and PhD students of the Department of Foreign Literature (April 2023)
- Mariia Borzova (PhD Student)
- Olha Petrenko (PhD Student)
- Anton Drannikov (PhD Student)
- Daryna Chmut (Master’s Student)
- Anna Pavlova (Master’s Student)
- Kateryna Novak (Bachelor’s Student)
Professional Development of the Department Teaching Staff (April 2023)
Annual roundtable discussion “They Write for Children: Works for Children and Adolescents in the Focus of Contemporary Literary Studies” (April 2023)
- Nataliia Zhluktenko (PhD in Philology, Professor)
- Yuliia Pavlenko (Doctor of Philology, Professor)
- Nataliia Liubarets (PhD in Philology, Associate Professor)
- Inna Niiaka (Teacher Methodist)
Research approbation by students and PhD students of the Department of Foreign Literature (April 2023)
- Karina Pekaliuk (Bachelor’s Student)
- Kseniia Kondaurova (Bachelor’s Student)
- Yeva Makovetska (Bachelor’s Student)
The experience gained will allow the lecturers to successfully apply the acquired knowledge when organizing the educational process for students.
The scientific work of the department