Kharkiv State Academy of Culture:
95 Years of Cultural and Educational Heritage and National Progress

In 2024, Kharkiv State Academy of Culture (KhSAC) celebrates its 95th anniversary, affirming its significance as a leading institution of higher education in the field of culture and art in Ukraine. Founded in 1929, until the 1960s Academy was the only institution in Ukraine that trained highly qualified personnel for the field of culture. KhSAC is the founder of higher library and cultural studies education in Ukraine, and in the early 2000s it became the initiator of the introduction of scientific branches of cultural studies and social communications, which contributed to the strengthening of national identity.

Over the years of its existence, the Academy has trained almost 50 thousand specialists, including more than 500 foreign citizens from more than 40 countries of the world. Among the graduates of KhSAC, more than a thousand people have been given government awards, and about 150 graduates have honorary titles.

Our Academy proudly notes its contribution to the training of workers in the cultural sector of Ukraine: almost half of the workers in the cultural sector are KhSAC graduates (heads of museums, libraries, art education institutions of various levels, heads of creative groups). On the basis of KhSAC, such institutions as Kyiv State Institute of Culture (now Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts) and its branches, as well as Mykolaiv and Rivne State Institutes of Culture were founded.

The educational and scientific potential of the Academy is its key advantage. 259 teachers and 28 concertmasters work at KhSAC. More than 70% of the scientific staff of the Academy are doctors and candidates of sciences, associate professors and professors, people’s artists, honored artists of Ukraine, and honored educators of Ukraine. Such a high scientific qualification provides the Academy with a leading position in national rankings (3rd place among cultural and art institutions in Ukraine) and the country’s educational environment, contributes to the formation of future specialists of the highest level. This human resource guarantees the stable development of 10 scientific and 7 art schools, and also provides the Academy with the opportunity to conduct training according to the highest world standards, preparing specialists capable of implementing innovations in the field of culture and art.

Our Academy includes 5 faculties, 21 departments, postgraduate and doctoral studies, where more than 500 postgraduate students and 60 doctoral students have been trained. The scientific publications of Kharkiv State Academy of Culture, “Culture of Ukraine” and “Bulletin of Kharkiv State Academy of Culture”, are recognized professional scientific publications in Ukraine. The educational process is provided in 12 specialties and 62 educational programs.

The contribution of the Academy to the development of scientific and art schools is significant. Over the years of its operation, the Academy has created 10 scientific and 7 art schools, which are key for the development of cultural studies, information and library science and Ukrainian art.

Every year, the Academy hosts dozens of international and all-Ukrainian scientific conferences, art festivals and competitions, students and teachers become laureates of international art events. In 2024, KhSAC held more than 200 events to support the cultural front of Kharkiv.

The scientific and artistic activity of the Academy’s scientific and pedagogical staff has a positive impact on the positions of the KhSAC in the world and domestic rankings. In particular, KhSAC occupies 3rd position in the domestic ranking of higher art education institutions for 2023-2024 academic year. According to the International Ranking Web of Universities, the Academy occupies 127th position (2024); according to the ranking of Ukrainian higher education institutions based on the SciVerse Scopus database – 206th position (with 74 citations, h-index 4); ranking of citations of leading scientists in Google Scholar profiles (according to Cybermetrics) – 86th position (with 2177 citations).

The Academy has 2 student dormitories, 5 academic buildings equipped with multimedia classes, computer laboratories, and a sports hall. The total area of ​​the Academy’s own premises is 26,365 m2.

Thus, due to its powerful scientific and pedagogical staff, unique educational programs, and creative achievements, the Academy will continue to play a key role in shaping the cultural heritage of our state, worthily representing Ukraine on the world cultural map.