Roman GRYNIUK
Rector, Vasyl’ Stus Donetsk National University, Ukraine
Roman Gryniuk's career path in Ukrainian higher education and university management is varied and full of challenges. For 40 years, he has been walking this path together with his Alma Mater - Donetsk National University: from a student majoring in "Law" to the rector.
Since 1990, Mr. Gryniuk started teaching activity. In 2001, he defended his PhD thesis. In 2007, Mr. Gryniuk defended his doctoral thesis and obtained Doctoral degree, in 2008 he was awarded the academic title of professor. He worked as the Head of the Department of Constitutional and International Law, and later as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Law of Donetsk National University. In November 2012, he was elected rector of Donetsk National University.
Roman Gryniuk is actively engaged in research activities. The main areas of his scientific research are the theory of the state and law; constitutional and municipal law. He is the author of more than 70 scientific publications and 7 monographs. Mr. Gryniuk is a member of the Scientific and Advisory Board of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, member of the editorial board of specialized scientific journals. Rector has an extensive experience in international projects with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation, British Council, USAID, Erasmus+, etc.
Since 2013, Roman Gryniuk has been an Honorary Doctor of the Dimitar A. Tsenov Academy of Economics (Svishtov, Bulgaria). On June 12, 2015, Rector of Donetsk National University received the Freedom Awards - an award given by the Atlantic Council to Donetsk National University for supporting academic freedom, territorial integrity, and commitment to the values of democracy. In 2016, Mr. Gryniuk was awarded the honorary title "Honored Lawyer of Ukraine" by Presidential Decree.
2014 was a serious test for the entire university community and for Roman Gryniuk as rector. The beginning of russian military aggression in the East of Ukraine and the fundamental reluctance to cooperate with the occupier forced him and the university team to leave their small homeland in October 2014 and move to Vinnytsia, which is in Central Ukraine. On November 3, 2014, the University started the educational process in Vinnytsia. This became a new page in the history of Alma Mater.
Unshakable civil position, respect for those graduates who give their lives for Ukraine and the quality of education – are the values that permeate all activities of the University. In 2022, with the beginning of a full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, Roman Gryniuk and the university staff are working for the reconstruction, development, and establishment of Ukraine as a leading European state, which today stands in defense of the democratic freedoms of the entire human civilization.