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About Ukraine
Something about Ukraine for Danish farmers.
Ukraine is a Homeland of Andriy Shevchenko and Klitschko brothers, Academician Paton and Korolyov; a place with unique natural and human-made attractions; the cradle of friendly people and a country with an open heart.
Country and people.
1. General information
2. Education system
3. Currency, income, standard of living
4. Religion and culture. Holidays and weekends
5. Cuisine
Links:
Government websites
Universities
Geographical location, agricultural traditions and unique black soil allocate Ukraine as an agrarian country. In 24 regions of the country are well represented such spheres as: crop growing, dairy farms, swine rearing, animal husbandry, vegeculture, poultry breeding, and many others.
All applicants from Ukraine have either household or worked in private / state farms. Ukrainians are hardworking, responsible and friendly.
1. General information about the country.
Capital: Kiev
International code of telephone communications. +380
GMT +2 hours
Language: Ukrainian
Religion: Christianity
Currency: 1 hryvnia = 100 kopiykas
Ukraine in its current status – a young, large and rapidly developing European country. Ukraine is located in central part of Eastern Europe and – it’s the largest country located entirely in the territory of Europe. The capital of Ukraine is Kiev. Its total area is 603,7 thousand km ², representing 5.7% of the whole of Europe. Ukraine borders with 7 different countries: Russia in the north and east, Belarus in the north, Poland in the west, and also has most of the coast of the Black Sea in the south. Ukraine also has small borders with Slovakia, Romania, Moldova and Hungary in the south-west.
The population of Ukraine (March 1, 2008) is approximately 46.32 million people. Ukraine is divided into 24 regions, 2 cities of central subordination (Kiev and Sevastopol), and territorial autonomy - the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In addition, there are 490 districts, 118 districts in the cities, 29,906 localities (458 cities, 884 towns and 28,564 villages). More about Ukraine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine
2. Education system of Ukraine
Today there are 951 higher educational institutions at all levels of accreditation in Ukraine, which ensures quality training to more than 500 specialties. In March 2005, Ukraine joined the Bologna system, and is an active participant of the European higher education development.
In general, there are nearly two and a half million students in Ukrainian higher universities today, the majority of whom are enrolled in state universities (88%). Educational level of Ukrainians is high enough. Attention is drawn to the graduates of higher institutions listed below.
Best agricultural universities in Ukraine:
1. National Agrarian University (Kyiv
2. Sumy National Agrarian University
3. Kherson State Agrarian University
4. National Technical University of Agriculture, named after Peter Vasilenko
5. Kharkiv National Agrarian University, named after Dokuchaev
6. Lugansk National Agrarian University
7. Bilotserkivskii State Agrarian University
8. Odesa State Agrarian University
9. Lviv State Agrarian University
10. Poltava State Agrarian Academy
3. Currency, income, standard of living.
The national currency of Ukraine - Hryvnia. In 2008, the Commission on the aesthetics of the International Finance Bank recognized the hryvnia most beautiful currency in the world, but, unfortunately, not very reliable. The financial crisis has lowered the hryvnia exchange rate against major world currencies (almost twice). Course at the beginning of September 2009 was as follows:
100 USD = 798.9000
100 EUR = 1147.5400
100 GBP = 1306.3980
100 DKK = 154.1729
Ukrainians often keep their savings in the U.S. dollars, before the financial crisis, the salaries were counted according to the dollar equivalent. The majority of loans were issued in that currency.
Currently, the average wage in the agricultural area is about 130 $ (DKK 674).
The average wage in the country is around 230 $ (DKK 1,192)
The standard of living in Ukraine is one of the lowest in Europe, but nevertheless Ukrainians are the nation with high moral and cultural values.
More information about the Ukrainian currency: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uah
National Bank of Ukraine: http://www.bank.gov.ua/Engl/default.htm
4. Religion and culture.
Most of Ukrainians belong to the Orthodox Christianity (37% belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 12% - to the Kiev Patriarchate, 4% - to the Ukrainian autocephalous church, 12% - to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 3% - to the Roman Catholic Church). 27% of believers are Protestants. 4% of people belong to the other religions.
Over 75% of Ukrainians are tolerant towards people of other religious views. Women are more religious than men. Most often, the question «What do you find in a religion?» is answered «it helps you find inner peace and happiness», «it gives you support in difficult times».
The Slavonic pagan religion was spread prior to the adoption of Christianity in Ukraine that led to the connection of the two religious cultures and the emergence of rich, interesting traditions of the Ukrainian people. The feasts of Christmas, Easter can not be celebrated without ancient Ukrainian attributes - kutya (ritual commemorative dish of the Slavs, it’s a porridge cooked from the whole kernels of wheat), Pysanka (specially decorated eggs, which people give to each other on Easter)
Ukrainians are well educated, non-conflicting, religious.
The official holidays in Ukraine:
• January 1 — New Year's.
• January 7 — Christmas.
• March 8 — International Women's Day.
• April-May — Easter (in the Orthodox calendar).
• May 1 — Labor Day.
• May 2 — Labor Day.
• May 9 — Victory Day.
• May-June — Trinity (in the Orthodox calendar).
• June 28 — Constitution Day.
• August 24 — Independence Day.
5. Cuisine.
Among the Slavic cuisines Ukrainian has a law to be called the most diverse and rich. Due to historical circumstances and geographical location it was influenced by German, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Tatar and other cuisines.
The favourite and most-used product in the Ukrainian cuisine is lard in all forms. Its usage is extremely varied. In the food it’s used raw, pickled, smoked, fried, boiled, stewed, and is the fat foundation of most of the dishes.
One of Ukrainian dishes, included in the menu of international cuisine, is borsch. For the preparation of the traditional Ukrainian borsch it is normally used up to 20 different kinds of products. That’s why it has a special high quality taste and nutritional value.
Another “trademark” of Ukraine is a variety of “varenyky” - dumplings stuffed with cheese, potatoes, cabbage, and in summer - with berries and are traditionally served with sour cream and other dairy products.
Desserts and pastries are also very original - a variety of sweet cakes, “puhkenyky”, biscuits, apple “solozhenyky”, “pampushky” and biscuits.
The Ukrainian soft drinks are also good - kvasses, kissels, muselets, famous uzvar (compote of dried fruits) and honey, as well as Ukrainian liqueurs - plum brandy called “Slivovica”, cherry brandy, “Ternivka”, “Zapikanka”. In the Crimea and the Carpathian Mountains are produced many kinds of first-class wines and champagne.
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