History of the University

The history of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University (BSPU) dates back to the Berdyansk Men's Gymnasium, founded on September 8, 1872. The University's main building, constructed in the Norman style, is recognized as a national architectural landmark. Today, the institution is ranked among the twelve most beautiful universities in Ukraine.
The University takes immense pride in its heritage and traditions. The alumni of our Alma Mater include prominent scientists, politicians, and public figures. Notably, the Ukrainian composer and poet-translator Petro Nishchynskyi once taught here. Among our distinguished former students are the world-renowned bacteriologist and epidemiologist Volodymyr Khavkin, as well as the 19th-century Ukrainian writer Trokhym Zinkivskyi, among others.

• In 1925, the gymnasium was reorganized into a Pedagogical Technical School.
• In 1932, it became the State Institute of Social Education, later renamed the Osypenko Teacher Training Institute.
• On September 1, 1953, the institute was reorganized into a Pedagogical Institute, and on August 30, 2002, it officially attained the status of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University. Our institution synthesizes the educational legacy and traditions of its predecessors: the Men's Gymnasium, the Pedagogical Technical School, and the Teacher Training and Pedagogical Institutes.
• Throughout its 150-year history, BSPU has been displaced twice due to global conflicts: at the outbreak of World War II to Tajikistan, and following the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war to Zaporizhzhia (pursuant to Order No. 357 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, dated April 20, 2022).
• The forced relocation to Zaporizhzhia marked the beginning of a new chapter in the University's history. Since then, the institution has successfully implemented a robust educational process utilizing distance learning technologies and digital tools, conducted effective career guidance and admission campaigns, and steadily expanded its material and technical infrastructure.

Today, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University stands as a powerful educational hub, comprising five modern faculties and 19 departments, each serving as a center for knowledge, expertise, and innovation. We offer 68 educational and professional programs, providing students with boundless opportunities to excel in education, science, the arts, and other fields. This is where the future of Ukraine is being shaped!