27 July 2026
A leading figure in Ukrainian agricultural education and international academic co-operation has received an honorary degree from the University of Reading.
Professor Vadym Tkachuk, Rector of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP), received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony on Friday 24 July.
Professor Tkachuk has worked at NUBiP for more than 35 years, including as Vice-Rector for academic and pedagogical affairs, international relations and development, before becoming Rector. His research covers agricultural economics, labour economics, rural socio-economic development and higher education management.
For more than two decades, Professor Tkachuk has driven international co-operation and transnational education at NUBiP. In the early 2000s, he helped establish work-integrated training programmes allowing Ukrainian students to gain practical experience abroad, later building dual-degree programmes and long-term partnerships with European universities.
Professor Sarah Cardey, from the School of Agriculture Policy and Development at the University of Reading said: "Agricultural and rural development is the backbone of global wellbeing. Rural development plays a pivotal role in global efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, ensure food security, and create sustainable livelihoods. The importance of this sector is not to be underestimated.
"Ukraine is one of the top agricultural exporters in the world, and agriculture is fundamental not only to the Ukrainian economy but to global food security. To achieve food security goals, we need champions committed to rural agricultural development, and Professor Vadym Tkachuk is one such champion.
"Throughout his career, Professor Tkachuk has demonstrated a commitment to excellence that has had a profound impact on agricultural and rural development in Ukraine, and his vision for interdisciplinary and international education has benefited thousands of students."
Between 2019 and 2021, Professor Tkachuk served on the Board of the Association for European Life Science Universities (ICA), and in 2025 he received the ICA Excellence Award for Networking in recognition of his contribution to international partnerships among European life science universities.
Under his leadership, NUBiP opened the first Digital Laboratory in Ukraine to train students to work with people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, and created training opportunities for war veterans, including support for those with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Professor Tkachuk holds a Doctor of Economic Sciences degree and is an Honoured Worker of Education of Ukraine.
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