The history of the Department dates back to the year 1990 when the Department of Political Science and Sociology was founded in Lviv Polytechnic National University. The Department of Political Science was functioning during 2001-2013 and in the year 2013 was renamed to the Department of Political Science and International Relations.
The establishment and development of the Department are connected with the names of famous scientists and talented teachers such as: professor Shakhova O.O., professor Kharchenko V.I., professor Hetmanchuk M.P., professor Myrskyi R.Y., professor Kolodii A.F., professor Hryniv O.I., and professor Shpyliuk V.A. These professors made significant contributions to the development of Political Science in Ukraine.
Nowadays the education process at the Department of Political Science and International Relations provides highly qualified faculty members including two professors, two Doctors of Science, fifteen Ph.D., eleven associate professors, one senior professor, six teaching assistants and auxiliary educational staff.
Professors of the Department teach courses for bachelors majoring in “International Relations”(education and qualification level “Bachelor”), whose training began in 2011; a compulsory subject of Political Science and optional subjects for students of all the University Institutes (Social Policy, Introduction to International Relations, History of Political and Legal Doctrines).
The Department offers intramural and extramural postgraduate and doctoral studies with a specialization in Political Intitutions and Processes functioning since 1977. 3 Doctoral and 14 Candidate’s dissertations have been passed with distinction, 7 scientific research papers are recommended for presentation.
The Department’s writing team has already prepared and issued more than 30 course books (3 course books on Political Science were recognized to be the best ones in Ukraine), manuals for graduate students (“Political Science”, “Theory of Parliamentarism”, “Introduction to International Relations”, “History of International Relations”, “Diplomatic and Consular Service”, “Basics of the International Relations Theory” and etc.) and dictionaries (“International Relations Theory”, “Social Policy”, “Conflictology”), nearly 100 study guides
In 2000 a specialized collection book of Political Science “Ukrainian National Idea: Realia and Development Prospects” was published for the first time and is regularly published since then.
International magazine “Humanitarian Vision” was first published in 2011.
Bachelor trainings majoring in International Relations began in 2011.
The Scientific Analytical Center for Political Studies “Vector” was founded in 2014 at the Department under the guidance of the professor Yaryna Turchyn. Specialists in this center are actively cooperating with leading mass media, providing counseling and comments on political issues. They also hold scientific conferences, “round tables”, meetings with famous politicians and engage students in practical activity.
Over the years, the Department of Political Science and International Relations has become a powerful and recognized scientific center. Today the Department is actively developing, it cooperates with scientific, academic and powerful institutions in Ukraine and abroad.
This cooperation results in original courses based on the latest global education techniques. The Department annually holds national and international scientific and research and practice conferences.
The Department places а special emphasis on engaging the students in academic research work. Top young scientists represent Lviv Polytechnic National University on national academic competitions and international research and practice conferences.
The faculty of the Department of Political Science and International Relations is an initiator and organizer of numerous public events. Lectors and professors take active part in preparation and conducting students meetings with famous politicians and public persons. They organize discussions on current sociopolitical problems. The Department was repeatedly rewarded with Diplomas of Merit for the outstanding achievements in teaching and research work and transcendental merit in Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Today the Department trains more than 240 students for education and qualification level of Bachelor in International Relations. 4 Ph.D. students are successfully working on their dissertations at the Department.