THE ROLE AND PLACE OF THE FACULTY OF GEOGRAPHY OF TERNOPIL VOLODYMYR HNATIUK NATIONAL PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC LANDSCAPE OF UKRAINE

The 35-year activity of the Faculty of Geography at Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University served as the motivation for preparing this publication. During this period, the faculty has established itself on the geographical map of Ukraine as a scientific and educational center in the fields of geography, ecology, tourism studies, Earth sciences (such as hydrology and soil science), and spatial development. Situated among the powerful centers of geographical science — Lviv, Kyiv, Chernivtsi, and Lutsk — Ternopil set out to become one of the hubs of spatial-geographical studies. This aspiration is not accidental, as this very region is the birthplace of Stepan Rudnytskyi, the founder of national geography. The establishment of a separate faculty division was a timely necessity and was justified by the needs of the region. Today, educational institutions, governmental and commercial organizations across Western Ukraine employ a significant portion of the faculty’s graduates. Throughout its history, the faculty has secured a prominent position at the national level, establishing itself as a center for socio-geographical, historical-geographical, regional-tourism, ecological-geographical, and hydrological research. The publication presents the historical prerequisites for the introduction of academic programs that have functioned or are currently functioning within the Faculty of Geography. A retrospective analysis of the faculty’s recent history is provided, highlighting its development and recognition as an independent university division. The main stages of the faculty’s establishment and growth are outlined, along with a description of the history and formation conditions of each of its educational and research units. The history of launching various educational programs is highlighted, including Secondary Education (Geography), Ecology, Tourism, Geography, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Soil Science, Land Appraisal and Territorial Planning, Spatial Analytics and Territorial Development of Communities and Regions, as well as International Tourism and Cross-Cultural Communication — all at both the bachelor's and master's levels. The publication presents the dynamics of academic staff qualification development from the establishment of the faculty up to 2025. An overview is provided of the research activities pursued by the academic departments — the Department of Geography and Teaching Methodology, the Department of Geography of Ukraine and Tourism, and the Department of Geoecology and Hydrology — with attention to both collective and individual research directions. The publishing activities are also described, including the preparation of university and school textbooks, teaching aids, and both individual and collective monographs authored by faculty members. Key areas of international cooperation are outlined, such as partnership development, project grant proposals, and joint publications. The promising aspects of the faculty’s educational, organizational, and scientific activities are identified. Today, the Faculty of Geography is recognized as a multi-level center that integrates education, science, practice, innovation, and communication. It plays a significant role in shaping the intellectual potential of the region and the country as a whole, contributing to territorial development and enhancing Ukraine’s academic presence in the European space. Keywords: geographical faculty of TNPU, problems of scientific research, directions of activities, historical retrospective.