State Establishment "Lugansk State Medical University"

The State Establishment “Lugansk State Medical University” (SE "LSMU", LSMU) is one of Ukraine’s leading public medical institutions, holding the highest level of national accreditation (Level IV). Established on May 6, 1956, in the city of Luhansk, the university has shown exceptional resilience and a consistent commitment to academic development, remaining a key center for medical education and research despite significant challenges.

Historical Resilience and Core Activity

LSMU’s core mission is the continuous and integrated training of healthcare professionals at the undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Its educational offerings include programs in Medicine, Dentistry, Pediatrics, Medical Psychology and Pharmacy. Over the decades, the university has developed a strong academic community, with more than 87% of its staff holding scientific degrees. Its reputation extends globally, having trained thousands of medical specialists for more than 50 countries. This longstanding resilience has enabled LSMU to uphold high standards of teaching, research, and international cooperation.

Relocation and Institutional Recovery

Due to military conflict, the university has undergone two official relocations in order to continue functioning under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian government.

The first relocation took place in 2014, when LSMU moved from Luhansk to the city of Rubizhne. There, the institution successfully re-established its infrastructure and resumed full-scale academic activity. The second relocation occurred in 2022, bringing the university from Rubizhne to Rivne in Rivne Oblast, where it continues to operate today.

Despite these displacements, LSMU has maintained its international recognition, including its listing by the World Health Organization, and continues to rely on international partnerships to support institutional recovery and sustainable development.

Current and Previous International Project Activities

LSMU actively participates in European Union and other international programs, demonstrating its ability to integrate into European educational initiatives and effectively address urgent public health challenges. The university’s involvement in major projects also serves as evidence of its institutional stability and its capacity to manage complex grants in difficult circumstances.

Among its key international projects are the following:

• US Government Public Diplomacy Grant Program: The university partnered with the NGO GoLOCAL to enhance its capacity to provide modern medical education, focusing on providing electronic resources and technologies and strengthening collaboration with other medical universities in Ukraine (2019 – 2021).

• EU Neighborhood Programme: From 2019 to 2024, the project Support for the Recovery and Development of Lugansk State Medical University has strengthened the university’s material and technical capacity, including the acquisition of simulators, licensed software, and resources for effective distance learning. This initiative plays a significant role in supporting LSMU’s post-relocation reconstruction.

• Erasmus+ Key Action 2 (Capacity Building in Higher Education): LSMU participates in the project Life Support Training and Dissemination (LIFESTRAND), implemented from 2023 to 2026. This initiative focuses on training university staff and community members in First Aid and Pre-hospital Trauma Care in regions affected by military risks in Ukraine and Georgia.

• Central European Initiative (CEI) Cooperation Fund: LSMU is also involved in a current project dedicated to capacity building in managing eye injuries related to military trauma in Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania. This project (2024 – 2026) provides intensive training for healthcare professionals working in resource-limited environments.

• Interreg Europe: The university also participates CEMTex project, which focuses on the transition to a circular economy in healthcare, specifically aiming to reduce medical waste by implementing reusable medical textiles. LSMU acts as a ‘discover partner’ to adopt European experience.

State Establishment “Lugansk State Medical University” is a reliable, experienced, and strategically resilient partner with a proven capacity to implement complex international projects even in challenging environments. Despite displacement and the impact of war, the university has preserved its academic potential, strengthened its institutional systems, and demonstrated consistent success in EU-funded and international initiatives. LSMU is actively seeking partnerships that contribute to restoring healthcare, advancing medical education, and developing innovative training solutions and youth initiatives. By collaborating with LSMU, partners gain a committed, responsible institution ready to contribute expertise, infrastructure, and long-term engagement to joint projects with meaningful social impact.