History
The university (originally the Ivano-Frankivsk Institute of Law, Economics, and Construction) was founded in 1997 by the rector-priest, full member of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (UAS), Doctor of Law, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Canon Law, Professor, and Honored Educator of Ukraine, Father Ivan Lutskyi. The institution began its activities in a rented facility of 500 square meters, with 300 students and four programs of study.
According to Ivan Mykhailovych's vision, the primary mission of the institution was to ensure access to higher education for every talented student.
For its active efforts to improve the quality of modern education, the university was awarded a diploma in the ranking competition of higher education institutions in Ukraine (2002). The name of its founder and first rector was also included in the registers of the books “500 Influential Personalities of Ukraine” and “Golden Names”. The institute, and later the university, was additionally recognized with diplomas as a laureate of the Ukrainian higher education ranking “Sophia of Kyiv – 2005, 2007, 2008” in the category of higher education institutions for its significant contribution to the development of the national higher education system.
In 2007, the university was renamed the Ivano-Frankivsk University of Law named after King Danylo of Halych. Following the death of its founder and first rector, Father Ivan Lutskyi, in 2014, his legacy was continued by his children: Andriy, Myroslav, and Nataliia. Andriy Ivanovych Lutskyi became the rector of the university. Since May 2017, the institution has been known as King Danylo University and continues to pursue development, the introduction of new programs, and the recruitment of leading specialists to its educational activities. The university is actively expanding international cooperation with universities in Poland, Austria, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
In 2018, King Danylo University became the first university to join the Ivano-Frankivsk IT Cluster as an affiliated member. In 2019, the university opened the first Internet of Things (IoT) laboratory in Ivano-Frankivsk. Also in 2019, King Danylo University became the first higher education institution in Ukraine to implement a new governance system. Under this system, the university is managed by a Supervisory Board, a President, and a Rector. The first President was the former rector, Andriy Lutskyi, while Vitalii Khromets was appointed as Rector. Since 2020, the Rector of King Danylo University has been Myroslav Lutskyi.
The university implements innovative educational programs, distance learning programs, and educational modules involving practitioners. It integrates educational programs with labor market needs through dual education and also offers modular training.
In addition, the university systematically organizes cultural and artistic events. Since 2015, it has hosted the Christmas-New Year festival “Battle of the Nativity Scenes” (renamed in 2026 as the Festival of Nativity Scenes and Malankas) [2]
In 2015, the first beauty contest Mr & Miss University 2015 took place, which has since become a traditional event [3]
The same year, the first “Voice of the University” contest was organized. [4]
Every year, the university holds a career guidance event for children called “Day of Professions”, bringing together representatives of around 40 professions. [5]
In 2017, the project “School Has Talent” was launched, giving talented schoolchildren the opportunity to showcase their abilities, with winners receiving free education at KDU. [6]
“Night at the University” is an event where students and faculty spend leisure time together in an informal atmosphere. [7]
In 2019, King Danylo University hosted its first dance competition, Dance Cup of King Danylo University, organized in collaboration with the dance team of Vladyslav Yama. [8]
The university also serves as a platform for meetings with successful individuals who share their experiences with students and guests. Among the invited guests were Ukrainian Presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Petro Poroshenko, musicians Sviatoslav Vakarchuk and DZIDZIO, and writers Serhiy Zhadan, Iren Rozdobudko, and others.
