The preliminary list of the contestant to win Ivan Franko International Prize Franko in the field of social and humanitarian sciences and Ukrainian studies in 2017 includes 20 works.

Such announcement was made by Managing Director of the Ivan Franko International Fund Ihor Kurus on Friday at the press conference in Ukrinform.

“This year, starting from January 15 2017 till March 01, 2017, 21 works from 16 universities of Austria, Poland, Ukraine and Israel were submitted. Their cover 9 disciplines: law, art history, social anthropology, history, cultural studies, history of religion, history of Ukraine, social geography, psychology. The works were presented in four languages: Ukrainian, English, Polish and Hebrew”, – said Kurus, adding that one of the works was immediately rejected because it was not scientific, but creative – it was a collection of poems.

He reminded that the Ivan Franko International Prize will be awarded for the second time this year. It is unique because it is the world’s only Prize bringing together all social humanitaristics. The Prize has two nominations: for significant achievements in the field of Ukrainian Studies and for significant achievements in the field of social and humanitarian sciences.

Kurus noted that this year a number of applicants has doubled – last year their number as 10. In addition, a number of scientific disciplines has also increased – last year thee ere only 6. Accordingly, a number of universities have also increased – in 2016 there were 10. Last year, the applicants were the scientists from Spain, Ukraine and Georgia.

“The scientists receive more information about the Ivan Franko International Prize. They will submit a larger number of their works, and competition will increase. Thus, accordingly, the level of works will also increase”, – said Kurus.

The Managing Director of the Ivan Franko also noted that bonus fund would be formed by donations from the supporters of the heritage of Ivan Franko, and informed that in 2017 the bonus would amount to half a million UAH for two nominations.

“The meeting of the International Jury will take place in Vienne on the 23^th-25^th of June. The Jury will choose the Laureates of the Prize out of three contestants in each nomination, determined by the International Council. Awarding of the Prize will take place on August 27, 2017, the birthday of Ivan Franko” – said Kurus.