History of the Department of Theory and Technology of Programming

The rapid development of computer technology in the late 60’s of the last century has caused a significant increase in the need for programmers who could not only effectively use existing computers, but also to conduct active research on a wide range of issues in the field of automated control, information systems, etc. It was at the same time that institutes, departments and colleges of informatics began to be established in university centers in developed countries.

Kyiv at that time rightly became one of the leading centers for the development and implementation of computer technology in the national economy. The flagship of scientific research was the Institute of Cybernetics of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, where computers “Ray”, “Kyiv”, a series of machines “MIR”, systems “Dnipro” and others were created. A significant number of them were mass-produced at a computer plant built in Kyiv.

The logical conclusion of the process of forming a computer infrastructure was the creation of a system of training in computer science. That is why the Faculty of Cybernetics was opened at the University of Kyiv in May 1969. This was the first faculty of the relevant profile in the former Soviet Union.

The Department of Programming Theory was established in November 1971. Academician V.N. Redko became the first and permanent head of this department.

The main direction of scientific research of the department is theoretical and applied programming, the basis of which is explicit programming – the theory of descriptive and declarative program algebraids (algebraic structures that are formal and adequate models of data structures, programs and software design tools). Within this direction, it was possible to find a solution to a number of problems that are fundamental to the ways of further development of informatics and information technologies.

The department conducts research and development of tools to support databases / knowledge in adaptive programming technologies, development of object-oriented tools for building learning environments based on composite technologies. Their practical implementation was Parametric Programming Systems, which supported the implementation of programming language classes in translation mode and interpretation mode, definitory processing complexes, systems focused on recursive type definitions, Composite Automated Synthesis systems, CAS-Complex Informatization System – network version of the adaptive information-analytical system.

Fruitful research has become the basis for reading at the Faculty of Cybernetics new courses, which eventually became part of the curriculum in other universities in the country. These are courses on modern problems of cybernetics, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, theory of algorithms, programming.

Over the years, the department has graduated more than 400 specialists in the field of informatics for the national economy. Among the pupils of the department People’s Deputies of Ukraine B. Gubsky, A. Belous, heads of well-known educational institutions and companies working in the field of information technology (I. Basarab, A. Zhezherun, M. Hlybovets, O. Romanovsky, V. Protsenko, B. Bespaly, V. Pekar, S. Gulchuk, O. Gurevich, D. Kokhmanyuk, V. Kanivets, V. Forsyuk, S. Voronov, A. Protasov and others). And among those who worked at the department or listened to lectures of its teachers, there are other People’s Deputies of Ukraine, ministers, government officials, deans of faculties and heads of departments (Prof. Anisimov A.V., Prof. Belov Y. A.)

During the years of its existence, the department has grown into a strong scientific school with great international creative connections. Her students from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, India and Vietnam work fruitfully in their countries. In total, the department has educated 44 candidates and 5 doctors of sciences (including Lisovyk L.P., Nikitchenko M.S.).

For fruitful scientific and pedagogical work of prof. V.N. Redko was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1984). His work in the field of new information technologies was awarded the prize. V.M. Glushkov of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (1992), in 1992 he was elected a corresponding member, and in 2000 – an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.