The Department of Theory of Law and Constitutionalism of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law, Psychology and Innovative Education began its work within the structure of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” in accordance with Order No. 22-10 of February 14, 2011, “On the Creation of the Institute of Law and Psychology.” Initially, it functioned as a division of international law and philosophy of law, which in 2021 was reorganised based on the following departments:
- the Department of Constitutional and International Law (Head: Doctor of Legal Sciences, Prof. Vitaliy Kovalchuk, 2014–2021);
- the Department of the History of State and Law (Head: Doctor of Legal Sciences, Prof. Volodymyr Makarchuk, 2011–2019);
- the Department of Theory and Philosophy of Law (Head: Doctor of Legal Sciences, Prof. Stepan Slyvka, 2011–2020).
The changes in the department’s name were carried out in accordance with the orders of the Lviv Polytechnic National University. In 2019, the Department of Theory, History and Philosophy of Law was established by merging the Departments of the History of State and Law and Theory and Philosophy of Law (Order No. 478-1-10 of September 17, 2019). In 2020, it was further combined with the Department of Constitutional and International Law (Order No. 313-1-10 of June 30, 2020), forming the Department of “Theory and Philosophy of Law, Constitutional and International Law.”
According to Order No. 576-1-10 of October 11, 2021, the department was renamed “Theory of Law and Constitutionalism”, while maintaining its educational profile.
The Department of Theory of Law and Constitutionalism is headed by Professor Vitaliy Bohdanovych Kovalchuk, a Doctor of Legal Sciences and Honoured Worker of Education of Ukraine. Under his leadership, the department has become one of the leading structural units of the Institute of Law, Psychology and Innovative Education of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic.” The department brings together an experienced and highly qualified teaching staff with many years of academic and research experience, including 13 Doctors of Legal Sciences, 2 Doctors of Philosophy, and 4 Candidates of Sciences.
The department’s academic staff ensure the delivery of the educational process at the first (bachelor’s), second (master’s), and third (PhD) educational and scientific levels of higher education.
The department consistently demonstrates strong performance in educational, scientific, pedagogical, and methodological work. Its faculty actively integrates modern competencies and innovative approaches into the educational process, participates in international scientific communication, projects, and grants, and ensures the training of qualified specialists capable of fully realising their potential in the legal profession.
A key conceptual dimension of the department’s work is the formation of national and universal value-based models of professionalism in the field of law, as well as in the history and philosophy of law. The department also contributes to the development of modern foundations of statehood and the strengthening of national identity in the context of European integration. To achieve these goals, a wide range of educational, scientific, and methodological tools is used. Numerous educational activities aim to cultivate spiritual values and moral awareness, including patriotism, integrity, and dedication to professional service.