The ideas must be created for the University to actively work on them. Nobody but the youth knows what needs to be changed, added to the educational process and student life in general. That is why elections are held annually for the position of the Head of the Student Council of the University and all faculties. There are many new faces enthusiastic for the changes seeing Lesya Ukrainka University from different and interesting angles. Maksym Pyvovarchuk, a second-year student, became one of these faces. We had a very interesting conversation, during which Maksym talked about the plans for his tenure.
– Maksym, since the beginning of June, you have been the new Head of the Student Council of the University. Please, share your impressions. How does it generally work?
– The Students Council (Studrada) is a team. As in any team, there are different views, contradictions, tipping points. Sometimes, there is a thought to leave everything and go to Poland to study under a double degree programme. But in general everything is okay. No one sleeps here, everyone woke up a long time ago and started working. We want to make the University better, so it is quite interesting and easy to work. I like everything. We try, we work, we study.
– The head of the Student Council is very responsible. You nominated your candidacy as a freshman. The majority of students trusted you and elected you as the new head of the Student Council. Do you remember your emotions when you found out about the victory? What was the first thing you thought of?
– I reacted with cold fee because I had been preparing. I had invested my whole myself in that victory. My team helped me and also worked towards it. At a subconscious level, we understood that we would win, so we were not worried.
– Your work is unpaid. Basically, you work on a volunteer basis and you have to be responsible for your every step and everyone else’s. What guided you when you ran for the office?
– The first thing is self-development, new contacts with interesting people. I wanted to make a significant contribution to the development of the University. I really like Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, I am glad to have enrolled here. We want to make student life comfortable. Ukraine is generally depressed now, because active war continues. But I want to change something, improve something. We know that it is not going to be easy, but we will try to do as many qualitative and interesting things as possible.
– By the way, the University has been partially functioning online for over two years. First, because of the coronavirus pandemic, and now, although training is taking place offline, the war is not over yet and we do not know how events will develop in an hour, a week, a month. Most students are in this limbo. Were you not scared when submitting your candidacy?
– If you sit and wonder whether it will be successful or not, then nothing will be done and nothing will change. It is always worth trying. If it works, thet’s great, if it doesn’t, at least you tried.
– Yes, in any case, you will learn something new, learn something, improve somehow. Do you have your own formula for success, what are you guided by in your work?
– The team is important. It should have mutual respect and a friendly atmosphere, which is difficult to achieve. No matter how hard it is, someone always doesn't like something or someone. Of course, there are controversies, but we work to ensure that they do not happen. We try to gather in an informal setting, not just for the meetings. We introduce our own rules and follow them. I think we will certainly succeed in working towards a common goal.
– It is easiest task to manage an organised team. Don’t your colleagues fight over the spoils, contradicting each other? Is there no conflict of interest?
– There are different situations, various nuances arise, because everyone has their own opinion. But that's what the team is for, to settle these disputes. A discussion is needed, because only during the discussion generates correct opinion. This is how cool ideas and initiatives are created.
– By the way, regarding cool ideas and good initiatives... Not so long ago, a charity quest took place, thanks to which funds were collected for the purchase of a thermal imager for our military. Are there any more such ideas planned? What do you want to realise in general?
– To be honest, it took a long and difficult time to assemble the thermal imager, but we still managed to do it. We are grateful to the Lesya Ukrainka Educational Foundation, which allocated a certain amount of money. We recently completed a charity week during which we collected funds for food. In the near future, we will hand over everything to the military. And as for cool ideas, the creation of a University football room team. We are working in the right direction. Here is the spoiler: if everything goes well, our team will play in the regional championship in November. We also want to establish cooperation with the student self-government of other leading universities of Ukraine. The first step towards this cooperation was a video greeting on the Independence Day. It was a great success. There were many emotions. That is, the connection has already been established. We are looking for the ways to cooperate with the Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (Republic of Poland). Our Rector will help us accordingly.
– Futball room is really cool. I know you also play sports. Does it help you achieve this?
– Definitely. I have been doing judo since I was five. This is the kind of sport that instills in you a person, honor, honesty and courage. An elite sport.
– Cooperation with other universities is great. And what about cooperation with local youth organisations and centres? Because Students Council (Studrada) is the element shaping the image of a higher education institution.
– The coperation has already been established thanks to the former Head of the Student Council, so today we simply support it. We try to be present at their events and join their ideas. The main thing is not to destroy what we have, but to improve it.
– Are there any difficulties in communication between lecturers and students? How well is this relationship established?
– I can tell about a single problem which was successfully solved. The administration reacted, so the compromise was reached. That is, the communication between the University representatives at different levels is effective. Although it is not easy to maintain, because the students are weaned from offline life and it is difficult to engage them.
– Indeed, there is a problem with activity. In your opinion, how can activity be increased?
– Cool events! It’s all up to us, because we, the Studrada, implement the ideas of students for the students.
– Are you planning to submit your candidacy for the next election?
– I am currently making my plans for it. I'm getting ready.
Interviewed: Natalka KHARCHUK
Photo: Sofia PANASENKO, Dmytro BAYDA
