Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University held Rector Anatolii Tsos’ press conference, dedicated to the third anniversary in position of the head of the higher education institution. In a relaxed atmosphere, Anatolii Vasyliovych provided a summary of his three-year rector’s results of experience; revealed personal and team achievements, the higher education institution’s functioning of during the war; answered questions from media representatives.
At the beginning of the meeting, Rector spoke about Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University work in 2022.
“The university works in any conditions and this year was unlike any previous one due to the full-scale invasion of russian troops onto the territory of Ukraine. The job routine was changed. There is nothing for us to be ashamed of the way we lived this year. From the first days of the war, we took an active civic position, started working and helping the Armed Forces. I am convinced that the most important thing now is victory in the war, because the existence of Ukraine and each of us depends on it. The University’s task today is to help the Armed Forces and work to bring our victory closer,” said Anatolii Tsos.
Rector spoke about the institution’s assistance to the 14th SMBr named after Prince Roman the Great, the 204th BrTA named after Oleksandr Pokryshkin, the 100th BrTD Volyn, as well as the volunteer activities of Lesya’s people, such as production of ointments on the basis of the Faculty of Chemistry, Ecology and Pharmacy, solar batteries for gadget charging in the Educational and Scientific Physical and Technological institute; artistic front of representatives of the Faculty of Culture and Arts; support of internally displaced persons by lecturers of the Faculty of Philology and Journalism, the Faculty of Pedagogical Education and Social Work, the Faculty of Physical Culture, Sports and Health.
Separately, Rector emphasized the military-practical training of the civilians on the basis of the Faculty of Law with the opening of a multimedia fire complex and courses on safe handling of weapons.
“But we all understand that the main task is to strengthen the indicators of student preparation. In difficult times, there are great prospects for improving the work of the University and bringing it to another level. It is a crime to work badly under martial law. We focused even more attention on the rating of scientific and pedagogical workers. We are developing and preserving our achievements,” said Anatolii Tsos.
The rector also noted that the number of students increased last year. Thus, the number of students of Lesya Ukrainka University and the separate structural unit “College of Technologies, Business and Law” was 10,781. 4,176 people enrolled in the University. “A high-quality composition of employees allows us to provide high-quality work,” Anatolii Tsos emphasized. In addition, the University continues to implement elements of the dual form of education and increase the number of specialties that students can study under the “Dual Diploma” program abroad. Last year, the representatives of specialties 256 National Security and 052 Political Science received this opportunity.
During the past year, the University opened five specialized academic councils that will ensure the defense of doctoral theses. Last year Lesya Ukrainka University became a participant in international events, in particular the conference “Interaction of universities with society in turbulent times” at the University of Bologna and the signing of the Great Charter of Universities.
In September, the first volume of the Council of Europe magazine for 2021–2022 was published, dedicated to the analysis of the best practices of academic integrity in European higher education institutions. Information about the activities of Lesya Ukrainka University regarding the institutionalisation of academic integrity and its impact on the development of the university community was placed alongside information about leading educational institutions.
Anatolii Tsos also spoke about economic activity, current repairs in buildings, construction of a sports complex based on practices of the “Hart” camp. “All the work I spoke about is the merit of the entire team. I sincerely thank the vice-rectors, my assistant, heads of structural divisions, faculty deans and lecturers. What happens next? We continue to work in the same way, but even more efficiently,” Anatolii Vasyliovych summed up. At the end, the journalists were very interested in Rector’s message about the opening of new specialties.
“This year we will enroll students for the 1st year for the specialty 262 Law enforcement activity. We are also changing the physicists’ educational programme so that instead of “Physics, Astronomy” there will be “Computer Physics” with a corresponding emphasis. There is also a new interesting master’s programme at the Faculty of Geography named “Regional Development and Spatial Planning”. There will be a new master’s programme at the Faculty of History, Political Science and National Security named “Public History”. In addition, there will be two educational programmes at the Faculty of Philology and Journalism named “Secondary Education. Ukrainian Language and Literature. English Language” and “Ukrainian Language. Ukrainian and Foreign Literature. Literary Skill”. Three more educational programmes are under discussion, but we can give some clues. It is about “Advertising and PR”, “Marketing and international logistics”. Another educational programme unique in the region at the bachelor’s level is “Hairdressing and Decorative Cosmetics”. Such an educational programme exists in many institutions of higher education in Ukraine, and we are thinking about it,” said the Head of the University.
At the end of the event, Anatolii Vasyliovych answered the questions of the invited representatives of the local mass media.
Andrii PETRUSHKO
Photo by Dmytro BAYDA
Information Policy Office
