April meeting of the USUST Academic Council: decisions, honors, and achievements.

On April 29, 2026, the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies held a meeting of its Academic Council. Traditionally, the event began with a ceremonial presentation – rector of USUST, Professor Kostiantyn Sukhyi, awarded honors, diplomas, and distinctions to the university’s researchers, faculty members, and students.
A Candidate of Sciences diploma in the specialty ‘Railway Rolling Stock and Train Traction’ was awarded to Dmytro Podosonov, Colonel and graduate of the SEI ‘Dnipro Institute of Infrastructure and Transport’. PhD diplomas were awarded to Valeriia Kozachyna in the specialty ‘Construction and Civil Engineering’ (SEI DIIT) and to Oleksandr Holota in the specialty ‘Transport Technologies in Railway and Industrial Transport’ (SEI DIIT).

Special attention was also given to scientific achievements. According to the decision of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine of February 25, 2026, the NAS of Ukraine Prize for Young Scientists was awarded to Mykola Kalymbet, Associate Professor of the Department of Environmental and Civil Safety for his research project ‘Development of an innovative alternative sorbent through the use of plant consumption waste and investigation of its properties’.

On the occasion of Cosmonautics Day, representatives of the SEI ‘Aerospace Institute’ of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies were honored with awards and distinctions. Letters of appreciation from leading aerospace enterprises – PA ‘Pivdennyi machine-building plant named after O. M. Makarov and Pivdenne Design Office – were presented to:
  • Professor Kostiantyn Varlan, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Institute, for his high level of professionalism and support of student initiatives;
  • students Andrii Pavlenko (4th year) and Bohdan Prokopenko (1st year), for outstanding academic performance, initiative, and commitment to professional development;
  • Vice-Rector of USUST, Professor Oleksandr Zaichuk; Head of the Center for Innovative Materials, Associate Professor Yuliia Polishchuk; and Director of the Aerospace Institute, Associate Professor Iryna Sukha, for their LONG years of productive cooperation, personal contribution to the training of competitive specialists, and outstanding professional achievements.

Professor Yurii Mitikov, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Institute, was awarded the medal ‘For special merits. Pivdenmash’ by the General Director and Trade Union Committee of PA ‘Pivdennyi machine-building plant named after O. M. Makarov’ in recognition of his distinguished service, active and productive work in the field of education, and on the occasion of the Day of Rocket and Space Industry Workers.

The university is also expanding its international cooperation through a newly established partnership with Lodz University of Technology. USUST students have already achieved outstanding results in an international competition organized by the Polish university on the development of an evacuation navigation system based on the principles of behavioral psychology during evacuation. Milana Titova won first place, Mariia Filimonova took second place, and Denys Kalynovskyi earned third place.

The university team also distinguished itself at the industry level during the ‘Persha Koliia 2.0’ Hackathon organized by Ukrzaliznytsia, where it received the Silver Award and placed second in the overall team standings. Certificates were presented to the winning members of the USUST student team. Special appreciation for student mentoring was expressed to Oleksandr Ivanov, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Information Technologies, who coordinated the ‘Prydniprovtsi’ team with the project ‘SHUNTING GAME. Switching Operations Game’, as well as to Iryna Potapchuk, Associate Professor of the Department of Intelligent Power Supply Systems for supervising the ‘Energy Rail Force’ team, which won second place in the subsection ‘Green Crossing – Autonomous Railway Crossing’.

The university also demonstrated outstanding results in sports. USUST teams became winners of the regional stage of the nationwide competitions ‘Plich-o-Plich: We will win together’ in futsal and basketball, earning the right to participate in the final stage of the Ukrainian championship. Letters of appreciation were presented to futsal coach Taras Dutko and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Physical Culture, Sports and Health of the SEI ‘USUCT’ Alla Kyrychenko for preparing the winning teams.

The rector noted, ‘This remarkable victory is vivid evidence of your coaching talent, dedication, and ability to inspire the team to achieve the highest results. Thanks to your leadership, professional excellence, and tireless work, our students successfully represented the university, demonstrating strength of spirit, unity, and a true desire to win’.
 
Letters of appreciation were also awarded to the university’s student basketball and futsal teams. Rector of USUST, Professor Kostiantyn Sukhyi, emphasized, ‘Your victory is a clear testament to hard work, team unity, determination, and outstanding athletic skill. You represented the university with dignity at the national level, demonstrating endurance, determination, and genuine team spirit. This achievement is a source of pride for the entire university community and a significant contribution to strengthening the reputation of our educational institution’.

During the meeting, jubilee celebrants were also congratulated. On the occasion of her 75th anniversary, special recognition was given to Larysa Savchuk, dean of the Faculty of Applied Computer Technologies and Professor of the Department of Economic Informatics at the SEI ‘DMI’. The Rector highlighted, ‘You are a wonderful woman, please accept our sincerest congratulations’. In response, she noted, ‘that the life of every person largely depends on the team they work with. Therefore, I am deeply grateful to the staff of USUST and the SEI ‘DMI’.

Professor Anatolii Starovoit, Doctor of Sciences, head of the Department of Metallurgical Fuels and Refractories at the SEI ‘DMI’, General Director of UNPA ‘Ukrkoks’, and Honored Metallurgist of Ukraine, was also congratulated on his 80th anniversary. He was recognized for the conscientious performance of his duties, outstanding achievements in educational, scientific, and mentoring activities, his contribution to improving the educational process, and the training of highly qualified specialists.

The meeting of the Academic Council once again demonstrated the systematic development of USUST, where scientific achievements, educational quality, international cooperation, and success of students are combined.

More photos are available via the  link.