FINANCIAL SECURITY: THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR USUST STUDENTS

A series of historical and patriotic lectures entitled ‘Resilience of the Ukrainian nation: history and present’ continues to be held at the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. The initiative aims to foster national consciousness, social engagement, and practical knowledge among students, which are crucial in modern society. Financial literacy and secure use of payment instruments have become the key areas of educational outreach. On October 29–31, 2025, a series of lectures on ‘Payment security’ was held for students and academic mentors of USUST’s educational and scientific institutes during mentor hours. The lectures were delivered by Valeriia Stoilovska, payroll project manager at PUMB ‘Central RC’ branch.  At the lectures, the participants learned about:
 
  • the most common types of payment fraud, including phishing messages, fake calls allegedly from bank employees, SIM card duplication, and fraudulent online pages;
  • the basic safety rules for using bank cards and conducting online transactions;
  • the  protection of personal data, creation of  strong passwords, and transaction limits;
  • necessary actions to take if a phone or bank card is lost.
 
The speaker emphasized that over 80% of fraud cases occur because clients disclose their confidential information. Therefore, the key rule every user should remember is ‘think before you click’.
 
Students and lecturers who attended the sessions actively participated in discussions, asked questions, and analyzed real-life situations that raised the greatest concerns.
This interactive format not only provided theoretical knowledge, but also helped the participants to develop practical financial security skills useful in everyday life.
 
Vivid real-life examples, infographics, and expert advice made participants gain a deeper understanding of how to protect their finances and avoid becoming victims of cybercriminals.
 
Such lectures represent an important component of the university’s comprehensive educational process, as they foster a responsible attitude toward personal safety among young people  and teach them to make informed decisions in the digital environment.