Lecture on empathy and resilience held at USUST for Psychologist Day

On 16–17 April 2026, as part of the national and patriotic lecture series ‘Resilience of the Ukrainian nation: history and present’, interactive lectures titled ‘Empathy as a Component of Emotional Intelligence’ were held for students and academic mentors of SEI ‘PSACEA’, SEI ‘DIIT’, SEI “DMI’ of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. The event was dedicated to both the World and All-Ukrainian Psychologist Day, celebrated annually on 22 April.

 

Organised in advance by the USUST Student Development Office, the lecture took place under particularly challenging circumstances, following the tragic events of the night of 15 April 2026, when an enemy attack caused damage to the facilities of the SEI ‘Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture’ and other university units. In this context, the meeting served not only as an educational initiative but also as an important source of psychological support for both students and academic staff.

 

The lecture was delivered by Associate Professor Marina Skladanovska, PhD, a faculty member of the Department of Philosophy and head of the Psychological Service at the SEI ‘PSACEA’. She is also a member of the National Psychological Association of Ukraine and the Board of the Association of Higher School Psychologists of Ukraine.

 

During the session, the speaker emphasised that today everyone is experiencing continued stress due to ongoing safety threats and concern for loved ones. At the same time, individual responses to stress vary depending on levels of inner resilience and the availability of social support.

Particular attention was given to empathy as the ability to understand and share another person’s emotional state, to perceive situations from their perspective, and to build relationships grounded in trust. The speaker highlighted that empathy is a skill that can be  and should be developed, and she shared practical approaches to it.

 

The discussion also addressed the importance of emotional awareness, recognising others’ feelings, managing anxiety, and reducing stress in challenging circumstances. The lecture was conducted in an interactive format, encouraging open dialogue and allowing participants to ask questions and share personal experiences.

 

Such events have already become a valued tradition at the university. Following each lecture, students express appreciation and demonstrate a strong interest in continued engagement with psychological services, particularly through individual consultations.

 

Further educational lectures and meetings aimed at supporting the psychological well-being of the university community are planned in the near future.