Meeting of the USUST Council on Student Development: academic integrity and plans for the second semester

On February 23, 2026, at the beginning of the second semester, the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies held a regular meeting of the Council on Social and Humanitarian Policy and Student Development. The meeting was conducted online via Zoom.
 
The participants discussed a number of current issues, including:
  1. implementation of Law of Ukraine No. 4742-IX ‘On Academic Integrity’ (to enter into force on July 31, 2026);
  2. participation of the university’s academic staff in the All-Ukrainian interdisciplinary scientific and practical conference ‘UA: Decolonization – rethinking the past, creating the future’;
  3. organization of patriotic, educational, and awareness-raising events in the second semester of the 2025–2026 academic year;
  4. updating the university website’s ‘Gallery of Success’ page;
  5. the co-optation of new Council members from academic staff and students to replace those who had left.
The head of the Council, Vice-Rector of USUST, Professor Halyna Yevsieieva, opened the meeting and informed those present about the key provisions of the new Law of Ukraine ‘On Academic Integrity’, which will come into force on July 31, 2026.
 
Special emphasis was placed on the need for all academic staff to promptly review the provisions of the law, despite their recent professional development training in academic integrity. The document introduces new regulations regarding the responsibility of academic staff for violations of integrity principles, as well as specific provisions concerning the improper use of artificial intelligence tools by students. Accordingly, these aspects must be taken into account in the organization of the educational process.
 
Professor Halyna Yevsieieva also informed the Council members about the preparations for the All-Ukrainian interdisciplinary scientific and practical conference ‘UA: Decolonization – rethinking the past, creating the future’, which will be held on April 30, 2026, in cooperation with the Dnipro City Council. The event is intended to bring together scholars, doctoral candidates, postgraduate students, students, representatives of state authorities and local self-government, businesses, and other professional communities.
 
The main activities planned for the second semester of the 2025–2026 academic year were presented by Valentyna Babenko, Associate Professor and head of the Student Development Department. In particular, the following activities are planned:
  • popular science lectures;
  • Intellectual Property Rights Week at USUST;
  • events marking international dates, including Europe Day and the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation;
  • events dedicated to national commemorative and festive dates, including the birthdays of Lesya Ukrainka and Taras Shevchenko, the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, Mother’s Day, Vyshyvanka Day, etc.
Special attention was also paid to updating the ‘Gallery of Success’ page on the USUST website. The head of the Council emphasized the need to prepare materials in advance, including student profiles and photographs, in order to highlight the achievements of students during the 2025–2026 academic year and update the page before the beginning of the summer vacation period.
 
In conclusion, the Council members were encouraged to intensify their work between meetings and to submit proposals and recommendations aimed at improving the organization of student development activities and the implementation of the university’s social and humanitarian policy.