National and Patriotic Education of USUST Students
On May 28, 2025, the report of the Vice-Rector for Social and Humanitarian Affairs and Educational Work, Doctor of Public Administration, Prof. Halyna Yevseieva ‘About national and patriotic education of USUST students in the academic year 2024 – 2025 and the main tasks for the academic year 2025 – 2026’ was presented and discussed as an important issue at the Academic Council of USUST. The Academic Council states that in the context of russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, national and patriotic education is one of the priority in the activity of higher education institutions for the development of national consciousness based on public and state (national) values (identity, freedom, unity, dignity), the formation of citizens’ sense of patriotism, respect for the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, social activity and responsibility for entrusted state and public affairs, readiness to fulfil the duty to protect the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
During 2024 -2025 academic year, since the merger of five universities into one powerful Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies (USUST) (from April 2024 to April 2025), a system of educational work has been established. It is implemented through the USUST Department of Educational Work (Student Affairs), the USUST Institute of Student Mentorship and with the assistance of the Council for Social and Humanitarian Affairs and Educational Work, of USUST under the clear leadership of the university administration, the vice-rector for and rector of the university Kostiantyn Sukhyi, in particular.
An important and primary step towards the formation of the educational system was a team effort to adopt the regulatory documents that governed the activities of the educational process. The following regulations were adopted, in particular:
- Concept on Educational Work of USUST for 2024-2030;
- Regulations on Educational Work at USUST;
- Rules and Guidelines for the Supervisor (Mentor) of the Academic Group at USUST;
- Gender equality policy at USUST till 2030;
- Regulations on the Council for Social and Humanitarian Affairs and Educational Work;
- Plan of educational, organisational, and patriotic activities of USUST for 2024-2025 academic year.
These documents made it possible to regulate the issues of interaction between structural subdivisions and participants of the educational process in the implementation of the main tasks of educational work, to make it systematic and systematic In order to inform all participants of the educational process quickly, the University website has created headings that reflect the work done in the virtual space, namely:
- Department of Educational Work of USUST,
- Council for Social and Humanitarian Policy and Educational Work of USUST,
- Student Consolidation Centre.
These virtual locations, which are managed by the Department for Educational Work with students of the Ukrainian University of Science and Technologies under the supervision of the Vice-Rector for Social and Humanitarian Affairs and Educational Work, Dr., Pro. Halyna Yevseieva, demonstrated student creative, educational, intellectual and artistic projects operating at the university during the academic year, and created conditions for the student community to realise their intellectual and creative abilities.
In order to demonstrate, popularise and realise the creative potential of students at USUST, highlight the achievements of students, draw the attention of students to the spiritual and cultural values of the university family, and cultivate a sense of involvement in the success of their Alma Mater, the University website is launching the ‘Gallery of Success’ – a virtual honour board that will celebrate outstanding achievements and successes of the best students of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies.
An important role in strengthening the educational impact on student youth was played by the project proposed by SEI ‘PSACEA’ to deliver historical and patriotic lectures ‘The Invincibility of the Ukrainian Nation: History and Present’ during supervisory hours for first-year students of all the University’s academic institutions.
To assist university supervisors (mentors) in conducting outreach and educational work with students, the specialist of the Department for Educational Work (Student Affairs), S. P. Lagdan publishes methodological materials ‘Mentor’s Bulletin’. This academic year, issues 78 and 79 were published in the first semester and 80 and 81 in the second.
The problems of students were in the focus of attention not only of the vice-rector, but also of the entire management of the Ukrainian University of Science and Technologies. Initiated by the rector, Prof. Kostiantyn Sukhyi, meetings with the student government of the University, direct dialogues and answers to numerous questions from students became the basis for productive cooperation in the national and patriotic education of the USUST Student Council, management and the entire academic staff.
Therefore, having heard and discussed the main directions of educational work for 2024-2025 academic year, the Academic Council of the University decided to recognise the work in the field of national and patriotic education as effective and strategically important for the development of the Ukrainian national and civic identity of USUST students.
