Leadership and responsibility have become key messages of a unique and important event for the student community. The forum was attended by more than 200 representatives of student governments from 15 regions of Ukraine (students from 35 institutions of higher education in Ukraine). They had the opportunity to discuss what worries them, ask openly and casually. With the support and assistance of the Rector of the University Volodymyr Onyshchenko from the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” the forum was attended by three representatives of the Students Self-government – Artem Sosnin, Liudmyla Bylym, Alla Honcharova, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Anna Aheicheva.
Forum was opened by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhii Shkarlet. The opening was also attended by Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Oleksandr Kava, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Youth and Sports Maryna Popatenko, People’s Deputies of Ukraine Serhii Babak and Yuliia Hryshyna, Acting Rector of the National University of the State Fiscal Service Valentyna Unynets-Khodakivska, Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Vasyl Volodin, Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, General Director of the Ukrainian Startup Fund Pavlo Kartashov, management and representatives of student and public organizations.
Minister Serhii Shkarlet conveyed a congratulatory message from the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the participants and organizers of the forum.
“In an era of great challenges and opportunities, Ukraine is overcoming its difficult path to success and progress. This requires the combined efforts of all citizens, the combination of the experience of the older generation and the potential of young people. Their opinion and initiative, energy and a special outlook on life, which is radically changing due to technologies, new approaches to knowledge of the world and man, new formats of communication, are important for Ukraine,” the message reads.
“Forum is an excellent platform for consolidating students’ efforts in reforming Ukraine’s education system and implementing student projects aimed at youth development,” adds Serhii Shkarlet. – Participation in such events and discussions helps students to acquire a high level of universal and professional competencies, aids heads of higher education institutions to better understand the needs of modern youth and improve the educational process.
Ukraine is a country with talented youth that can change the world. I wish everyone to be independent in their choices and views, to think creatively, to strive to discover the unknown, to set a bold goal and achieve it.”
Student Project Office – the new project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine – was presented by Oleksandr Pyzhov, Director General of the Directorate for European Integration, Budgeting and Policy Coordination of the Ministry of Education and Science. The purpose of creating such a body is to implement new initiatives of the Ministry together with student self-government bodies. Applicants for higher education who will join its activities can gain unique experience in project management, organization of the work of the central executive body and have a real impact on government decisions.
One of the important topics for discussion was the panel discussion “Open discussion: higher education in the era of COVID-19” with the participation of the First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Andrii Vitrenko. Students discussed the organization of the educational process in the context of the spread of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The program presented discussion panels on the following topics:
- “Stand-up creative studios”;
- “Student science: from ideas to implementation”;
- “Students’ ombudsman: Role and Opportunities”;
- “Ecological marathon: from a macro problem to a micro solution”.
The forum also included discussions with businessmen, scientists and opinion leaders on modern educational policy issues facing young people and students. Representatives of the students demonstrated progressive innovative projects and had the opportunity to strengthen partnerships.
At the end of the event, the participants of the first National Student Forum signed the Irpin Student Declaration, which will become the basis of the legislative initiative.
“The goal has been achieved! After all, the Forum brought together progressive young people from all over Ukraine – smart, creative and talented! Each participant of the Forum is a leader of change in independent Ukraine. You are the heirs of change, you generate innovations, and you make ambitious decisions that will be crucial for the education and science sphere of Ukraine. We have a community of proactive and responsible student government leaders, and have begun the stage of creating a unique environment for their fruitful cooperation with representatives of universities, government and business. Are we satisfied with the result? One hundred percent. We gained new knowledge and incredible impressions. Now we are even more motivated to create more, improve ideas and find new insiders for ourselves and the country, find as many initiatives as possible and make dreams come true,” comment the organizers . – “The most active students read the text of the Student Irpin Declaration. All participants of the Forum have worked on this document. Students inspired every panel discussion, every master class; made meetings with speakers lively and constructive. In order for a dream to come true, you need a plan, and in order to have a plan, you need a landmark. The document identifies priority goals and objectives for the youth community. The text of the declaration will be published on the official website of the National University of the State Fiscal Service and will be supported at the legislative level.”
“Work of the forum was organized in the form of creative discussion platforms, which discuss issues related to the role of universities in regional development, the introduction of modern technologies and new forms of education in higher education, research and innovation, the role of students’ ombudsman.
Forum discussed topical issues related to student education and changes in the labor market nature, as well as opportunities for developing the potential of future leaders and responsible citizens. The speakers shared their experiences and successful cases, as well as participated in discussions, exchanges and generated innovative ideas on how universities can cope with the new challenges posed by COVID-19.
Such a wide and diverse representation of speakers and participants allowed to discuss at a high expert level practices of educational and researching activities of universities transformation, development and innovations implementation, project approach, and formation of partnerships.
At the discussion panel “Opportunities for Higher Education” moderated by Oleksandr Pyzhov, Director General of the Directorate for European Integration, Budgeting and Policy Coordination of the Ministry of Education and Science, special attention was paid to the need of passing Common Entrance Examination for postgraduate study,” says Anna Aheicheva, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.
Acting Rector Valentyna Unynets-Khodakivska and Director General of the Directorate for European Integration, Budgeting and Policy Coordination of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Oleksandr Pyzhov awarded the Forum participants with certificates.
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” Student Parliament representatives received an award for the best post on social networks – the best post about the impressions of the forum.
“National Student Forum: education, leadership, responsibility is a unique ecosystem of student self-government leaders dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence! During the panel discussion “Opportunities for Higher Education in Ukraine” innovative and progressive educational technologies were discussed and students communicated with the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhii Shkarlet. We were glad to have the opportunity to join the community of progressive student youth, share our own experience, present our projects and initiatives and establish new inter-university relations with student government representatives of the leading higher education institutions of Ukraine! Poltava Polytechnic is an example of effective cooperation between students and administration. We thank Rector Volodymyr Onyshchenko for supporting all our initiatives and comprehensive development of active youth!” – summed up Poltava Polytechnic Students Self-government.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
