On October 4, the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” held a ceremonial opening of the innovation center – the Center for Education and Care of Preschool Children. The event took place within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, which the university recently signed with LLC “MR. LEADER.GLOBAL” for joining efforts to promote the development of quality preschool education and care in Ukraine, formation and support of their high standards in the country, ensuring and improving equal access of different categories of children to education.
Honored guests took part in the opening ceremony of the Children’s Center: the author of the program and the founder of the brand Mr. Leader – People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Development and Preschool Education of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Education, Science and Innovation Volodymyr Voronov; People’s Deputy of Ukraine, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, head of the Poltava regional branch of the “Servant of the People” party Oleksii Ustenko; People’s Deputy of Ukraine, Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy Andrii Bobliakh and General Director of LLC “MR. LEADER.GLOBAL”, Doctor of Philosophy Nataliia Pikanova.
With the opening of the “Preschool Education” and “Psychology” specialties, the attention of scientists is focused on the issue of the modern pedagogical technologies introduction. For students, the Center will become a unique platform for in-depth study of modern approaches and methods in working with preschool children, formation of hard skills for students of higher education majors 012 “Preschool Education” and 053 “Psychology”.
“Our university is in a constant dynamic of development, overcoming the path from the engineering and technical direction of training to a classical type university.
It took us only a couple of months from forming the idea to the implementation of the project and the moment of cutting the ribbon. Repair work in one of the auditoriums was carried out in a record-breakingly short time, as our team has excellent specialists in the administrative and economic part. Thanks to our outstanding architect Andrii Koniuk, a branded project was created in accordance with the design of the network “Mr. Leader”.
In order for the premises to be filled with relevant content and materials, I made a working visit to the city of Kyiv at the invitation of the honorable Volodymyr Voronov, during which we discussed the essence of the project, all terms of cooperation and signed a memorandum. And, as a result, after communicating with a modern creative person who has been living this project for more than 10 years and developed modern methods that are used to teach children in kindergartens today, I saw this passion, dynamism and drive and was completely absorbed by this project.
Nataliia Pikanova, director of “Mr. Leader”, kindly agreed to accompany the implementation of this project. And soon, in September, our delegation went on a working visit, headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy, Anna Aheicheva, the Head of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor Svitlana Yalanska, and Vice-Rector Olena Filonych. They discussed all the peculiarities of the operation of such a center, in compliance with all the methods and regulatory documents that were developed within the framework of the program “Mr. Leader”.
After that, I had the great honor to participate in the annual international event “Mr. Leader Brunch”, which was founded by the charity organization “International Preschool Foundation of the Future” with the aim of uniting like-minded people around the problems of early child development and preschool education. Representatives of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, the head of the Institute for the Modernization of Education Content spoke. And everyone, as one, spoke about the uniqueness of this project for our country.
I confidently assert that this project is the basis of a new Ukrainian kindergarten.
Poltava Polytechnic is a pilot project, and it is here that the first such center was opened using a unique innovative methodology. This system of comprehensive education and childcare is approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. At the same time, it has great practical significance.
First of all, students of the “Preschool Education” and “Psychology” specialties have new unique opportunities to study using advanced technologies, which no university has yet, but which, I think, will appear all over Ukraine after their implementation at the Poltava Polytechnic. Our students will work with the system, which is currently used by more than 23,000 people both in Ukraine and abroad.
Secondly, unfortunately, today we are working under the conditions of a full-scale invasion. Every mother is afraid to leave her children somewhere far away. Therefore, the first pupils of the Center will be the children of our teachers. Children will be able to be close to their parents and go to the shelter together during the air alarm signal. This is an opportunity that is extremely relevant in today’s conditions.
I am pleased that another innovation center is being created, and we continue to surprise society and ourselves with our creativity. But there would be no such development if there were no great ideas, effective constructive support from our authorities, from the people’s deputies of Ukraine.
Therefore, I thank all of you once again for the idea, for your support, dear people’s deputies, and for your understanding and trust, dear academic workers, colleagues!” – told about the history and prospects of the project the Rector, Professor Volodymyr Onyshchenko.
On behalf of the student team and academic staff of the Poltava Polytechnic, Rector Volodymyr Onyshchenko presented the Citation of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” to People’s Deputy Volodymyr Voronov for his contribution to the innovative development of the “Preschool Education” field of study at the university.
“I want to express my gratitude to the person who managed to look into this idea and open the first such corporate center of education and care at a higher education institution – Volodymyr Onyshchenko. This is a person-trend, a person-innovation, a person-perspective. Thank you very much to the rector and the staff of the university, I bow to you,” – thanked the author of the program and the founder of the brand Mr. Leader, People’s Deputy Volodymyr Voronov.
Director General of LLC “MR. LEADER.GLOBAL”, Ph.D. Nataliia Pikanova emphasized that students will have the opportunity to practice using the latest systems and methods.
“For the first time, you have the opportunity to live every day with your child in an interesting and innovative way, 365 days a year – from simple to complex in four age categories. This is a completely unique innovative system that contains many components of both child development and analysis. And, consequently, you will learn according to advanced technologies. I am glad that Poltava Polytechnic is a pilot project. Indeed, I believe that with you, not only Ukraine, but also the whole world will adopt this innovative system and methodology,” – said Nataliia Pikanova.
“I’m coming here again, but as always it’s nice to be here, as something new is constantly happening at the university. And now, when we have a rather difficult situation in the country, it is pleasant to observe that education does not stand still, but is developing rapidly, moving forward with great strides. Literally two months from the idea to the result, few people can show off not only here in the Poltava region, but also in Ukraine. When guests come to Poltava, I always try to invite them to the Poltava Polytechnic, since there is always something to show here. And believe me, when my colleagues return to the Verkhovna Rada, they always say only one thing, that Poltava Polytechnic is the coolest university, here are the coolest people, here are innovations, here the rector is in his place, here everyone is doing what all educational institutions should do. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, I am pleased to meet you, it is nice that there is a place to bring guests, there is something to show. Students, I will tell you only one thing – you have chosen the right educational institution, you have made the right choice – to study in Ukraine,” – said Andrii Bobliakh.
“Indeed, the Poltava region and the best rector show that a university of this level can be not only in the capital, but also in Poltava. I said and I repeat again that Poltava Polytechnic is on a par with European universities. I hope that immediately after our victory, children from European countries will go to study in Poltava. Ambitious goals, but I know that the Polytechnic achieves all the goals. The work team, the rector, students are all a single unit. Once again, I congratulate you on a new innovative project and a new step into the future,” – congratulated Oleksii Ustenko.
The symbolic ribbon was cut by the author of the project Mr. Leader, People’ s Deputy of Ukraine Volodymyr Voronov and rector of Poltava Polytechnic Volodymyr Onyshchenko, who successfully implemented the idea.
Practical psychologist, Doctor of Philosophy Yevheniia Khomenko was appointed as the head of the Center, and a graduate of our university Anna Bondarenko became the specialist-educator.
Dean of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Anna Aheicheva thanked the creator of the program Mr. Leader Volodymyr Voronov and rector Volodymyr Onyshchenko for trusting the faculty, the idea and support on the way to its implementation.
“Many of our teachers have children of preschool age who need and have the opportunity to stay during the working day of their moms and dads on the territory of our kindergarten. Of course, I would also like to emphasize that internally displaced persons live in the campus of our university, and children of IDP families also have the opportunity to visit our center. We have ensured all safe conditions for children; all sanitary standards have been met. We have methodical support provided to us by the founders of the project.
Students of the specialty 012 “Preschool Education” and 053 “Psychology” have a unique opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and skills not only with textbooks and multimedia projects, but directly with children. I am very grateful to Volodymyr Oleksandrovych for the development and care of these new specialties of our university. We are ready to raise new leaders for our glorious free country and are grateful to our guests who offered and provided a unique opportunity to be a part of the Mr. program. Leader,” – commented practical psychologist, head of the Center for Education and Care of Preschool Children Yevheniia Khomenko.
The center has been operating for the second week, the children liked it. Aliona Buriak, who successfully combines the status of a mother and a scientist, worked as an assistant professor at the Department of International Economic Relations and Tourism, was present at the opening ceremony. The scientist drew attention to the urgency of opening this center for parents in times of martial law, comfortable, safe conditions and opportunities for comprehensive development for children, and on behalf of all parents as well as scientific and pedagogical workers, she thanked rector Volodymyr Onyshchenko for a progressive managerial approach.
Honored guests visited the Center for Education and Care of Preschool Children, familiarized themselves with the interior and talked with the very first little visitors.
It should be recalled that in the summer, the university opened a new educational and scientific laboratory – “Educational Bank”, as well as a modern multifunctional sports ground.
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National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
