The Department of Psychology and Pedagogy is a structural unit of the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”.
The National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” is one of the leading higher education institutions in the Poltava region. The University implements the priority areas of national education policy, including the training of highly qualified professionals capable of creative work and continuous professional development, as well as mastering and implementing advanced science-intensive and information technologies and competing successfully in the labor market.
Recognizing the individual as the highest value and focusing educational systems on the development of well-rounded and harmonious personalities creates a need for the comprehensive preparation of future professionals. This preparation requires consideration of key psychological factors, including the mechanisms underlying individual and group behavior, the development of stress resilience in a constantly changing information environment, the creation of a favorable psychological climate, and the development of social and interpersonal skills that contribute to success – Soft Skills.
The demands of the modern educational and professional environment led to the establishment of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy on February 1, 2020. The Department provides high-quality educational services, delivers instruction in psychological and pedagogical disciplines, conducts educational and outreach, research, and counseling activities, and provides psychological and pedagogical support to participants in the educational process through the application of practical psychology and pedagogy.
Since 2021, the Department has provided undergraduate education in Specialty 053 “Psychology” under the “Practical Psychology” Educational and Professional Program, as well as in Specialty 012 “Preschool Education” under the “Preschool Education” Educational and Professional Program.
Since 2022, the Department has provided graduate-level education in Specialty 053 “Psychology” under the “Practical Psychology” Educational and Professional Program.
Since 2024, the Department has provided undergraduate education in Specialty 061 “Journalism” under the “Media Communications” Educational and Professional Program.
Since 2025, the Department has provided graduate-level education in Specialty A2 “Preschool Education” under the “Preschool Education” Educational and Professional Program.
Head of the Department, PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor
Doctor of Psychology, Professor
Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor
PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor
PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor
PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor
PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor
PhD in Philology, Associate Professor
PhD in Psychology (Specialty 053 “Psychology”), Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy
Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy (part-time); Director of the Private Preschool Educational Institution “Maliatko”
The research conducted by the academic staff of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy focuses on a range of issues, including the psychological and pedagogical aspects of personality formation and development in educational settings; the preservation of psychological well-being in educational environments; psychological and pedagogical support for individuals experiencing life transitions; psychological and pedagogical conditions for organizing students’ educational and professional activities in the context of European integration; challenges and opportunities related to innovation in educational institutions; and the development of motivation among participants in the educational process. The results of this research are reflected in scholarly publications and presentations at academic conferences.
Since 2020, the Department has annually organized international scientific and practical conferences: All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference “The Synergetic Approach to Personality Development and Formation” and the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Psychological and Pedagogical Coordinates of Personality Development”
On April 23, 2026, the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” hosted the All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference “The Synergetic Approach to Personality Development and Formation,” dedicated to current trends and challenges in psychology, education, and social development.
The academic event brought together 195 participants from Germany, Poland, and various regions of Ukraine. The conference provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers, academic staff, psychologists, practitioners, and higher education students.
During the plenary session, research presentations were delivered by Ivan Danyliuk, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; Olena Vlasova, Doctor of Psychological Sciences and Professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; Yurii Irkhin, Candidate of Psychological Sciences and Associate Professor at Poltava Polytechnic; Yuliia Faliieva, Head of the Center for Ensuring the Activities of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Poltava Region; Nataliia Panchenko, Acting Director of the Regional Youth Center of the Poltava Regional Council; Olena Kryvenko, practicing psychologist and assistant professor at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy; and Mariia Zameliuk, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor at the Municipal Higher Education Institution “Lutsk Pedagogical Institute.”
During the conference’s thematic sessions, Oksana Tur, Professor at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, presented an analytical study entitled “Ukrainian-Czech Discourse on the Training of Preschool Education Master’s Students,” while Lesia Klevaka, Head of the Department, presented the experience of implementing the international Erasmus+ “TRUST” project.
The conference also featured a series of practice-oriented workshops for future psychologists and educators. As an outcome of the event, a conference proceedings volume was published, containing 91 scholarly papers.
The conference continued the Department’s long-standing research into the synergetic approach to personality development and formation. It also facilitated the integration of fundamental and applied research, student research activities, and the practical experience of professionals.
Transnational Working Meeting of the Erasmus+ “TRUST” Project at Poltava Polytechnic. From August 31 to September 3, 2026, the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” hosted the final transnational working meeting and Steering Committee meeting of the international Erasmus+ KA220-ADU project “TRUST: Trauma of Refugees in Europe: An Approach Through Art Therapy as a Solidarity Program for Ukraine War Victims”. The meeting brought together representatives of the international consortium, including Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St-Martin (Belgium), Poltava Polytechnic (Ukraine), Greek Carers Network EPIONI (Greece), Fondazione Don Luigi Di Liegro (Italy), LEKAMA DEVELOPPEMENT (Luxembourg), and EuroPlural Project (Portugal). Some international partners participated remotely.
The organizational and academic-methodological support for the meeting was provided by representatives of Poltava Polytechnic, including Maryna Teslenko, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy; Lesia Klevaka, Head of the Department; Viktoriia Shevchuk, Associate Professor; Olha Losiievska, Professor; Olena Kryvenko, practicing psychologist; and other members of the University team.
During the working sessions, the international partners reviewed the progress made in implementing the project’s work packages, discussed the educational and methodological materials developed within the project, examined psychological recovery practices, and considered prospects for the further use of the “TRUST” project outcomes.
The practical program of the international meeting included art therapy, somatic, narrative, textile, and ethnocultural practices. Participants explored creative healing and somatic stabilization techniques, analyzed the experience of crisis psychological support provided by specialists of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and examined the potential of Ukrainian cultural traditions as a resource for psychological resilience.
The final day of the international program included canine-assisted therapy with certified therapy dogs and the final art performance “Cranes of Peace and Hope,” which brought together and integrated the results of the participants’ creative work throughout the meeting.
The final meeting in Poltava marked the culmination of extensive international cooperation focused on researching, adapting, and implementing art therapy technologies for the psycho-emotional rehabilitation of people affected by war. It also demonstrated the significant contribution of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy at Poltava Polytechnic to international academic and practical cooperation in the field of mental health.
Student Research Activities
An important area of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy’s research activities is the involvement of higher education students in research and the support of student-led research initiatives.
From May 28 to 30, 2025, the final stage of the All-Ukrainian Competition of Student Research Papers “Healthy Child – Healthy Nation” was held at Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University. The event brought together young researchers from different regions of Ukraine.
The National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” was represented at the competition by Kateryna Kasian, a higher education student majoring in Specialty 053 “Psychology.” Following the presentation and defense of her research paper, she was awarded a Second-Degree Diploma.
The research was supervised by Maryna Teslenko, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy.
The professional development of future specialists in Specialty 053 “Psychology” and Specialty 012 “Preschool Education” is also supported by their participation in student research groups operating within the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy.
Student Research Groups
A student research group is a group of researchers – academic staff and higher education students – who work collaboratively on a specific research problem under the guidance of one of the group’s members.
Higher education students who demonstrate an aptitude for independent and creative research are invited to participate in student research groups. Their involvement is aimed at investigating specific research problems and developing practical research skills.
The activities of the student research groups are aligned with the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy’s research topic, “The Synergetic Approach to Personality Development and Formation” (State Registration Number: 0121U108236, implementation period: 2021–2025).
Purpose of Student Research Groups
The Department of Psychology and Pedagogy establishes student research groups to organize research activities and involve Bachelor’s and Master’s students in research projects, foster scientific thinking and creative approaches to addressing theoretical and applied problems, and provide one of the key forms of research activity within the Department.
Objectives of Student Research Groups
The student research groups pursue the following objectives:
to deepen students’ knowledge of current scientific achievements in their chosen field and facilitate their practical application;
to develop skills in independent and creative research and gain practical experience in conducting scientific studies;
to foster a creative and inquiry-based approach to research;
to encourage a commitment to self-directed learning and increase students’ research engagement;
to apply research findings and develop recommendations for their practical implementation;
to contribute to the improvement of the educational process and the implementation of modern teaching methods and techniques;
to enhance professional competence;
to promote students’ self-expression and personal development throughout their professional training.
Outcomes of Student Research Activities
The results of the student research groups’ activities are reviewed and discussed at a meeting of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy at the end of each academic year.
The outcomes of participation in a student research group may include the defense of qualification and course papers, scholarly publications, presentations at academic and scientific-practical conferences, and participation in academic competitions and research paper contests at the University, regional, national, and international levels.
The laboratory of psychodiagnostics and correctional and developmental work operates on the basis of the department of psychology and pedagogy, and its activities are guided by current legislation, normative acts of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, local normative and legal acts, educational-professional, educational-scientific training programs for future specialists, the Statute of the University, the Collective Agreement between the administration and the labor team of the National University”Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” .
The purpose of the laboratory is:
- organization of research activities in the following fields: 05 Social and behavioral sciences, 01 Education/Pedagogy and others;
- ensuring in-depth practical training of participants in the educational process;
- implementation of educational, advisory, social-prophylactic, correctional-developmental, career guidance work.
The laboratory carries out its activities in a single complex of educational, scientific, research activities of the University and operates in the structure of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy.
The laboratory is a multifunctional site for:
- provision of quality educational services to students of specialties 053 "Psychology" and 012 "Preschool Education";
- provision of psychological services for individuals and legal entities;
- conducting scientific research, including, together with colleagues from Ukrainian and foreign institutions.
Due to the use of special equipment of the laboratory, such multifunctionality is possible.
The Educational Laboratory "Education and Care Center for Pre-schoolers" provides educational activities for students of the specialism 012 - "Preschool Education" and 053 - "Psychology". The official opening of the Laboratory took place on October 4, 2022.
The opening of a new specialism at the Faculty of Philology, Psychology and Pedagogy - "Pre-school Education" in 2021 led to the creation of specialized educational laboratories to provide quality knowledge and form students' practical skills.
The laboratory is a unique platform for practicing students' practical skills, promotes the implementation of the principle of duality of education, the provision of high-quality educational services to students of higher education at the level of European standards.
In August 2022, the University concluded a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Mr.Leader children's center (founder of the brand - People's Deputy Volodymyr Voronov), within which the "EDUCATION and CARE" program for early childhood and preschool children is implemented on the basis of the laboratory , recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
In the laboratory, opportunities for the formation of professional competences of future preschool education specialists, practical psychologists capable of solving complex specialized tasks, characterized by the complexity of conditions with the application of innovative methods of preschool education, are expanding.
The Educational and Research Center for Psychological Expertise “Green Room” operates in accordance with the applicable legislation of Ukraine; regulatory acts of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine; the regulatory framework of the National Police of Ukraine governing work with minors; local regulations; educational and professional and educational and research programs for the training of future specialists; the University Charter; the Collective Agreement between the Administration and the Employees of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”; as well as methodological guidelines for investigators and juvenile police officers on organizing work with children using the “Green Room” methodology.
The purpose of the Educational and Research Center is to:
organize research activities in the fields of 05 Social and Behavioral Sciences, 01 Education/Pedagogy, and other related fields;
provide advanced practical training for participants in the educational process;
conduct educational, counseling, social and preventive, corrective and developmental, and expert activities in the field of Psychology.
The Center operates as an integral part of the University’s educational, academic, and research activities and functions within the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy.
The Educational and Research Center is a multifunctional platform for:
providing high-quality educational opportunities and practical training for students enrolled in Specialty 053 “Psychology”;
conducting investigative interviews (interrogations) and psychological assessments of minors by expert psychologists;
providing psychological and psychotherapeutic services to individuals and legal entities;
conducting research, including collaborative research with colleagues from Ukrainian educational and research institutions and institutions abroad.
The establishment of a specialized “safe space” – the “Green Room” – complies with legal requirements concerning the protection of minors’ rights during the questioning of participants, witnesses, or victims of violence. It enables expert psychologists to conduct interviews and interrogations of minors in a safe and child-friendly environment, helping to prevent secondary traumatization during investigative and procedural activities through the use of specialized techniques and the creation of a psychologically comfortable atmosphere.
The “Green Room” consists of two adjoining rooms:
a therapeutic room, where children work directly with juvenile prevention officers, psychologists, and other specialists, including professionals in pediatrics, pediatric gynecology, psychiatry, pedagogy, and related fields;
a working room for juvenile prevention officers and other specialists involved in the process, from which the child’s behavior can be observed (observation room).
The Educational and Research Center is equipped with all the necessary facilities and equipment for psychotherapeutic, diagnostic, and corrective work, as well as for conducting psychological assessments and expert examinations. In particular, one-way observation glass is installed between the therapeutic room and the observation room, ensuring that the child is not subjected to additional psychological stress and enabling the expert psychologist to conduct the assessment in an appropriate and effective manner.
Address: 24 V. Hrytsaienka Avenue, Room 313, Poltava, Ukraine
University website: https://nupp.edu.ua/
Department website: Department of Psychology and Pedagogy
Department of Psychology and Pedagogy on Facebook: Facebook page
Email: kaf.psyped@nupp.edu.ua
Admissions Office
For more detailed information, please contact the Admissions Office:
Email: vstup@nupp.edu.ua
Phone: +38 (0532) 56-16-04
+38 (099) 057-65-17
+38 (0532) 56-19-48
+38 (0532) 56-18-97
Feedback on Educational Programs
Dear students, parents, employers, and colleagues!
To support and continuously improve the quality of educational activities within the following educational programs:
“Practical Psychology” – Bachelor’s and Master’s degree levels
“Preschool Education” – Bachelor’s and Master’s degree levels
“Media Communications” – Bachelor’s degree level
We welcome your suggestions and recommendations regarding the content of the educational and professional programs and the improvement of the educational process.
Please send your feedback and suggestions to:
Email: kaf.psyped@ukr.net