At the beginning of summer and before the hottest time for institutions of higher education – the admissions campaign, we decided to talk to the dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management.
Tetiana Danyliuk kindly agreed to the meeting. Despite the fact that her vacation was due to start in just a few days, she willingly talked about the work of the faculty, its advantages, organization of studies, graduates and much more.
So for your attention – an interview with the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, Tetyana Danyliuk.
– Ms. Danyliuk, introduce your faculty, tell us about the number of students and teachers at your faculty, and specialties.
– The Faculty of Economics and Management of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University provides training for students in the fields of knowledge 05 Social and behavioral sciences and 07 Management and administration, specialties 051 Economics, 071 Accounting and taxation, 072 Finance, banking and insurance, 073 Management , 075 Marketing and 076 Entrepreneurship, trade and exchange activity at the following educational levels: first (bachelor’s), second (master’s) and third (educational and scientific).
Almost 700 students and postgraduate students study at the faculty.
The teaching staff of the faculty creates modern conditions for the study and development of students and postgraduate students. The educational process is provided by 40 teachers, 12 of them are professors, doctors of science, the rest are candidates of science, associate professors.
– The “Double Diploma” program and the implementation of the elements of a dual form of education into the educational process are among the competitive advantages of the University. How is the work of the faculty organized in this regard?
– Students of the Faculty of Economics and Management have the opportunity to study both under the dual form of education and under the “Double Diploma” program.
The faculty has two specialties where the agreement on the “Double Diploma” has been concluded: 072 Finance, banking and insurance and 076 Entrepreneurship, trade and exchange activity. The opportunity to study under this program is available at the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) levels of higher education.
At the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education, an agreement has been concluded with the Jan Dlugos University of Humanities and Natural Sciences (Czestochowa, Poland) in the field of “Economics”. As of 2022, there are still no graduates of the “Double Diploma” program. The first graduation will be in 2023.
At the second (master’s) level of higher education, there is an agreement on the “Double Diploma” signed with the Higher School of Economics and Innovation (Lublin, Poland) in the field of “Business Economics”. 12 students have graduated in the 2021/2022 academic year.
– Do you continue to work in this direction?
– The Faculty provides further work in this direction because every year the number of students willing to obtain a double diploma is growing. Today, the agreement of cooperation between Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University and the Higher School of Socio-Economics in Pshevorsk has already been signed, which provides the development of a double diploma program for bachelors majoring in “Management”. We are also developing the possibility of studying under the “Double Diploma” program at Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (Poland).
– What are the benefits of studing on this program?
– Undoubtedly, there are a lot of advantages of studying under the “Double Diploma” program. Firstly, it is an opportunity to acquire proper professional education simultaneously in Ukraine and abroad; secondly, students obtain two diplomas, one of which is recognized by all EU countries. It is also a financial benefit for students, since they do not pay for all years of study, unlike those who enter foreign universities independently. And last but not least, graduates receive bigger opportunities for employment, especially in foreign companies, without confirmation of their diplomas.
– Another competitive advantage of the University is the possibility to study under the dual education system. Do the students of your faculty have the same possibility?
– The dual education system provides more opportunities for students. The aim of this system is to help students acquire practical skills while studying, to facilitate the process of employment and adaptation to the team work. The student-University-enterprise relationship makes it possible to overcome the gap between theory and practice and increases the quality of training of highly qualified personnel taking into account the requirements of employers. That is why we support students if they want to join this form of education, and conclude a tripartite agreement between the applicant, the University and the enterprise.
The implementation of the elements of a dual form of education into the educational process has also its benefits. The learner is motivated to acquire not only knowledge, but also practical and professional skills and competencies. By holding certain positions, students work not only with texts, but also with industrial situations. Under such circumstances, they cease to be passive consumers of educational information and learn consciously and with interest. And, what is important, the student's chances of getting the first job immediately after graduation increase.
– What are the peculiarities of the educational process in the conditions of war? Does distance learning influence the quality of the specialist training?
– Martial law, of course, has affected the organization of the educational process, but not its quality. The process itself has been organized remotely, although there are certain events held offline or in a mixed format. We try to make studying at the faculty interesting, because it is quite difficult for our students, since not only martial law, but also COVID-19 quarantine restrictions have befallen on the time of their studies at the university. That is why faculty teachers present all educational material, use convenient and accessible learning platforms and try to explain new material in an accessible way involving practitioners and experts. Therefore, distance learning has not affected the quality of educational process at all. In these conditions, everything depends on the students’ zest for learning.
– Have the faculty members joined the volunteer movement? If so, what are they involved into? Are there students or teachers who have joined the army?
– Almost all employees of our faculty are involved in the volunteer movement: some of them are organizing the purchase of ammunition, first-aid kits, rations for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, others are weaving camouflage nets, etc. The teachers have also bought all the necessary things for the perinatal center assigned for the expectant mothers and their children from Gostomel, Bucha and Irpin at their own expense (outside the initiatives of the University); moreover, they have raised money and purchased a camouflage net from Poland.
Students do not stand aside either. They have actively participated in the information war on social networks at the beginning of the war, volunteered at the Faculties of History, Political Sciences and National Security, in the drama theater and responded to all the requests of our teachers: they have made nets, unloaded trucks and distributed humanitarian aid. There are students who have helped financially with the purchase of nets in Poland. Some of our students are still serving in the territorial defense units.
Three students of the faculty defend our Ukraine in the war. Two of them are fighting in the east of the country, precisely in the “hot spots”. We rejoice at such patriotism of the youth and every day pray for God to protect our students and all those who defend Ukraine.
– The admission campaign is approaching. Current school leavers are still hesitating what faculty to choose. How are you going to attract applicants and convince them to choose your faculty?
– Of course, you won’t convince them by giving sweets or something like that (note: Ms. Danyliuk is laughing). The applicant must decide for himself / herself what he / she wants, what his / her future prospects are and what goals he / she sets for himself / hersel. The talent or ability to learn certain subjects is also important when choosing a specialty. Taking into account all these details, the applicant can compare the opportunities and chances he / she receives choosing a certain educational program of the Faculty of Economics and Management. There are quite a lot of advantages and all of them are targeted at obtaining a qualitative education, combining theoretical knowledge with practical work experience and ensuring an interesting student life.
It should be noted that all specialties of our faculty are in demand on the labour market: economists, specialists in accounting, auditing, analysis, control and taxation, managers, marketers, and specialists in the field of finance and credit, and in the field of entrepreneurship, trade and exchange activity, etc. After graduation, our students will also have the opportunity to work in various sectors of the economy (both national and international). It is also important that the curricula (elaborated for students of all years of study) include educational and practical training, which strengthens students’ practical skills acquired in the process of studying and increases their chances of employment. This also happens on the basis of integrated training in a dual form of education. Students of the Faculty of Economics and Management have a unique opportunity to learn from competent mentors who are well-known practitioners. After graduation, graduates can start their own businesses, organize and manage processes, or apply for vacant positions in their specialty.
It is quite important for students to have an interesting life, filled with various events, as everybody usually remembers time spent at the university as one of the most fascinating and exciting periods in life. There is a tight-knit student community at the Faculty of Economics and Management. The events they organize are interesting and exciting not only for students but also for us, teachers. It is this period that is the most important for the accumulation of new knowledge, interesting meetings, and learning new things. If the applicant wants to plunge into an independent life, filled with unforgettable events, he / she should choose a specialty of the Faculty of Economics and Management.
– Do you stay in touch with your students after graduation? Where can students be employed after graduating from the Faculty of Economics and Management?
– We are very proud of our graduates! Each success story is a confirmation of the high-quality educational process at the Faculty of Economics and Management. We have been implementing the informational project "Let's Get Acquainted! Successful Graduates from the Faculty of Economics and Management" on our Facebook page for the second year in a row. During this period, about 100 graduates have been involved in the project, who have eagerly shared their success stories. These people have not only managed to get jobs related to their specialties but also started businesses, received academic titles or organized their lives having completely changed the sphere of occupation.
We cooperate with our graduates. They have become an integral part of all our events. As our stakeholders, they provide consultations for the Faculty. They also manage our students’ practical training and help provide dual education. They are engaged in the educational process as lecturers or experts in the work of the educational and scientific laboratory (CONSALTYNG LAB), and that is the sign of the highest level of trust to them. We are convinced that our project “Let’s Get Acquainted! Successful Graduates from the Faculty of Economics and Management” will always have interesting success stories to cover because our graduates are the best!
Our graduates can be hired by state, joint, and private enterprises of various branches of the national economy, banks, insurance, consulting companies, franchising and engineering enterprises. They are capable of leading the economic departments of state and sectoral manufacturing enterprises, and scientific and project institutions. Our graduates will be able to use their knowledge, skills and abilities in laboratories and economic research centres as well as perform analytical work or be employed as financial managers, marketers, economists, accountants, and analysts. Moreover, they can realize themselves in all business structures (private firms, small enterprises, multidisciplinary corporations, banking institutions, stock companies, branches and representative offices of international companies, and IT structures).
– During the Days of Science at the University, the faculty representatives have shown good results – some of your students and teachers have been awarded. What students’ and teachers’ achievements in various fields are you proud of?
– Science is among the main achievements. The Faculty of Economics and Management has much to be proud of in this sphere of our work. Every year, our students are among the prize winners of the university competition “The best student-scientist of the University”. Last year we took two prizes out of three. This year, all prize-winning places have been taken by our students: Andriana Ploskina has taken the first place, Zoryana Gavrylyuk – the second one, and Ivan Bilo – the third one. Last year, three of our students were awarded for taking part in the all-Ukrainian competition of scientific student works (there were 11 winners from the University).
Among the things that can interest our applicants are scholarships. Everyone has the opportunity to realize himself / herself. Students of our faculty are the recipients of various scholarships, e.g.: Sofia Melnychuk receives Boris Martos scholarship, Iryna Borychevska – Hristofor Baranovsky scholarship, Yuriy Panasyuk – President of Ukraine scholarship, Andrian Ploskin – Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine scholarship (2021–2022).
The Faculty teachers also have significant achievements. Young scientists of the Faculty win prizes in the “Best Young Scientist” university competition. Eight teachers of the faculty have received the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine scholarships in recent years. Two teachers receive the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred academic scholarship.
In addition to science, the student mobility program is fairly well-developed at the faculty of economics and management. Our students have the opportunity to take part in an internship (or study) abroad on the basis of individual grant programs. Agreements on cooperation, exchange of students, and mutual exchange of teachers as guest professors for delivering lectures in specialized disciplines have been concluded between the Higher School of Economics and Innovation of the city of Lublin and the Jan Dlugosz University of Humanities and Natural Sciences in Częstochowa (Poland). In connection with martial law, they had the opportunity to participate in international mobility programs and were engaged in virtual classes and events with further performing of practical tasks and receiving certificates.
Opportunities for academic mobility can be also realized here, in Ukraine. The faculty has concluded agreements on cooperation, and exchange of students and teaching staff with leading educational institutions of Ukraine, which enables students to acquire relevant competencies and program learning outcomes in another educational space, strengthen communication skills, and expand their worldview on professional development.
By Andriy PETRUSHKO
