An expanded meeting of the USPU Academic Council at the end of August marks the start of the new academic year. Natalia Pobirchenko, the Rector, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, corresponding member of National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, honored worker of Ukraine, congratulated everyone on the start of the new academic year.

Natalia Pobirchenko wished everyone peace, good health, inexhaustible energy, further significant gains in the new academic year and suggested to honor the dead soldiers, members of ATO and civilians of Ukraine with a moment of silence. The moment of silence has evoked the mutual longing of our compatriots – to establish peace and harmony in this academic year, to work productively and creatively.

The new academic year raises a number of problems with the implementation of the new Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education", the new state standards, scientific methods of the educational process. Natalia Pobirchenko was pleased to inform the participants of the meeting about the high rating of our university (USPU joined the top 10 best universities of the central region of Ukraine). She said: "In this difficult time we have fulfilled the state orders by 100 % and increased the number of applicants. Compared to the previous year, the number of students has increased by 605 persons."

The Rector has made a detailed analysis of the current admissions campaign. The largest number of freshmen has been enrolled into Economics Department, Sociology and Psychology Department, Technology and Pedagogics Department, Nature and Geography Department.

The meeting discussed the qualifications of the teaching staff. Today 119 postgraduate students study at our university. During the last year, 38 university professors defended dissertations (29 candidates of sciences and 9 doctoral studies dissertations).

The University is an active player in the European educational space. In this context, we have signed 50 cooperation agreements with international partners. Teachers of USPU are the members of 20 international administrative structures, associations, partnerships, seminars and more. They promote the success of the University working on the international and national reputation of the university, young researchers and students of Physical Training Department. Last academic year, the university has been repeatedly awarded for excellence in education, research and educational activities. The beginning of this academic year has brought inspiration for new achievements.

The following honored people were speaking at the Academic Council: Tetiana Kochubey, the Vice Rector for Research and Education, Doctor of pedagogical Sciences, Dmytro Baldynyuk, the Vice-Rector for Humanitarian Affairs, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine, Head of the Music Department, Vice-Rector for scientific and pedagogical work, Oksana Bratslavska, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Chair of Geography and methods of teaching. Natalia Petrenko, the Vice Rector for economic and commercial issues, has reported that the university is ready for the 2014-2015 academic year, Yulia Mudrytska, the Student Council representative has reported about the work of the Student Council.

Talat Azizov, PhD, Professor, Head of technical and technological disciplines, safety and life safety, Dmytro Pashchenko, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Chair of General Pedagogy, Higher Education Pedagogics and Management, Svitlana Popychenko, a Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dean of Preschool and Remedial Education Department, Anatoliy Berzhanir, PhD in Sociology, Head of the Department of Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Business, Valeriy Mikolajko, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor of Physical Geography and General Geology, were warmly congratulated by the colleagues at the meeting. Diplomas of Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences were awarded to Svitlana Pryshchepa, teacher of the Chair of General Pedagogy, Pedagogics and Management, Inna Gonchar, the teacher of General Pedagogy, Pedagogics and Management, Mykola Zaharevych, teacher of Theory and Methods of Teaching Technologies.

On the eve of the new academic year we congratulate everyone who makes us educated! Health and well-being you! Peace and love!