Kherson State University

From 26 to 30 January 2026, Kherson State University hosted an intensive programme of the School of Professional Development. Over the course of five days, participants immersed themselves in modern approaches to teaching, academic integrity, digital transformation, and professional self‑care. The first day began with an official opening, a motivational address by Oleksandr Spivakovskyi, and an introduction to the course delivered by Serhii Omelchuk and Yuliia Yurina. The day concluded with an expert panel by Ivan Nazarov dedicated to updates in academic integrity legislation.

On 13 January 2026, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor T. M. Shvets took an active part in the webinar “Prevention of Risky Behaviour Among Youth”. The webinar is part of the project “National Self‑Education Platform”, created by the Coordination Centre for Mental Health under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the NGO “Barrier‑Free”, within the All‑Ukrainian Mental Health Programme How Are You?—an initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska, supported by the “Partnership for a Strong Ukraine” Programme funded by the Governments of the United Kingdom, Estonia, Canada, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden.

On 29 December 2025, the final conference on pre‑graduation practice was held for first‑year full‑time students of the first (master’s) level of higher education in the specialty I10 “Social Work and Counselling”.

The students presented the initial steps and preliminary results of their future master’s research projects. All participants received grades of “excellent” or “good”.

In early December, the educational platform of the National Festival “Code of the Nation” announced the launch of the Human Rights Day Testing, which is observed worldwide on December 10.

The testing was created and conducted to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Our students, Tetiana Savchenko and Iryna Verzun, took part in the testing and received certificates.

The Ukrainian Independent Center for Political Research, with the support of Inclus Peace, has for the second year in a row approached our Kherson State University —

specifically Professor Serhii Kostiuchkov, Doctor of Philosophy and Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work — with a proposal for cooperation aimed at assessing the impact and likelihood of risks affecting Ukraine’s societal resilience. The focus of the political analysis is Kherson region. 

On December 19, 2025, the Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work, Professor S.K. Kostyuchkov, together with the guarantor of the educational program 'Social Work and Counseling' of the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education, Associate Professor T.M. Shvets, and the Chair of the Faculty Student Council, third-year student of the 'Social Work' program R. Yevsyukov, participated in the career guidance event 'Social Work: A Profession and a Life Mission' for the 11-A grade students of the East-European School (Klaipėda, Lithuania), children from Ukrainian families who have been forced by the war to reside in the Republic of Lithuania.

Today, December 18, 2025, a conference for prospective applicants “Open Day” was held, at which all faculties of Kherson State University were presented. From our faculty, the Acting Dean, Professor, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, and Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine — Iryna Shaposhnykova — delivered a presentation.

She spoke about the prospects of studying at our faculty.

On December 18, 2025, the academic and teaching staff of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work (Professor S.K. Kostyuchkov, Professor I.V. Shaposhnykova, Associate Professor V.O. Hurich, Associate Professor T.M. Shvets), together with students O. Kosovan (Bachelor’s degree program in “Social Work”) and M. Ozerov and A. Zhilyaiev (first-year doctoral students in the “Social Work and Counseling” program at the third [educational and scientific] level of higher education), took an active part in the VI All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference with international participation “Social Work: Formation, Prospects, Development”. 

On December 18, 2025, within the framework of the Week of On-Campus Learning at the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, a motivational event entitled “Career in the Veteran Sphere for Victory” was held — an event with elements of networking for graduating master’s students majoring in “Social Work.” The event was organized with the support of the Municipal Institution Center for the Provision of Social Services “Doviria” (Burshtyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region). As part of the event, a presentation of the profession “Veteran Support Specialist” took place.

On December 17, 2025, a guest lecture by Professor Serhii Kostyuchkov was held via the Zoom application for higher education students majoring in “Journalism” at Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University. The topic of the lecture — “Bioethical Imperatives of Counteracting Neurocognitive Hacking: A Biophilosophical Interpretation” — aroused significant interest among the audience.

On December 17, 2025, within the framework of the Week of In-Person Learning at the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, a guest lecture was delivered for students of all levels of study in the specialties 231 Social Work and I10 Social Work and Counseling by Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, and Professor of the Department of Social Pedagogy and Social Work at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Oksana Protas. The topic of the lecture was “Diagnostic Approaches in Professional and Career Counseling.”

On December 15, 2025, within the framework of the Week of In-Person Learning at the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, a study visit and informational meeting was held for second-year master’s students in the specialty Social Work to the municipal institution Warrior’s House in Ivano-Frankivsk.

On December 16, during a meeting with the Rector of Kherson State University, Oleksandr Spivakovskyi, on the occasion of the week of in-person learning for students of the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, a ceremonial awarding of the staff of our department took place.

Deputy Dean Tetiana Shvets received the certificate of Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work.

Today, December 16, 2025, the defense of qualification theses was held by students of the second (master’s) level of higher education, specializing in Social Work. The defense took place in a mixed format, with most of the students present at the Kherson State University office in Ivano-Frankivsk.

The Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology - Professor, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, IrynaShaposhnykova - was present at the defense.

On December 10, 2025, a meeting of the Competition Committee of Kherson State University was held.

During the meeting, the competition case of Associate Professor Volodymyr Hurich, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences and Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work, was reviewed in connection with his participation in the competition for the position of Associate Professor.

Today at 14:00, a university-wide event was held regarding the adoption of the regulations of the Student Rights Ombudsman. During the meeting, the Regulations on the Commissioner for the Rights of Learners (Student Ombudsman) of Kherson State University were discussed and approved. This document will contribute to the protection of rights, support, and proper communication between students and the administration of KSU.

Annually, on December 9, International Anti-Corruption Day is observed at the initiative of the UN. This is an important occasion to recall that corruption not only violates laws but also undermines the foundations of fairness, equality, and trust in society.
Kherson State University strongly condemns any manifestations of corruption. KSU urged students to be proactive and join the efforts to form a transparent and honest educational environment.

On December 5, 2025, the final assessment of pre-diploma practice was conducted for second-year full-time students of the second (master’s) level of higher education, majoring in Social Work. The assessment was attended by: Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor I. Shaposhnikova; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor T. Shvets; Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work, Professor S. Kostyuchkov.

On December 4, 2025, within the framework of the competition for the position of Professor at the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work, the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor Iryna Shaposhnykova, delivered an open lecture on the topic “Black Rhetoric: Manipulative Technologies in Rhetoric” as part of the educational component “Rhetoric” for students of the specialties Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, and History.

On November 13, 2025, the guarantor of the educational program “Social Work and Counseling” of the first (bachelor’s) level of higher education, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor T. Shvets, together with the Head of the Student Council of the Faculty and third-year student of the specialty “Social Work” R. Yevsiukov, took part in the career guidance event “Social Work: Profession and Mission of Life”, organized by the administration of Velyka Lepetykha Lyceum in Kherson region.

First-year student of the specialty 'Social Work and Counseling' at the first (Bachelor’s) level of higher education, Iryna Verzun, took part in the Testing dedicated to the Day of Dignity and Freedom, which was held on the educational platform of the National Festival 'Code of the Nation'. She received a certificate.

On December 2, 2025, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor T.M. Shvets took part in an online webinar for internally displaced persons and individuals affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine on the topic: 'Granting the status of a child affected by war'. The event was organized by the NGO 'Revival of Ukraine' with the support of the Directorate for the Protection of Children's Rights of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, as well as the Secretariat of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights. 

On December 1, 2025, the assessment of the research (pre-diploma) practice was conducted for first-year part-time students enrolled in the second (master’s) level of higher education in the specialty Social Work and Counseling. The students duly submitted all required documentation in a timely and complete manner. Based on the results of the assessment, they were awarded good and excellent grades.

On November 28, 2025, the final assessment of industrial practice was held for second-year full-time students pursuing the second (master’s) level of higher education. The conference was attended by: Acting Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor Iryna Shaposhnikova; Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, and Social Work, Chair of the Practice Commission Serhiy Kostyuchkov; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, and member of the Practice Commission Tetyana Shvets.