"The purpose of education is the comprehensive development of a person as a personality and the highest value of society, his or her talents, intellectual, creative and physical abilities, the formation of values and competencies necessary for successful self-realization, the education of responsible citizens who are capable of making conscious social choices and directing their activities to benefit other people and society... raising the educational level of citizens to ensure sustainable development of Ukraine and its European choice."
From the Law of Ukraine "On Education"
Students are the brightest representatives of students - ambitious, persistent, creative. The best of them represent their higher education institutions at various scientific, cultural and educational events in Ukraine and abroad, and receive awards. In particular, scholarships from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine were awarded to FMM students Daria Matiyash and Zakhar Struzh.
Daria Matiyash is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Management, she is an active and proactive student. "I chose Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute as my favorite because of its long traditions, high level of teaching and opportunities for student development."
And she makes full use of these opportunities. None of the student conferences on economic topics - "Management", "Economics", "Entrepreneurship" - held at the university can do without her participation. For example, under the guidance of Associate Professor Iryna Lutsenko, she researched innovative technologies in logistics: how the use of electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, warehouse robotization, and Internet of Things technologies can optimize logistics processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. When she became interested in optimizing business processes, she and her supervisor, Associate Professor Maryna Pichugina, analyzed the Quality 4.0 concept, which combines digital technologies and quality management, its advantages and implementation challenges. She studied the peculiarities of the labor market in Ukraine and the issues of remuneration, the influence of the state and trade unions on the level of wages with her supervisor, Associate Professor Hanna Zhaldak. She also paid attention to the study of students' time management during the pandemic: how they plan and spend their time. The work done together with her supervisor, Associate Professor Iryna Manaienko, is of practical value for optimizing students' time during "distance learning."
"In addition to research," says the scholarship recipient, "I show my organizational skills as the head of the academic group, take care of the cohesion and success of my classmates, and represent their interests before the administration.
The student is also gaining teamwork experience and learning to influence what is happening around her. She participated in short-term volunteer programs of the European Solidarity Corps in Italy (2022) and Hungary (2023). "The first project was about the environment, and the second was about working with people, including children," says Daria. "I was lucky to work with great teams of like-minded people from different countries. We organized events for children and youth, helped improve the infrastructure of local communities. I remember new places, new cultures, new people. It was an extremely valuable opportunity to immerse myself in another culture and see the world from a new perspective. I want to continue doing something useful in the future."
Of course, Daria loves to travel. How can you not take advantage of the opportunity to explore the world when you are young, enthusiastic, and have a backpack behind you? "While traveling, I noticed how different people's lifestyles and worldviews are depending on the cultural traditions of their countries. But at the same time, we all strive for happiness and self-realization. This inspires us to appreciate our common humanity more."
Obviously, the girl's plans are bright and winged: to continue gaining knowledge, expanding her professional horizons, realizing her own potential, developing as a specialist, and bringing benefits to Ukrainian society and the state. But first of all, she is grateful to Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, teachers and mentors who contribute to her personal and career growth.
"Believe in your own strengths, develop yourself in many ways and strive to change this world for the better. This is the only way you can realize your potential and become successful in the professional sphere," the activist addresses the students.
Zakhar Struzh is a fourth-year student at the Department of Management, with an average grade point average of 99.125. So there is no doubt that the student focuses his main efforts on his studies. In particular, for the third year in a row, he has been participating in scientific and practical conferences of the Faculty of Management and Marketing, as he researches modern topical issues, demonstrates competence, understanding and interest in the subject of his research. His research interests include aviation logistics, intercontinental transportation, air transportation infrastructure, legal aspects of international air transport, etc.
By the way, the list of his publications in conference proceedings alone takes up almost a page of text. For example, in a paper supervised by Anna Omelchenko, PhD in Economics, on the growing inflationary pressure on the global economy, Zakhar studied the impact of the war in Ukraine and the pandemic on global supply chains, inflationary challenges in the Eurozone, and changes in global labor markets. Among other measures, he proposed the introduction of tight monetary policy and fiscal support to stop the growth of inflation. And of course, it is very important to open the Black Sea ports to provide a grain corridor and establish a logistics chain with different countries of the world.
The young researcher also studied the efficiency of the company's operation depending on changes in supply chains and the benefits of using a circular supply chain in connection with the rising cost of raw materials and destabilization of supplies in 2023. "We came to the conclusion," says the student, "that one of the most significant changes we have seen since the beginning of this century is the growing importance of sustainability for business, especially in terms of environmental, social and ethical performance. Regardless of the level of geopolitical tensions, the rise of emerging technological threats, and the risks of global climate change, supply chain sustainability has never been more uncertain and potentially dangerous than it is today. Given the fact that environmental issues have become a serious global threat, businesses are now required to implement environmentally friendly, sustainable strategies and practices."
In addition, the student is actively involved in international projects of Kyiv Polytechnic. In 2023, he was trained as part of the international academic mobility program DILLUGIS (Digital Labs & Lectures for Ukrainian, German & International Students) at the East Bavarian Technical University and successfully passed the exam in selected subjects (Business Process Management, Product Management). "In the course of my studies, I gained modern knowledge, skills and competencies that meet the requirements of the European labor market from experts from German technology companies (Siemens, OnraSens) and professors of a German university whose courses have a significant practical focus," Zakhar said.
In the near future, he plans to participate in internships and real projects to solve specific logistics problems and gain practical skills in the field of logistics.
No wonder experts believe that logistics is the art and science of managing the flow of goods, energy, information, and other resources. And as you know, art is creativity. And the creators brought up in Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute will rebuild the country and create its future.