Head of the Department of International Economics, Doctor of Economics, Professor Sergiy Vasilievich Voitko in 2006 received the title of "Assistance Lecturer Researcher NTUU "KPI", in 2007-2016 six times was the winner of the contest "Lecturer Researcher NTUU "KPI", in 2015 he was recognized as the leader of the NTUU "KPI" on the academic achievements of students. He authored more than 500 publications, including 28 monographs, textbooks and manuals. At the editor's request, he shares the secrets of his success.

More than ten years ago, I managed to get the title of "Assistance Lecturer Researcher". At that time, I was still a candidate of sciences and had certain scientific achievements. The first success inspired. Subsequently, I was 35 years old and already began to take part in the contests for the title "Lecturer Researcher". Since the efforts of senior research scientists are much higher than those of the age under 35, the competition could be successful not every year. Nevertheless, I did not drop my hands and worked, gradually increasing my own academic performance. I used to work hard while studying at the Faculty of Radio Engineering.

I graduated KPI in 1996. In my diploma of higher education it is written: "Engineer-designer-technologist. Specialty" Design and technology of radio-electronic means". After graduation, because of the transformational processes in the Ukrainian economy, which were in the 1990s, it was necessary to realize my knowledge, skills and abilities of the engineer-radio technician in the small business. In my work were closely linked the design of electronic equipment and the economy of the enterprise. Therefore, I studied a lot of literature on economics and management. Successful activity of the firm and the accumulated experience at some point led me to think of doing an economy at a professional level. Having a certain industrial experience, I entered the postgraduate study, and since 2000 I began working as a lecturer at the KPI at the Department of Economics and Organization of Mechanical Engineering, which in 2002 was renamed the Department of International Economics.

The themes of my theses are directly related to the economics of the subject area of my engineering education. The candidate's dissertation was entitled "Planning of strategic changes in radio-electronic industries", doctoral - "Management of the development of high-tech enterprises". All my scientific papers relate to the field of high technology and high-tech industries. I have wanted to change the state of the enterprises of the radio engineering industry of Ukraine for a long time. Therefore, it was decided to form a scientific school based on the preparation of candidates and doctors of sciences on the problems of economics and management in high technology, high-tech spheres of sub-activity. My students and graduate students are engaged in a suitable problem. I believe that we will be able to change the state of the radio-electronic industry, as well as other high-tech industries.

Our department cooperated with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Finance, other organizations and departments, carrying out research works on urgent problems, in particular, for the Chernobyl zone and for the telecommunication sphere. My engineering knowledge and skills help to find a common language with the leaders of industrial enterprises. By the way, I recently prepared and issued a practical manual for the students of RTF and FIOT "PIC controllers and MPLAB: assembling programming".

Now I returned to the "Teacher-Researcher" competition. I cannot say that I make some special efforts trying to win the competition. Everyday work on research topics, management of theses of students, preparation and defense of dissertations of my postgraduate students and doctoral students are all components of the rating for the competition. The work on registration of educational materials and documents on educational disciplines, which is subsequently implemented in the form of textbooks and study aids, also adds points. As a result, the participation in the competition gives an opportunity to evaluate my achievements in comparison with the achievements of others, and victory gives both moral satisfaction and material reward.

The time pass fast - I am 27 years at the KPI: student, post-graduate student, teacher, head of the department. During this time, much has changed in the organization of the educational process. Electronic campus, Rector's control, Bologna assessment system, academic mobility, teacher rankings, departments, faculties (institutes) are just part of the improvements that have been made over the past decades. Implementation of these improvements requires many efforts from each of the teachers and the need to work more intensely. It is clear that not everyone likes to change the usual methods and approaches. At the same time, the increasing demand for teachers and internal accreditation of departments is to increase the effectiveness of academic activities of teachers and researchers. Due to this, the positions of our university grow in the various ratings of the world's higher education.

In my activity as the head of the department, I go from the fact that it is the department that is the driving force that determines the success of cross-cutting training from the bachelor, master's degree to the doctor of philosophy and doctor of sciences. The teaching staff of our department attracts students of undergraduate backgrounds. We have decent results - seven scholars of the President of Ukraine for the last 7 years, prize places at all-Ukrainian Professional Olympiads and competitions, dozens of grants for studying abroad, and even getting our graduate degree in Doctor of Philosophy in the USA. In addition to successes, there were also positive "failures" - some foreign universities refuse our students to grant a scholarship, arguing their decision is that the level of preparation of students in our university is higher than theirs. I realize that the current successes of the department are largely connected with the results of my predecessors on the post of the Head of Professors A.E. Rosenplenter, V.G. Gerasimchuk, and O.A. Havrysh. After all, they laid the «traditions» of the victories of students and teachers in various contests. For example, there have been years when at once three employees received the title of "Lecturer Researcher" and "Young Lecturer-Researcher", in 2012 and 2016 two students at once received a Scholarship or the President of Ukraine. I see my goal in the continuation and development of good traditions of the scientific and educational activities of the department in order to contribute to the overall development of the university.