It has already become a good tradition to start each academic year with welcome “О Week” - an introductory week for freshmen, full of not only new acquaintances with classmates and teachers, but also a large number of informational, cultural and educational activities, interesting trainings and events.
During 2-6 September, the first-year students, including international ones, had a great opportunity to get to know each other better, communicate and ask questions to the Rector of the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering, Viktor Moshynskyi, university administration, academic and administrative staff and students’ organizations. In particular, Viktor Moshynskyi presented the university, talked about the benefits of studying at the NUWEE and the opportunities for students. The first-year students were interested in what subjects the head of the institution teaches, how long he has been rector, his attitude to smoking, how many international students study at the university, etc.
Vladyslav Solodkyi, Centre for International Cooperation and Education, presented existing international exchange and double-degree programmes, COIL and virtual academic exchanges, NUWEE grant projects, permanent international programmes, and joint master's programmes; non-formal and informal education, its benefits, non-formal education programmes at the university, online platforms with free online courses and the recognition of learning outcomes obtained outside the university. He also held an interactive session with students on the activities within Erasmus+ CBHE project “INTERADIS/International Students Adaptation and Integration”, presented the calendar plan of integration activities for this academic year and invited the students to join the Buddy Group that was initiated within the project.
During “0 Week” students also learned about the basic skills of first aid, the sequence of first aid to the victim, the algorithm for providing first aid in case of short-term loss of consciousness (fainting) and resuscitation measures in case of respiratory arrest. Practical psychologists Inna Misko and Olena Skorokhod spoke about how a freshman can plunge into student life without stress, find contact with classmates and teachers, prove themselves, and cope with internal experiences. The attendees also took part in the Green Helping Hands training and learned more about the activities of the Practical Psychology and Social Work sector.
Public Relations Department introduced the NUWEE media. The students got acquainted with all the information resources and learned how they could join the creation of the institution's content, feel like a journalist, videographer or photographer.
Viktor Korbutiak, Head of the Education Quality Department, spoke about leadership in student life, student centrism, personal development, mutual respect, student rights, integrity and types of violations, the consequences, including for teachers, of using artificial intelligence, and the declaration of academic integrity of the NUWEE students.
Taking into account the Martial law in Ukraine, the students were guided with the civil security structures, the algorithm of actions during the “Air Alert” signal, the operation and rules of conduct in the civil defense forces, the procedure for detecting an object similar to an explosive device and its signs, etc.
The freshmen got familiar with digital innovations, modernization and development of information technologies at the university, electronic document management, IP telephony, technical protection of information, service resources, software, administration of corporate resources, technical support of networks, etc. Vitalii Nazaruk, Head od IT Centre, also spoke in more detail about the Student tab, the Cabinet tab, authorized resources, rules for using e-mail, online classes via Google Meet, the student's electronic cabinet, the digital repository, the Moodle platform, the Help Desk service and the Virtual Campus.
Bohdan Zubrytskyi, Head of the Department of Physical Education, presented the NUWEE sport sections and the opportunities provided by the department, how to take up your favourite sport or continue your previous training. He also noted that a new sports section on fencing was founded at the university. While Kateryna Pryndiuk, Director of the Student Development Centre, and Pavlo Shevchuk, Director of the Partnership Development Centre, spoke about the “real” life of a student. Thus, the freshmen learned about their rights and responsibilities, the difference between student life and school life, the possibility of receiving personalized scholarships, where to spend their leisure time, student self-government and employment, etc.
We truly hope that “0 Week” within the NUWEE orientation and onboarding strategy will smoothen the adaptation and integration of freshmen, including international students, enhance their learning experience, support their integration and provide essential tools for academic and career success.
