The Faculty of Business and Law at Kherson State University held a roundtable discussion with stakeholders.

Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, Andriy Solovyov, introduced the attendees at the roundtable and emphasized that stakeholders of the faculty include students and graduates who can evaluate the quality of educational content and practical training based on their own experience.

"We are interested in hearing thoughts, advice, and criticism to improve the content of educational programs, align them with the real needs of employers, and learn what exactly employers expect from our students during internships," addressed the dean to the participants.

The roundtable was moderated by Victoria Yatsenko, head of the educational department at Kherson State University, who informed that the university is actively working on improving the quality of organization and implementation of practical training for students.

Subsequently, employers shared their insights.

Larysa Kramarovska, HR development director at LLC "Avtoplaneta Plus," discussed the nuances of operating a business in wartime conditions.

Despite the risks, LLC "Avtoplaneta" is already working on restoring enterprises affected by shelling in the Kherson region. They are actively seeking talented professionals with ideas on how to quickly and effectively process documentation regarding damaged property and interact with procedural documents. They seek candidates familiar with international standards in law, finance, accounting, and reporting. Despite the risks, they aim to engage specialists willing to help restore the business and the region's economy.

HR manager Galina Troyanovska from JSC "PrivatBank" emphasized the importance of students and graduates possessing soft skills. Communication skills and teamwork abilities are crucial in any position and any job.

Iryna Ivankiv, project coordinator for supporting human rights defenders in the region at the Bureau of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE, noted the significance of skills that can be transferred from one field to another – teamwork, critical thinking, and innovation. Thus, it's appropriate to introduce such components into educational programs, conduct training sessions, solve practical cases, and other activities to develop soft skills.

Oksana Ipatenko, chair of the commission for the reorganization of the Regional Center for Secondary Legal Aid in the Kherson region, invited students and graduates to work for the Legal Aid Bureau, which provides free assistance, including in the occupied part of the Kherson region. Candidates for vacancies are expected to have good theoretical preparation in various areas of law, readiness to learn, and work with people.

Yulia Yurina, representing the Kherson travel agency "Admiral Travel," provided suggestions for improving the education program in tourism. According to her, it would be appropriate to focus on practice – organizing tours, presenting one's product, branding.

Other participants included:

• Kateryna Skrypnyk, owner of the restaurants RYBA HUB and "Terrace";
• Oleksandr Puntus, director of Avangard Agroholding LLC;
• Serhiy Alysevych, director of VINKONCEPTPOSTACH LLC;
• Tetiana Lisna, representative of the Chornobaivska village administration;
• Vladislava Rybak, auditor at UKRAINA LLC.

Postgraduate students Vadym Savitskyi and Yevhen Kozarenko, who have work experience and are currently studying at the third (scientific) level of higher education, also shared their thoughts.

Katerina Melnyk, a teacher of labor training at Kherson Gymnasium No. 20 named after B. Lavrenyov and a student of Kherson State University, thanked the university for the creative skills and pedagogical mastery she acquired during her studies. Regarding the knowledge she lacked during her work, she mentioned difficulties in filling out educational documentation at the initial stage, suggesting changes in the content of internship programs at educational institutions.

As a result of the discussion, participants agreed that proficiency in a foreign language, particularly English, is an essential component of success for anyone seeking a good job.

In conclusion, Victoria Yatsenko noted that forming new knowledge and competencies, as well as soft skills, is possible within existing educational programs. However, it makes sense to develop and offer a course to students that would help develop the soft skills needed for any position.

It was also decided to conduct a stakeholder survey to gather more proposals and comments. Taking these into account will help improve the content of practical training for students at Kherson State University.

Press Center of Kherson State University

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