An academic council meeting was held at KSU: a number of important decisions were adopted

Welcoming those present, Ihor Tsependа noted:

«Our example demonstrates that for the first time in Ukraine, we have shown a model of interaction based not on competition, but on cooperation. The mechanisms we have been developing over these years are becoming exemplary for many universities in Ukraine that are interested in expanding cooperation rather than competing. This is also an example for many universities in the European Union. We are forming new modern models of Ukrainian university governance. KSU is an example of how exactly the academic council determines the educational and scientific policy of the university. The issues being considered today speak to the depth that fills the main strategy of the university. I am pleased to declare: the academic councils of our two universities work in partnership. We need to think about joint research, pilot projects for establishing national recommendations for higher education». 

In his opening remarks, KSU Rector Oleksandr Spivakovskyi emphasized:

"Today we are considering issues that are much broader than personnel or organizational changes. In fact, we are determining what Kherson State University will be like in the coming years. What its management system will be. How quickly it will be able to respond to challenges. How effectively it will use modern technologies. And most importantly—how it will preserve its identity.

We live in a world where change has become a constant characteristic of development. Technologies are changing. Economic models are changing. Requirements for education are changing. The expectations of our students, employers, and international partners are changing.
In such conditions, the very concept of stability takes on special importance. I am convinced that stability is not stagnation. Stability is not an unwillingness to change or a desire to preserve the existing state at any cost. Stability is the ability of a system to constantly move forward, scaling, adapting to new conditions, integrating into a new ecosystem, working under new rules, and responding to the challenges of the new economy and the new world. But at the same time, we must not lose our fundamental values, our mission, and our own identity".

First Vice-Rector Serhii Omelchuk reported on the approval of the Institutional Model for Balancing Powers at Kherson State University.

He presented the results of the work on the document, emphasizing that it is one of the revolutionary decisions for the university, which goes beyond conventional templates.

«On the one hand, the document regulates legislative norms written in the regulatory and legal field. On the other hand – it reflects our vision of which direction to move in and how to systematize and differentiate functions of decision-making, expert processing, influence, and implementation. Above all, this is intended to ensure academic democracy as one of the key principles of the KSU Development Strategy, management efficiency, and personal responsibility», – noted Serhii Omelchuk.

According to him, the document defines the balance between collegiality and effective management, outlines mechanisms of responsibility, and also increases transparency and control in the decision-making process.

The Institutional Model for Balancing Powers was worked on for over six months. The document underwent scientific expertise with the participation of scientists from the Faculty of Business and Law of KSU, as well as legal and digital expertise. A number of meetings and consultations with members of the Supervisory Board also took place.

Having heard and discussed Serhii Omelchuk's information, the members of the academic council approved and recommended the approval of the Institutional Model for Balancing Powers at KSU at the meeting of the university's labor collective conference in August 2026.

Vice-Rector for Digitalization, Innovation, Investment, and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Oleksandr Lemeschuk reported on the approval of the architecture of the corporate artificial intelligence ecosystem at KSU, its functionality, and the implementation plan.

According to him, the goal of the project is to create a single digital environment in which specialized AI agents will provide automation, analytical support, and coordination of the university's educational, scientific, administrative, and management processes. The architecture involves the operation of a centralized orchestrator and five functional AI agents, each responsible for a specific area of activity. This will make it possible to optimize internal processes, increase management efficiency, and support the digital transformation of KSU.

Having heard the Vice-Rector's report, the members of the academic council approved the architecture of the corporate artificial intelligence ecosystem at KSU and its functionality, as well as the implementation plan.

First Vice-Rector Serhii Omelchuk highlighted the issue of approving the KSU Structure in a new edition. In particular, he noted that from July 1, the university will operate under a new structure of unified faculties, which will become powerful educational hubs with competitive educational programs. Accordingly, changes are also occurring in the dean's corps and in the composition of departments. This is due to legislative requirements, time, and the new organizational model. Having heard and discussed the information from the First Vice-Rector, those present approved the Structure of Kherson State University in a new edition, which takes into account the changes and clarifications that occurred in the university's structure since February 2026 in accordance with the decisions of the academic council and according to the rector's orders.

Serhii Omelchuk also highlighted the issue of approving the results of the rating assessment of scientific and pedagogical workers, departments, and faculties of the university.

According to him, this year's rating assessment covered all scientific and professional categories of the university's scientific and pedagogical workers. 214 scientific and pedagogical workers participated in the rating, for which 210 rating positions were formed. The results of the assessment also determined the final ratings of departments and faculties and will be published on the official KSU website.

Members of the academic council supported the draft decision.

Chief Accountant Iryna Popova reported on the approval of tuition costs for higher education applicants for the 2026 intake, who will study at the expense of individuals and legal entities.

Subsequently, those present heard information regarding participation in international activities:

• On the results of participation in the 1st Transnational Meeting of the Erasmus+ project «Sustainable Agrarian Future: Strengthening Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Higher Education» (SAFER) at the International Hellenic University (Thessalon $\text{aloniki}$, Greece) during the period from June 07 to 12, 2026.

Rector Oleksandr Spivakovskyi reported. Co-speakers: Vice-Rector for International and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Alla Tsapiv, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Geography, and Ecology Ihor Pylypenko, Head of the International Relations Department Yevheniia Revenko.

• On the results of participation in the annual conference of the European Association for Urban Studies (EURA) 2026, «Cities under Pressure: Rethinking Unmanaged» at the University of Venice (Venice, Italy) during the period from June 15 to 2<0xA0>21, 2026.

Vice-Rector for Academic and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Daria Malchykova reports:

• On the results of participation in the Thematic Summit on Health, Nutrition, Environment, as well as Data, Computing and Digital Research Infrastructures, organized within the framework of the project «Research Infrastructures for the Future of Ukraine: A Roadmap for Sustainable Growth and Recovery (RIFF)» in Brno (Czech Republic) during the period from June 13 to 17, 2026.

Vice-Rector for Digitalization, Innovation, Investment, and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Oleksandr Lemeschuk reports.

• On the approval of the report on the completion of the third stage of the international project «Symbolic Rewriting Methods for Ensuring the Security and Reliability of Critical Cyber-Physical Systems (SPS G6133) of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Program». Volodymyr Peschanenko, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, reports.

• On the results of participation in the seminar of the Ukrainian Virtual Institute for Advanced Studies at the Central European University (Vienna, Austrian Republic) and in the workshop of the New European College (Bucharest, Romania) during the period from May 11 to 24, 2026. Mykola Homaniuk, Associate Professor of the Department of Geography and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Geography, and Ecology, reports.

Among other things, Lidiia Bondarenko, Head of the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Department, informed about the clarification of a research topic, changes and clarifications to the themes of dissertation works of applicants, and the formation of an ad hoc specialized academic council.

First Vice-Rector Serhii Omelchuk reported on the recognition of internship results for scientific and pedagogical workers and the granting of an academic council approval mark to scientific publications at KSU.

Subsequently, the block of issues was presented by Vice-Rector for Academic and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Daria Malchykova:

• On establishing the limit of scholarship recipients for the accrual of scholarships by faculties and the university for the 1st semester of the 2026/2027 academic year.
• On the approval of professional development programs.
• On the approval of the list of elective educational components/training disciplines/certificate programs of the general training cycle for applicants of the first (Bachelor's), second (Master's), and third (educational-scientific) levels of higher education in full-time and part-time modes of study for the 2026/2027 academic year.
• On the launch of educational and professional programs of the first (Bachelor's) level of higher education.
• On making changes to the educational and professional programs of the first (Bachelor's) level of higher education for 2025.
• On the approval of curricula for the first (Bachelor's) level of higher education for 2026 applicants.
• On the approval of transitional curricula for the first (Bachelor's) level of higher education for 2025 applicants.
• On granting the KSU academic council recommendation mark to educational and teaching publications.

Regarding the closure of educational programs of the first (Bachelor's), second (Master's), and third (educational-scientific) levels of higher education, Tetiana Cherkashyna, Head of the Education Quality Assurance Department, reported. She also published a number of survey results:

• results of a survey on the quality of organization and content of internships for 2nd-year students of the second (Master's) (1 year 9 months of study) level of higher education, full-time mode at KSU;
• results of a survey of 2nd-year students of the third (educational-scientific) level of higher education in full-time, part-time, and evening modes regarding the quality of organization and content of internships;
• results of a survey of 3rd-year students of the third (educational-scientific) level of higher education regarding the quality of educational and scientific programs for 2026.

Vice-Rector for Social-Humanitarian and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Veronika Denysenko presented the issue regarding the recommendation of students for the award of state academic scholarships. In particular, the members of the academic council considered recommendations for candidates to receive scholarships from the President of Ukraine, the Ivan Ohienko Scholarship of the Verkhova Rada of Ukraine, the Hryhorii Skovoroda Scholarship of the Verkhova Rada of Ukraine, as well as the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Academic Scholarship.

Vice-Rector for International and Scientific-Pedagogical Work Alla Tsapiv informed about the results of the activities of deans' assistants for international work in the 2025/2026 academic year.

She also reported on:

• the recommendation of Kherson State University students for studying at the University of the Côte d'Azur (Nice, France) during the II semester of the 2026/2027 academic year.
• the direction of students from the Faculty of Psychology, History, and Sociology to participate in the summer school of the international program Mindrise: The Respite, Recovery & Resilience Camp: training of students from the eastern regions of Ukraine in Poland under the initiative of the Polish charitable foundation Siepomaga Foundation during July 2026.

First Vice-Rector Serhii Omelchuk reported on the recommendation of candidates for awards. Having heard the information, the members of the academic council supported the draft decision.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Vice-Chairman of the Academic Council Volodymyr Oleksenko thanked the members of the academic council and the entire university staff for their coordinated work, constructive dialogue, and responsible attitude toward the execution of common tasks. He wished everyone new professional achievements, successful implementation of planned initiatives, and a good vacation.