“Patriotic education and youth leadership” – online seminar held at SNAU

On 25 February 2026, Sumy National Agrarian University hosted a seminar dedicated to current trends in educational work and the implementation of state youth policy, with the participation of representatives of vocational colleges and university faculties.

The following institutions joined the discussion:

• Hlukhiv Agricultural Technical College of the Sumy National Agrarian University,
• Malovystoropsky College of the Sumy National Agrarian University named after P. S. Rybalko,
• Okhtyrsky Professional College of SNAU,
• Sumy Professional College of SNAU,
• Putyvlsky Professional College of SNAU,
• Romensky Professional College of SNAU.

Representatives of the SNAU faculties responsible for organizing educational activities, as well as student
self-government bodies of the university and colleges, took an active part in the work, emphasizing the
student-centered nature of extracurricular activities, focus on the demands and needs of modern youth,
and their direct participation in organizing the educational environment.

The seminar programme covered the following key issues:

• The strategic role of education as a form of upbringing. Marharita LYSHENKO, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, emphasised that the formation of a unified educational system in wartime is not only a matter of security, but also a resource for the development of the institution. The educational environment directly influences the formation of graduates’ soft skills, which is an integral criterion for the quality of modern education.
• The concept of ‘Generation of Sustainability — 2030’. Viktoria ZAIARNA presented a strategy for integrating the ‘Youth of Ukraine’ programme into the internal system of education quality assurance. The goal is to create conditions under which every student receives not only knowledge but also a value compass.
• Leadership as an educational competence. Student Rector Andrii KOLODNENKO revealed the role of self-government in the development of leadership skills. Social activism and volunteering are seen as a practical school of responsibility that increases the competitiveness of graduates in the
• Psychological capital and academic success. Practical psychologist Olha SEMENIUK emphasised that psychological resilience and burnout prevention are fundamental conditions for effective learning. Supporting mental health is an investment in students’ academic results.

Special attention was paid to the implementation of a partnership model of cooperation between the university and vocational colleges. The model provides for a coordinated strategy and common priorities, coordination of actions through a working group, implementation of joint activities, and preparation of a single analytical report with subsequent adjustment of plans.

The seminar resulted in the agreement of joint priorities for educational work for 2026 and the definition of specific mechanisms for inter-institutional interaction within the single educational space of the SNAU. The educational process in educational institutions is an effective tool for improving the quality of educational activities. Coordinated mechanisms of interaction between the university and colleges will make it possible in 2026 to create an environment in which teaching and education work towards a common goal — the training of conscious and highly qualified specialists.