A traditional informal meeting with veterans and military personnel was held in the L.I.S. student space at Lviv Polytechnic to mark the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. The event began with a minute of silence in honor of the fallen heroes.
Among the participants there were:
- Student veterans and active military personnel
- Nataliia Shakhovska, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University
- Ihor Gelzhynskyi, Vice-Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University
- Iryna Hudz, Deputy Mayor of Zviahel
- Oleksandr Melnykov, Director of the Municipal Institution «Veteran Space of Zviahel», Zviahel City Council
- Alla Vyhovska, Deputy Director of the Municipal Institution «Veteran Space of Zviahel», Zviahel City Council
- Yevhenii Medolyz, Leading Administrator at the Municipal Institution «Veteran Space of Zviahel», Zviahel City Council
- Tetiana Shapovalova, Head of the Veterans Service Center at Lviv Polytechnic
- Yurii Kit, Leading Specialist for Support of War Veterans and Demobilized Persons at the Veterans Service Center, Lviv Polytechnic
- Inna Nazarova, Leading Specialist for Support of War Veterans and Demobilized Persons at the Veterans Service Center, Lviv Polytechnic
In her speech, Nataliia Shakhovska, Rector of the University, emphasized the importance of providing veterans with supportive and comfortable conditions for their education and personal development.
– We understand that the number of veteran students grows every year. At Polytechnic, we aim to create a place where people with diverse experiences – but a shared desire to shape the future – can study and grow. Your stories, feedback and presence make our university stronger, emphasized Nataliia Shakhovska.
For many attendees, this was not their first meeting or learning experience. Interestingly, a significant number of veterans have chosen to study psychology, reflecting the growing need for professional psychologists both in the military and in society. One participant, Andrii, shared his experience, noting that on the front lines, tractor drivers or economists like himself often had to take on the role of psychologists due to a shortage of qualified specialists. For him and many others, choosing this field is a way to respond to the real needs they witnessed during the war.
In general, veterans chose different areas – from psychology and social work to architecture, cybersecurity and technical specialties. This indicates a great desire to gain new knowledge and apply it in peaceful life.
During the open dialogue with the Rector, many attendees asked about transferring to the government-funded programs for veterans and active military personnel, the possibility of joining a military department during their studies and available support for employment. They also explored ways to involve veterans in teaching and practical classes, ensuring that their real-world experience becomes an integral part of the educational process.
The meeting was moderated by Tetiana Shapovalova, head of the Veterans Service Center. The final stage was the signing of a cooperation memorandum between Lviv Polytechnic and the Municipal Institution «Veteran Space Zviahel». This is an important step in developing a partnership between the university and veteran initiatives in the Zhytomyr region.
