The beginning of the year at Lviv Polytechnic is a time of summing up and planning work directions. On January 31, there was the conference of the labour team, during which the Rector Yurii Bobalo made a report on the main results of the work of the University team in 2022.
The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of the delegates who passed away last year.
Also, at the beginning of the meeting, the procedure of by-election of the permanent presidium of the conference was held. Mykhailo Lobur, Head of the Department of Computer-Aided Design, ICSIT, was elected as the head of the statutory commission of the Academic Board. Roman Kolodii, Head of the Workers’ Union Committee, Lviv Polytechnic, was also included in its composition.
In total, five issues were discussed during the conference. The first among them is the by-election of members of the University Academic Board.
The Rector’s report on the work of Lviv Polytechnic team became central to the meeting. Yurii Bobalo began his speech with a moment of silence for our soldiers who died defending our Motherland.
– We lived through one of the most difficult years. Everyone, to a greater or lesser extent, felt the impact of the war, because we had to not just reorganize, as it was in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, but actually to rebuild our lives and work processes in certain directions. Meanwhile, we worked a lot so that Lviv Polytechnic would continue to be among the priorities of young people who aspire to get a quality education, and maintain high positions in all-Ukrainian and world rankings. I express my gratitude to everyone who managed to combine their professional duties, studies and volunteering. Your efforts, your self-sacrifice helped our state to resist the enemy from the first days of the war. We greatly appreciate the courage and heroism of the Polytechnic students who took up arms to protect us all. It is with deep sadness that we honour the sacrifice of those soldiers who gave their lives for the sake of our Motherland, noted Yurii Bobalo at the beginning of his speech.
Analyzing the achievements of the University according to various indicators, Rector emphasized that even in such a difficult year, Lviv Polytechnic occupies high positions in the all-Ukrainian and world rankings. And while discussing plans, prospects and priorities for the next year with the participants of the Labour Team Conference, he paid special attention to the financing of the University, which was reduced by almost 420 million hryvnias this year due to the full-scale war.
― I assure you that the University Administration is doing everything possible to make the decrease in funding less painful for employees. We will retain the full salary of all employees and all mandatory additional payments to scientific and pedagogical workers – for academic degrees, academic titles, years of service, etc. Polytechnicians will receive their salaries in time. We hope for an understanding that it is necessary to preserve the basic principles of the University work – the quality of education and science, ensuring the attractiveness of the University for entrants and providing quality educational services, conducting competitive scientific research. The issues of survival and further development of the University remain urgent. Therefore, all management steps are aimed at this, stressed Yurii Bobalo.
Speaking about the educational process, Rector emphasized the importance of ensuring the specificity of educational programs. Therefore, their implementation should be ensured by qualified, competent academics who are responsible for their work.
Touching on the issue of scientific research, publications and grants applications, Rector urged to «give a high-quality product, not a formality in order to receive a prize or points in the ranking. The reputation of Lviv Polytechnic depends on whether we produce spam or provide high-quality intellectual products».
– There are still many difficulties and challenges ahead of us, because the war continues and our economy and, accordingly, our usual way of life suffer more and more because of it. Unfortunately, this problem will only get worse, and we won’t have an instant solution even after we win. Therefore, I hope for understanding and further conscientious work, because today each of us is fighting an enemy who is waging a war to destroy Ukraine and the Ukrainian people not only with weapons, but also by destroying the country’s infrastructure and economy, trying to sow despair and fear. Therefore, we must be stronger and united than ever before and not only believe in our victory, but also make every effort to achieve it as soon as possible, added at the end of his speech Yurii Bobalo.
Representatives of various University Departments also presented their proposals and work assessment.
The report on the implementation and correction of the Collective Agreement of Lviv Polytechnic was the final issue that was discussed at the labour team meeting. It was reported by Roman Kolodii, head of the Head of the Workers’ Union Committee, Lviv Polytechnic.
