A traditional meeting «Coffee with the Rector» was held in the L.I.S. student space, during which representatives of the university administration talked to students and answered topical questions. This time, the topic of conversation was the influence of students on improving processes within the university, in particular through participation in the regular survey «Teacher through the eyes of students».
The following speakers took part in the meeting:
- Nataliia Shakhovska – Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University;
- Mykola Lohoida – Vice-Rector (Field: Academic Affairs and Student Development);
- Iryna Khomyshyn – Vice-Rector (Field: Academic Affairs and Quality of Education);
- Bohdan Mirinchyk – Head of the Union Committee of Students and PhD Students at Lviv Polytechnic National University.
A total of 22% of students participated in the recent survey. This number of respondents allows us to obtain relevant data and to draw valid conclusions in accordance with established principles of sociological research. By comparison, the response rate in previous years was only 8%, indicating a significant increase in student engagement.
The University Rector encouraged students to provide detailed responses when participating in surveys, noting that she personally reviews and analyzes each submission.
According to Mykola Lohoida, such surveys are one of the most effective tools for dialogue. It is important for the university that students propose, take initiatives and determine the trajectory of Lviv Polytechnic.
In addition to participating in surveys, students have access to another effective mechanism – influence on educational programs. This mechanism operates through the educational program guarantor, who serves as the primary manager of the program and has a direct impact on its development and implementation. He conducts surveys, communicates with students, stakeholders and employers, and sometimes even with students’ parents, which allows him to identify and solve problems. While university-wide surveys are generally focused on institutional processes, the educational program guarantor, having detailed knowledge of specific issues, is able to directly influence the content of academic disciplines, their scope, structural and logical framework of the program, and its overall relevance.
Students may also initiate surveys independently; even simple paper-based ones can be effective and have a tangible impact. Upon receiving such an appeal, the educational program guarantor convenes a working group to discuss the proposed initiative or the identified issue and ensures that feedback is provided to students.
According to Nataliia Shakhovska, students can also influence decisions regarding which lecturer teaches a particular discipline. She emphasized that all members of the university community – students, graduates, and academic staff – are responsible for Lviv Polytechnic.
