VOMGO "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)" has started monitoring the admissions campaign at higher education institutions in Volyn. The observation is taking place within the framework of the project "Campaign for Public Monitoring of the External Independent Testing Process and the Admissions Campaign to Higher Education Institutions in 2009," which is being implemented by the OPORA Civic Network. As noted by the regional project coordinator Mykhailo Shelep, a special feature of this year's monitoring, which covers 26 educational institutions in 21 regions of Ukraine, is the observation of the operation of the "Konkurs" information system (), with the help of which applicants can track their ranking (chance of becoming a student of the chosen higher education institution) online. In particular, "OPORA Civic Network observers will check the content of 'Konkurs,' as well as verify the correspondence of the data entered into the system with the data in the admissions committees." In addition, they will attend meetings of admissions committees, monitor the presence of queues, and conduct surveys of applicants regarding their awareness of the admission rules to the chosen higher education institution and the operation of the "Konkurs" system. "OPORA Civic Network observers will pay special attention to beneficiaries. In the event that their number constitutes more than 10% of the total number of applicants, OPORA will send information requests to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and to the prosecutor's office demanding verification of such cases," noted Mr. Mykhailo. The secretary of the admissions committee of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Andriy Slashchuk, doubts "that in any 'higher education institution' there will be 10% of the total number, but for individual specialties — quite possibly," and it is precisely here, in his opinion, that "it is worth working together." This year the situation is complicated by the fact that another category has been added to the category of beneficiaries (these are children with disabilities and orphan children) — children of miner parents who have worked in this field for 15 years. Overall, Mr. Slashchuk is not comforted by the large number of applications submitted to the university, because it is not yet known how many real people are behind them: "We already have a record — 20 applications from one person. There are also 16, and 10..." The regional representation of the OPORA Civic Network and the Department of Education and Science of the Volyn Oblast State Administration operate "hotlines," have suggestion boxes, and have organized the work of an operational headquarters. In addition, every applicant has the opportunity to appeal to the appeals commission, which consists of specialists of the highest category. According to Inna Savchuk, a specialist of the Department of Education and Science of the Volyn Oblast State Administration, "this information should be posted in every 'higher education institution' on the notice board."
Reference: 1) the "Konkurs" system includes 421 higher education institutions and is convenient to use: an applicant can search based on fields of knowledge, individual higher education institutions, or regions; 2) of the Volyn higher education institutions, 4 have joined the "Konkurs" system — Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk National Technical University, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, VIEM; 3) VOMGO "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)" is a regional partner of the OPORA Civic Network; 4) Hotline of the OPORA Civic Network in the Volyn region: mobile 8 (067) 41 65 086.