On June 1, a press conference dedicated to the International Day for the Protection of Children was held at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn State University. This was reported to "Lutsk Investment" by the press center of VSU.
Oleksandr Serhiyovych Semenov, the executive secretary of the VSU admissions committee, spoke about the conditions of admission and the rules for admission to the higher education institution. He paid special attention to the issue of preferential legislation (admission of orphan children; children with disabilities; children from low-income and large families; children affected by the consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant).
Oleksandr Semenov spoke about the results of the 2004 admissions campaign. In particular, he emphasized that last year 4,225 applications were submitted for admission to VSU. A total of 1,007 people were enrolled in the full-time state-funded form of study (including 46 who became VSU students without entrance examinations).
Among those enrolled: - 330 medalists; - 233 children affected by the consequences of the Chornobyl accident; - 23 prize-winners of republican and regional olympiads and tournaments; - 17 winners of the defense of scientific works of the Minor Academy of Sciences; - 13 children with disabilities; - 5 orphans and persons deprived of parental care; - 5 masters of sport.
The average passing score of the general competition for state-funded places was approximately 73 points for the full-time form of study and 71 points for the part-time form (out of a maximum of 180). The competition for one state-funded place in the full-time form of study was 2.9 people.
Last year, VSU students became: 81.2% - residents of Volyn region, 9.8% - Rivne region and 6.2% - Lviv region.
In 2005, the number of those wishing to undergo preliminary testing increased by 50%. An increase in the number of applicants is also predicted – to 4.5–5 thousand.
Oleksandr Semenov also reported that a letter from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, signed by Minister S.M. Nikolayenko, was received in the name of the acting rector of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn State University, Prof. I.Ya. Kotsan, which concerns the organization of activities in higher education in Ukraine under the slogan "Higher education institution – a territory free from bribery and corruption."
In this regard, the ministry obliges explanatory work to be conducted in all structural subdivisions of the university, paying special attention by the teaching staff to the development and establishment of partnership, honest, friendly and understandable relations with students.
According to the executive secretary of the admissions committee, Oleksandr Semenov, the staff of Volyn State University supports changing the negative public opinion formed in society that studying in higher education requires paying for everything and that it is impossible to enter a higher education institution without connections and a bribe. In this regard, "hotlines" of various levels are available to every applicant: at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (Kyiv) – tel. (044) 216-13-16 and here at VSU – tel. 72-44-21. By these phone numbers, one can report any manifestations of bribery or patronage, including during the admissions campaign. Calls will receive an immediate response from the university administration and the admissions committee.