The first step towards university life: first-year students in Group 7 of the ‘Management’ degree programme have established common rules and goals

On 1 September, the Faculty of Agrarian Management held an organisational hour entitled ‘Getting to Know Each Other: Organising Studies and Student Life’ for first-year students in Group 7. The session was designed to help first-year students adapt to their new educational environment, get to know one another and take the first steps towards forming a close-knit student community.
The start of student life is a crucial period of adaptation, when new social connections are formed, the first shared goals emerge and the foundations for interaction within the academic group are laid. That is why the orientation session began with introductions. The students spoke about themselves, their interests, and their expectations of their studies and student life. This format not only allowed everyone to learn more about each student in the group but also helped to create an atmosphere of open communication and mutual interest.

An important part of the meeting was the discussion of the role of the group representative and the academic group’s executive committee. The first-year students elected a group representative and a deputy representative, who will fulfil an important communicative and organisational function — ensuring interaction between students and their Personal Tutor, lecturers and the administration, coordinating the group and facilitating the prompt dissemination of important information.
There are also plans to form active groups in the near future, organised by area of interest, including sport, the arts and science. This structure will enable students to pursue their own interests, show initiative and gain practical experience in teamwork and leadership.

During the organisational hour, particular attention was paid to creating a comfortable and supportive environment for learning and socialising. Together, the students formulated the key principles of interaction, including mutual respect, support, responsibility, tolerance and open communication.
The result of this work was the drafting and signing by all students in the group, the student counsellor and the group Personal Tutor: the Charter of Group 7, Year 1, FAM — a joint agreement among students regarding the rules, values and principles of cooperation, rights and responsibilities, academic integrity, communication, joint decision-making and conflict resolution.
Importantly, the Charter provides for the equality of students, the right of everyone to express their own opinion, to receive support, to participate in joint decision-making and to propose ideas regarding study and leisure activities. At the same time, each member of the group takes responsibility for complying with university rules, honouring mutual agreements, showing respect for lecturers and fellow students, and maintaining a positive atmosphere within the group.
A separate part of the meeting was devoted to the organisation of the educational process, in particular familiarising students with the timetable and the procedure to follow in the event of an air-raid alert, the features of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine’s E-learn educational and information portal, and much more.
During the meeting, first-year students also learnt in greater detail about opportunities for self-fulfilment in sport, the arts, research, voluntary initiatives, student self-governance and university events; participation in these will contribute not only to their professional but also to their personal development, help them find like-minded people and create new opportunities for teamwork.

The final stage of the meeting involved setting out expectations for the first year. Among the possible goals were gaining new knowledge, making friends, developing professional skills, getting involved in university projects, trying out a new hobby and becoming a more independent person.
Discussing personal and shared goals was an important step towards understanding that a successful student life is shaped not only by individual achievements but also by a willingness to support one another and work as a team.
The organisational hour was not merely an information session for the first-year students, but an important stage in their adaptation to the university environment. The students were given the necessary guidance on how the academic process is organised, established rules for interacting with one another, and outlined their own expectations for their first year of study. At the same time, the process of building a student community was set in motion, one in which trust, mutual respect, responsibility, support and teamwork are key.
Ahead of the first-year students lie years of study, professional development, new friendships, projects, discoveries and achievements. And the first step towards creating a real team has already been taken.
We wish the students a successful start, an engaging learning experience, an active student life and the realisation of both their shared and personal goals!