Vasyl Kaliy "It is important not only to teach foreign students, but also help them to adapt to our society guaranteeing full security"

Recently a new faculty was opened at Uzhhorod National University for foreign medical students. Training at the Medical faculty №2 started according to the schedule, from September 1 this year. We talked to the acting dean of the faculty Vasyl Kaliy about the prospects, ambitions of faculty and about foreign students.

Mr.Kaliy, when was there a need for the opening of another Medical faculty?

  The need for the Faculty existed from the first day of foreign students’ arrival in UzhNU. The Faculty of Medicine is a huge university subdivision, which serves the needs of more than 3 thousand students. Its pprofessors also work with students of the Faculties of Dentistry, Biology and Healthcare. In these conditions, it is quite difficult to control such a huge structure, and foreign students require special attitude and attention of the faculty and the staff of the dean’s office. We must take care not only of the academic process, but also about students' free time. We should attract foreigners to student life of the university, to enable them to unleash their potential, and, finally, we should focus our attention on foreign students. That's the reason why the Faculty was created.

The foundation of the Faculty was preceded by preparatory work ...

 The most active work was conducted over the past three months, from the moment the decision of the Academic Council on the establishment of the faculty was taken. I believe, it’s our tremendous achievement that we started the training on the first of September according to the schedule. In the past years there were certain circumstances that didn’t allow us to start the academic year together with Ukrainian students, respectively, we had to condense the curricula. This year everything is going well according to the schedule.

 The faculty was not created from scratch. I have already been working as a vice dean for foreign students of the Medical faculty. Our main objectives were met. We are provided with scientific and methodological support and teachers. We took this step already having all the facilities to meet all the necessary requirements of higher education. Of course, there’s still a lot of work to do, but what is important - we have the basis for dynamic development and effective training of foreign students.

Which departments were established at the new faculty?

 We already have the Department of Basic Medical Sciences which is headed by Volodymyr Feketa, the Department of Internal Diseases headed by Maryana Tovt-Korshynska and the Department of Public Healthcare and Humanities headed by Renata Pohorilyak.

 Who teaches at the faculty?

The professors are from the Faculty of Medicine, The Faculty of Post-Graduate and Pre-University Education and others, who are full of enthusiasm, have good command of English and are ready to work fruitfully and make our faculty one of the leading faculties of UzhNU.

 How many students are studying at the faculty?

 First-year students will start training on the first of October, all senior students have already started the academic year. We expect to have about 550 people including the first-year students. As soon as we get new facilities and more premises, we will increase the number of students.

Where are the classes for foreign students held?

Some classes are held in the building of the Medical Faculty, and we are grateful to them for their support in our establishment. The dean’s office and Department of Basic Medical Sciences are based at the Institute of Electron Physics. The Clinical Department is located in Uzhhorod Municipal Hospital.

 How are you planning to work with foreign students in their free time?

It is very important for us to help foreign students to adapt to our culture and mentality. We started a common project together with the Department of Sociology and Social Work, they will prepare a series of lectures on the history and culture of our region, will hold thematic tours. This is especially true for the first year students, who are coming in a few weeks.

 We are also going to organize faculty events such as Fresher’s Day and Miss of the Faculty. We are planning to invite our students to sports clubs and involve them in various sports activities, create our own sports club. Research groups will be established at all departments, where students will be able to study the subjects of their interest more thoroughly.

Some residents of our town are concerned about the issue of medical examination of foreign students and their treatment in our hospitals. Last year foreign students had to undergo full medical examination as required by law. Such examinations will be conducted annually.

It is clear that not only foreign students need to adapt to our conditions, but residents of Uzhhorod also have to get used to foreigners. We will do our best to involve them in public activities of Uzhhorod. Our students already help to teach English in educational institutions of the town as volunteers. It is important for our people to understand that foreign students are the same people as we are, who are currently studying here, and we have a unique opportunity to demonstrate our European attitude to people regardless of their race, religion or culture.

 At present there are foreigners studying in every prestigious university of the world. The foundation of a separate faculty for foreign students is really a historic event, it is the chance to advertize our university all over the world, because we have students from more than 10 countries and their future achievements will be the pride of our university.

• Education,
• Faculty of Medicine №2