General Information

History. The Department of Ecology was established on September 29, 1995, based on the Departments of Labor Protection and Environmental Protection (1987 – 1988), Ecology and Labor Protection (1988 – 1992).

The department was headed by: 1987 - 1988 – professor, Doctor of Sciences in Agricultural Sciences V.O. Olivenych; 1988 - 1992 – professor, Doctor of Sciences in Agricultural Sciences T.M. Kirienko. Since 1992, the department has been headed by professor, Doctor of Sciences in Agricultural Sciences.Mykola Olexandrovych Klymenko.In 2015-2016, the department was led by professor, Candidate of Sciences in Agricultural Sciences.A.M. Prishchepa.Since 2016 and currently, the department has been chaired by professor, Doctor of Sciences in Agricultural Sciences, honored worker of science and technology of Ukraine, academician of the UEAN, MANEB.Mykola Olexandrovych Klymenko..

 

Specialties and training directions..

Currently, the department trains specialists in full-time and distance (part-time) forms of education:

• in the specialty "Ecology" of the first (bachelor) and second (master) level of higher education - 101 "Ecology";
• in the specialty "Environmental Protection Technologies" – first (bachelor) and second (master) level of higher education - 183 "Environmental Protection Technologies";
• in the specialty "Forestry" – second level (master) of higher education - 205 "Forest Management."

Material and technical base

The educational premises of the department are located in the educational buildings No. 7 and No. 4, including 3 lecture halls, 4 classrooms, and 1 research laboratory.

Human resource provision.The department has 3 professors – doctors of science, 1 professor – candidate of science, 18 associate professors – candidates of science; 2 senior lecturers.

Among the department staff – Professor, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Mykola O. Klymenko holds the title of 'Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine', 1 – academician, 9 – corresponding members of industry academies.

Professor, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Mykola O. Klymenko is the deputy chairman of the National Methodological Committee for the development of Standards of Higher Education of Ukraine of the III generation for education levels (bachelor, master, doctor of philosophy) in the specialty 'Environmental Protection Technologies', while Professor, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Oleksandr M. Klymenko is a member of the National Methodological Committee for the development of Standards of Higher Education of Ukraine of the III generation for education levels (bachelor, master, doctor of philosophy) in the specialty 'Forestry'.

Educational process and trainingThe department lecturers provide the educational process for all university specialties, conduct educational, production, and pre-diploma internships, and supervise the completion of coursework, bachelor's and master's theses.

The department has developed the necessary regulatory documentation for alldisciplineseducational and methodological complexes have been created,syllabusesof educational disciplines. Computer technologies and authorial developments of lecturers have been integrated into the educational process. Alongside traditional teaching methods in the form of lectures, practical, laboratory classes, interactive teaching methods aimed at activating independent student work are widely implemented, especially when writing coursework, bachelor's and master's theses. The goal is to transition from informational methodology to knowledge reproduction, to their deep understanding and creative use.

In this regard, modern methods and innovative learning technologies are being introduced:

• classes – discussions involving all students in solving prepared problems;
• visual accompaniment banks for the educational process, which allows for the activation of perception of the content of educational disciplines;
• situational tasks that involve creating a model of a professional orientation situation and obtaining decision-making skills for students in teams;
• test control of knowledge;
• application of computer programs in the educational process, course design, and in the implementation of bachelor's and master's theses.

The Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Technology, and Forestry has modern laboratory equipment, a computer lab, and dozens of applied software packages that are integrated into the educational process. In the educational process, the following are used for laboratory, practical, and research work: research laboratory -room 426; biology, hydrobiology, and microbiology laboratory -room 444, ecology laboratories -room 445, room 787-a; sustainable development laboratoryroom 752; forestry laboratory -aud. 757; graduate student - aud. 754. The educational process at the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Technology, and Forestry is organized considering the capabilities of modern information technology in education and is oriented towards forming an educated, harmoniously developed personality able to constantly acquire the latest scientific knowledge, professional mobility, and quick adaptation to changes and development in the socio-cultural sphere, in the fields of technology, engineering, and scientific research systems.

The content of the educational process at the department is determined by educational and professional programs, the structural and logical scheme of preparation 'Program for the Implementation of KMSONP (ECTS) in NUWGP for 2012-2020', curricula of disciplines, and other regulatory acts of state education management bodies and higher educational institutions, and is reflected in textbooks, study guides, methodological materials, as well as implemented during the conduct of classes and other types of educational activities.

The educational process at the department is carried out in the following forms: classes, completion of individual tasks, independent work of students, practical training, and control measures. The main types of classes are: lectures, laboratory and practical sessions, consultations, business games.

The structure, content, and form of conducting classes comply with the 'Regulations on the Organization of Educational Process at Higher Educational Institutions' and the relevantregulatory documentsNUWGP. The lecturers of the department are part of theScientific and Methodological Council for Quality of NNAZ, the quality coordinator from the department, Brezhnitska O.A., conducts regular surveys of students, graduates, and employers regarding the quality of education in the specialty's educational program. During the educational process implemented at the department, events aimed at popularizingacademic integrity.

The scientific and methodological support of the department includes the following developments:

• state standards of higher education;
• educational professional programs;
• curricula;
• academic programs for mandatory and elective courses;
• programs for educational and production practices;
• textbooks and teaching aids;
• instructional and methodological materials for practical and laboratory classes;
• individual semester assignments for independent student work (ISW) and academic courses;
• assessment tools for academic courses to check the level of knowledge acquisition by students;
• methodological materials (guidelines) on ISW, completing coursework.

For subjects in the curriculum for specialties, fully developed and approved working programs, prepared plans for practical and laboratory classes, didactic support for ISW, and sets of control works (CW) have been created.

For subjects in the curriculum of specialties, methodological guidelines for completing coursework have been developed and approved. Students are provided with textbooks and teaching aids in specialties taught by the department's lecturers at 100%. Original textbooks, teaching aids, and monographs have also been prepared and are being prepared for publication.

Students can access the most modern and up-to-date information through specialized periodicals available in the university reading room and the digital repository of the National University of Water Management and Nature Management.

The faculty of the department initiated and participated in the opening of new specialties at NUWMP, namely: "Labor Protection and Ecology in Construction", "Agrochemistry and Soil Science", "Water Biological Resources", "Applied Ecology and Balanced Nature Management", "Environmental Protection Technologies", "Tourism", "Forestry".

 

Scientific ActivityFounded in 1992scientific school of Ecology and Environmental Protectionunder the supervision of Professor, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences M.O. Klimenko promotes conducting fundamental and applied scientific research dedicated to assessing the states of ecosystems and balanced nature management.

At the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection Technology and Forestry, a fundamental research project was carried out under the budget program on the topic: "Develop theoretical foundations for assessing the socio-economic-ecological development of regions, territories of Ukraine in the context of sustainable development." In addition, the department is conducting two departmental research projects: "Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources of Polissia, Ukraine", "Development of Regional Comprehensive Monitoring of Sustainable Development". The scientific and pedagogical staff are actively engaged in the implementation of contractual research projects.

Scientists of the department, under the guidance of Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor M.O. Klimenko, worked on the implementation of the regional program "Environmental Protection, Balanced Nature Management and Ensuring Environmental Safety until 2012", the city program "Restoration of the Ust River based on hydroecological, geological and topographical surveys" (2018), in scientific research within the framework of the international project "Implementation of EU Requirements for the Water Framework Directive (Norway-Ukraine) (2013-2017), in the international project "Clean Baltic" on monitoring organization in international water bodies (2005-2015), regional program "Restoration of the Ikva River, Ust River based on hydroecological surveys" (2017-2019).

One of the main directions of research activity at the department is the training of scientific personnel. From 1992 to 2020, 6 doctoral dissertations were defended at the department (Kozhushko L.F., Veremeyenko S.I, Yezhi V., Klimenko O.M., Grokhovska Yu.R., Bedunkova O.O., consultants: 5 – Klimenko M.O., 1 – Butsitak V.I.); 32 candidate dissertations: Trotsyuk V.S., Shemyakin M.V., Misyura V.V., Melnyk V.Y., Pryshchepa A.M., Shevchuk I.V., Statnyk I.I., Borshchevska I.M., Khomych N.R., Vozyuk N.M., Grokhovska Yu.R., Melikhova T.L., Bedunkova O.O., Moroz O.S., Lyulchik V.O., Turchyna K.P., Lyko S.M., Dmitrievtseva N.V., Verbetska K.Yu., Onyshchuk N.V., Klimenko L.V., Brezytska O.A., Stetsyuk L.M., Hakalo O.I., Kovalchuk N.S., Likho O.A., Matushevska N.R., Trusheva S.S., Skrypchuk P.M., Sobko Z.Z., Budnik Z.M., Lebed O.O. (22 – supervisor Klimenko M.O., 4 – Pryshchepa A.M., 1 – Klimenko O.M., 1 – Likho O.A., 1 – Vozyuk N.M., 1 – Shevchuk M.Y., 1 – Kozhushko L.F., 1 – Kuzmich P.K., 1 – Volkova L.A., 1 – Krzysztof V.G.).

Currently, 9 persons are studying in the postgraduate program at the department, 1 in the doctoral program, 1 researcher.

The faculty of the department pays great attention to the scientific work of students. The department operatesstudent scientific clubs, the topics, plans, and results of which are approved annually at the university level. The results of students' scientific work are activelypublishedand are presented at All-Ukrainian competitions of student research works, competitions of innovative projects, and international scientific competitions. Students carry out 10 course papers, bachelor’s and master's theses during their studies.

 

Publishing activities and developmentsDuring the period from 1992 to 2020, faculty members of the department (Klymenko M.O., Pryshchepa A.M., Skrypchuk P.M., Klymenko O.M., Zalessky I.I., Bedunkova O.O., Voznyuk N.M., Klymenko L.V., Lyakho O.A., Statnyk I.I., Brezhytska O.A., Stetsyuk L.M., Borshchevska I.M., Turchyna K.P., Lyko D.V., Lyko S.M., Grokhovska Yu.R., Hryb Y.V., Sondak V.V., Mykhalchuk M.A., Budnik Z.M.) prepared for printing and published 21 textbooks, 37 educational manuals, 5 practical guides, 2 reference books, and 22 monographs.

Professors Klymenko M.O., Bedunkova O.O., Klymenko O.M., Pryshchepa A.M., associate professors Zalessky I.I., Voznyuk N.M., Lyakho O.A., Stetsyuk L.M., Kovalchuk N.S. are authors of monographs in foreign publications, as well as authors of scientific articles in Scopus and Web of Science publishers.

Annually, faculty members participate in international and all-Ukrainian conferences, publishing 20-30 scientific articles, several dozen theses, including those with student participation.

Amongthe scientific developments of the departmentit is worth noting the technologies for restoring soil fertility contaminated with radionuclides and heavy metals, mathematical models for assessing the condition of soils and aquatic ecosystems, methodological recommendations for restoring damaged ecosystems, comprehensive assessment of aquatic ecosystems, integral assessment of the ecological state of river basins, risk level assessment arising from providing water to the population of Rivne region; assessment of socio-economic-ecological development of rural and urban settlement areas; soil reclamation projects, technical conditions.

The results of the developments are protected by 32 author certificates, patents, authorship rights certificates, implemented in production and the educational process. The department has a graduate school and doctoral studies in the following specialties: agro-soil science and agrophysics (agricultural sciences), ecology (agricultural sciences) and a Specialized Academic CouncilK.47.104.05for defending candidate dissertations in these specialties.

 

Students' achievements. During the period 1992-2020, 19 students from the department became winners of the All-Ukrainian Student Olympiad and were awarded Diplomas of I, II, and III degrees (Nikolaychuk V., Borovets Y., Litovka D., Derbedieniev P., Ulyanych M., Suprunets M., Nikolaychuk V., Ivashinuta T., Kuznetsov V., Semeniuk V., Artyushov R., Mosiychuk S., Tsykun T., Kovalchuk K., Kuznetsov V., Shcherbakov Y., Prorok O., Prorok O., Lidavets Kh. - supervisors Klimenko M.O., Bedunkova O.O., Sondak V.V.).

During the same period, 19 students became winners of the All-Ukrainian competition of student scientific works and were awarded: diplomas of I degree – Shileyko Y., Korchevskaya O., Korchevskaya O., Guntik A., Maksymchuk Y., Yatsyuk Y., Besedyuk V., Kononchuk V., Kruk K.; diplomas of II degree – Naumovych O., Dolzhenchuk N., Dolzhenchuk N., Korchevskaya O., Yatsyuk Y., Tolochik M.A., Ishchuk A.; diplomas of III degree – Krupko L., Yarosyk O., Klimenko M. (supervisors Klimenko M.O., Bedunkova O.O., Kolesnyk T.M., Statnyk I.I., Budnik Z.M.).

Graduates of the ecology department participate in international ecological forums, master's thesis competitions, where in 2014 they won I place, master's student Nahorna L., and III place – Yakubovych N. in the nomination 'Clean River'. In 2013, master's student Moroz Y. won III place in the nomination 'Clean River', and Ushchik O. won I place in the nomination 'Clean Planet'. In 2016, master's student Romanyuk V. won I place in the nomination 'Clean River', while master's student Stepanuk M. won III place in the nomination 'Clean Home'. In 2017, Andreuk O. won I place in the nomination 'Clean River'. In 2019 and 2020, environmental students became winners of the competition for innovative student projects named after Professor Kostin O.I. 'Health of the Ustya River Basin', winning: I place - Klimenko Mykola (scientific supervisor Statnyk I.I.) II place - Kruk Kateryna (scientific supervisor – Bedunkova O.O.), III place – Lidavets Kristina and Druzyuk Olga (scientific supervisor – Zalesky I.I.), Fedorchuk Oksana (scientific supervisor Bedunkova O.O.).

 

Awards. The department's instructors have repeatedly been recognized as winners and have been awarded Diplomas from NUWGP in the nominations 'Best Textbook', 'Best Educational Aid', 'Best Monograph'. For significant contributions to the development of educational, methodological, and scientific educational work of the department, Professor, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Klimenko M.O. was awarded an Honorary Certificate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, an Honorary Certificate of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and the Order 'For Merit' of III degree. For significant contributions to the preparation of students' research works, Professors M.O. Klimenko, A.M. Pryshchepa, O.O. Bedunkova, Associate Professor T.M. Kolesnyk were awarded certificates from the Rivne Small Academy of Sciences of Young Scientists and the Regional Department of Education of the Rivne Regional State Administration.

 

External and international relations of the departmentcreate conditions for the internship and study of higher education seekers abroad, particularly in countries such as Poland, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, the USA, Canada, Austria.

The department actively participates in experience exchange with other higher education institutions, research institutions, and industrial enterprises in the region.

Leading instructors of the department are members of specialized councils for dissertation defense, industry expert councils of NACE, scientific sections of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, editorial boards of scientific publications, basin managements, working groups on the development of regional development strategies, as well as members of scientific and technical councils of the Rivne Nature Reserve, Derman-Ostroh National Nature Park, Cheremskyi State Reserve, public organizations, and volunteer initiatives.

Instructors of the ecology department undergo regularadvanced training, internships in production, inforeign higher education institutions. The department collaborates with Szczecin Polytechnic, Bialystok Polytechnic, and the University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw, the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, as well as educational and research institutions in Ukraine.

 

Connections with alumniThe teachers and staff of the department maintain contact with alumni of the specialties, tracking theircareer path. Alumni of the department are part ofthe Alumni Council of the Institute of Applied Sciences, participating in the development and improvement of educational and professional programs.