Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University hosted a student competition called “The University Begins with Me.” Its main idea is to foster a conscious student position as active participants in the university environment, who not only receive education but also create value, deliver results, and influence the university’s development.

The participants and winners of the competition were congratulated by Valentyna Yakubiv, rector of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, and Eduard Lapkovsky, vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work.

Winners:

1st place — Faculty of History, Political Science and International Relations;

2nd place — Faculty of Natural Sciences;

3rd place — Faculty of Foreign Languages.

The competition brought together faculty teams that presented their vision of students’ roles in university life in a self-presentation format.

The speeches lasted up to 10 minutes and were dedicated not to individual departments or specialities, but to faculties as important components of the university community—the speeches’ methodology provided for four main thematic blocks.

The first block was “What the university gave me.” Participants discussed the changes in their lives resulting from their studies: acquired skills, experience, participation in various activities, new acquaintances, and personal development. Special attention was paid to the ability to work in a team, communicate, organise events, and implement their own ideas.

The second block was “What is the role of my faculty in student growth?” Students explained the opportunities the faculty provided for their development, the environment it created, and how it supported the first steps towards professional and social realisation.

The third block was “Who we are at the university.” The teams demonstrated their roles within the university structure and discussed participating in student self-government, volunteering, organising events, and implementing various projects that foster an active student environment.

The fourth block was key — “What exactly starts with me.” It was here that the participants demonstrated their impact on university life: initiatives, events, the atmosphere, the involvement of other students, and changes arising from their activism.

This stage was the culmination of the performances’ logic and allowed the teams to demonstrate their identity and value to the university community. Research from 2025 shows that students who are aware of their own value, opportunities and prospects demonstrate higher academic results. That is why the “University Begins with Me” competition has become not only a creative event but also an important platform for developing student leadership, responsibility, and team interaction.

Pronto Pizza sponsors the event.