At the beginning of the new academic year on August 29, 2023, Olena STEPANOVA, Professor, Doctor of Cultural Studies, Head of the Center for Educational Quality Management, gave a lecture on "Academic Integrity" for first-level (bachelor's) degree students of the departments of Fashion Technology, Digital Art, Fashion and Style, Professional Education in Technology and Design of the Faculty of Arts and Fashion of KNUTD.

Higher education is a kind of model of society. Studying at a higher education institution is a period of formation and shaping of values, attitudes, and behavioral patterns that will determine a young person's place in one’s adult life. Therefore, establishing the principles of academic culture and integrity in educational institutions is a prerequisite for building a strong civic culture in society as a whole. Cultivating respect for human freedom and dignity, individuality, intellectual property and copyright among young people is an important humanitarian component of successful reforms in Ukrainian society.

In her lecture, Olena Anatoliivna told the students about the educational programs "Digital Art", "Psychology", "Modeling, Design and Artistic Decoration of Light Industry Products", "Fashion Industry", "Design and Technology of Sewing Products", "Computer Design in the Fashion Industry" about the main legislative acts on which the KNUTD Code of Academic Integrity is based. She revealed the essence of such concepts as "academic integrity", "academic plagiarism", etc.

The lecturer also emphasized that the observance of academic integrity by higher education seekers at the University involves: independent performance of academic tasks, tasks of current and final control of learning outcomes; references to sources of information when using ideas, developments, and statements; compliance with copyright and related rights legislation; provision of reliable information about the results of their own educational (scientific, creative) activities, research methods and sources of information.

The authority of a higher education institution and its prestige is assessed not in quantitative terms, but in the quality of graduates' training, their deep knowledge, unique educational traditions, and schools of scientific creativity of teachers and students, which allows not only to transfer fundamental knowledge, but also to form a spiritual and moral person who strives and focuses on self-development and self-improvement. Only this education can ensure the successful future of our country and only it can solve the problem of academic dishonesty among students.

The discussion of academic integrity issues among the first-year students present at the event with their supervisors and heads of departments aroused great interest and took place in a nice and friendly atmosphere.

We express our sincere gratitude to the Center for Educational Quality Management of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design for organizing the event, effective communication, and meaningful and thorough lecture material!

01.09.2023