Scientific Bulletin of Mukachevo State University. Series “Pedagogy and Psychology”

Vol. 11, No. 3, 2025 14.10.2025 open access Open access

Organisation of scientific activities of postgraduate students in the context of the educational environment transformation: Factors and current trends

Tetiana Shcherban, Volodymyr Hoblyk, Ildiko Greba

DOI https://doi.org/10.52534/msu-pp3.2025.41 Pages 41 –52 Views 523 Views

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to update approaches to the scientific training of third-level education seekers in line with contemporary challenges, such as the fragmentation of scientific activity support, the gap between theory and practice, and the insufficient motivation of postgraduate students for scientific work. The purpose of the study was to identify effective models of organisations of scientific activity in postgraduate studies and analyse tools for supporting the scientific work of graduate students. The methodological basis of the research was the analysis of scientific sources, an empirical survey of graduate students and analysis of their responses, and statistical processing of the results. A comprehensive approach was applied, combining pedagogical, psychological, and organisational aspects, including the analysis of educational conditions, structural support mechanisms, features of academic behaviour and digital integration. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used for quantitative analysis; data were processed using SPSS 28 software suite. For a qualitative analysis of the interviews, thematic coding was used in NVivo 14, which allowed helped to identify dominant patterns and regularities in the respondents’ experiences. The results showed that access to international scientific databases correlated with higher self-assessment of scientific progress (ρ = 0.42; p < 0.05). It was revealed that the effectiveness of scientific activity of graduate students largely depended on comprehensive scientific support, methodological support, digital tools, and participation in international academic networks. The study confirmed that systematic mentoring and institutional support contributed to the growth of publication activity, professional mobility, and integration of graduate students into global scientific communities. The conclusions emphasised the importance of holistic provision of academic activities, and outlined the prospects for further research related to the psychological well-being of graduate students and the assessment of the effectiveness of digital tools in the process of scientific training. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of a holistic approach to supporting graduate students, which can be integrated into the activities of higher education institutions

Keywords

academic competence; mentoring; digital resources; scientific support; publication activity; international integration; institutional support

References

  1. Declaration of Helsinki. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/.
  2. Everitt, J. (2024). Learning from doctoral supervisors’ and candidates’ reflections on a supervisory model. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 62(2), 717-730. doi: 10.1080/14703297.2024.2343831.
  3. Filipova, L., & Miller, D. (2025). Specific features of the development of international academic mobility among Ukrainian humanities students in the digital society. Professional Education: Methodology, Theory and Technologies, 11(1), 34-45. doi: 10.69587/pemtt/1.2025.34.
  4. Halse, C., & Mowbray, S. (2011). The impact of the doctorate. Studies in Higher Education, 36(5), 513-525. doi: 10.1080/03075079.2011.594590.
  5. Hladchenko, M. (2023). Strategising PhD supervision in Ukrainian higher education. Tertiary Education and Management, 29, 491-505. doi: 10.1007/s11233-023-09117-y.
  6. Hladchenko, M. (2025). International cooperation of Ukrainian researchers: Consequences of the full-scale Russian invasion. arXiv. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2505.20944.
  7. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. (2017). Regulations on the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Department of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Retrieved from https://lnu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/reg_aspirantura.pdf.
  8. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. (2023). Regulations on the organisation of the educational process for doctoral students at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Retrieved from https://aspirantura.lnu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Polozhennia-pro-orhanizatsiiu-osvitnoho-protsesu-zdobuvachiv-vyshchoi-osvity-stupenia-doktora-filosofii-u-LNU-imeni-Ivana-Franka.pdf.
  9. Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Department. (n.d.). Documents. Retrieved from https://aspirantura.lnu.edu.ua/documents/.
  10. Kachynska, N. (2022). Ukrainian universities and the challenge of research capacity development. In M. Chankseliani, I. Fedyukin & I. Frumin (Eds.), Building research capacity at universities (pp. 139-158). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-12141-8_8.
  11. Khoruzha, L., Lokshyna, O., Mazur, N., & Proshkin, V. (2022). Doctoral education in Ukraine: The application of digital tools and services by Doctoral Students under COVID-19 pandemic. Multidisciplinary Journal for Education, Social and Technological Sciences, 9(1), 87-112. doi: 10.4995/muse.2022.16768.
  12. Kuchyn, I., Bielka, K., Lymar, L., & Puljak, L. (2024). Academic performance, perceptions, and motivations of medical PhD students in Ukraine during wartime: A mixed methods study. BMC Medical Education, 24, article number 1421. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06400-3.
  13. Kuznietsov, Ye. (2025). Theoretical foundations for the development of digital skills of vocational education teachers: Innovative tools, integrative approaches. Professional Education: Methodology, Theory and Technologies, 11(1), 57-69. doi: 10.69587/pemtt/1.2025.57.
  14. Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. (2020). Code of Academic Integrity of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. Retrieved from https://ra.vnu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Kodeks-akademichnoyi-dobrochesnosti.pdf.
  15. Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. (n.d.). Regulations on the organisation of the educational and scientific process for higher education students at the third (educational and scientific/educational and creative) and scientific levels at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. Retrieved from https://ed.vnu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F-%D0%90%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0-.pdf.
  16. Luzan, P., & Titova, O. (2025). Development of PhD students’ research competence: A technological approach. Pedagogical Sciences: Theory, History, Innovative Technologies, 1(141), 121-141.
  17. Mukachevo State University. (2020). Regulations on teaching practice for postgraduate students. Retrieved from https://msu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D1%83.pdf?utm.
  18. Mukachevo State University. (2021). Regulations on the procedure for preparing candidates for higher education PhD and doctor of science degrees at Mukachevo State University. New edition. Retrieved from https://msu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8F%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B4%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0-%D1%84%D1%96%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%84%D1%96%D1%97-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%86%D1%96%D1%8F_2021.pdf.
  19. Mukachevo State University. (n.d.). Regulations academic integrity at Mukachevo State University. Retrieved from https://msu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE-%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%96%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%83-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%86%D1%96%D1%8F_2021.pdf.
  20. Mullen, C.A. (2021). Mentoring in times of crises, pandemics, and social distancing. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 10(2), 139-143.
  21. Mullen, C.A. (2022). Guiding online students in a crisis: An intervention for mentoring educational leadership doctoral candidates. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 18(3), 510-533. doi: 10.1177/19427751221097147.
  22. Novosad, I.I., Kudoiar, O.S., & Boiko, N.V. (2021). Digitalization of the university educational environment under global challenges. Bulletin of Lviv Polytechnic National University. Problems of Economics and Management, 2(3), 112-120. doi: 10.23939/ekon2021.03.112.
  23. Orechova, M. (2021). Internationalisation of higher education in Central and Eastern Europe: Conceptualisation of the definition inside the region. Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia, 46, 119-131. doi: 10.15388/ActPaed.46.2021.8.
  24. Polkinghorne, M., Taylor, J., Knight, F., & Stewart, N. (2023). Doctoral supervision: A best practice review. Encyclopedia, 3(1), 46-59. doi: 10.3390/encyclopedia3010004.
  25. Uzhhorod National University. (2016). Regulations on academic mobility of students at Uzhhorod National University. Retrieved from https://www.uzhnu.edu.ua/uk/infocentre/get/21269.
  26. Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. (2024). Regulations on the organisation of the educational process at the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) levels at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. Retrieved from https://ed.vnu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-olozhennya_pro_org_anizatsiyu_navch._pr_otsesu_u_VNU_%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4.pdf.
  27. Uzhhorod National University. (2020). Regulations on the organisation of the educational process at the state higher educational institution “Uzhhorod National University”. Retrieved from https://www.uzhnu.edu.ua/uk/infocentre/get/31357.
  28. Samko, A. (2021). Digital competence of academic staff in the system of postgraduate education. Education Analytics of Ukraine, 2(13), 33-43. doi: 10.32987/2617-8532-2021-2-33-43.
  29. Shynenko, M.A., Tkachenko, V.A., & Labzhinsky, Y.A. (2024). Development of digital competence of academic staff: Foreign experience. Scientific Journal of the Mykhailo Dragomanov Ukrainian State University. Series 2. Computer-Oriented Learning Systems, 23(30), 133-144. doi: 10.31392/UDU-nc.series2.2024.23(30).12.
  30. Stynska, V. (2024). Digitalisation of the educational process in higher education institutions under martial law in ukraine on the basis of research at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio J, Paedagogia Psychologia, 37(3), 91-103. doi: 10.17951/j.2024.37.3.91-103.
  31. Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. (2020). Code of academic integrity of the Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. Retrieved from https://tnpu.edu.ua/about/public_inform/academ_dobrochesnist/kodeks_academich_dobroches.pdf.
  32. Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. (2023). Regulations on the Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies Department. Retrieved from https://tnpu.edu.ua/about/public_inform/upload/2023/Polozhennia_pro_viddil_aspirantury_i_doktorantury.pdf.
  33. Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University. (2025). Rules for admission to postgraduate studies at Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University for 2025. Retrieved from https://tnpu.edu.ua/abiturient/pdf/2025/dodatok_10.pdf.
  34. Tolochko, S. (2021). Digital competence of teachers in the conditions of digitalization of educational establishments and distance learning. Bulletin of the T.H. Shevchenko National University “Chernihiv Colehium”, 169(13), 28-35. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.5077823.
  35. Uzhhorod National University. (n.d.). Info-center. Documents. Retrieved from https://www.uzhnu.edu.ua/uk/infocentre/60861.
  36. Zayachuk, Y. (2025). International student mobility as an internationalization strategy: The case of Ukraine. Journal of International Students, 15(1), 45-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101507.

Suggested citation

Shcherban, T., Hoblyk, V., & Greba, I. (2025). Organisation of scientific activities of postgraduate students in the context of the educational environment transformation: Factors and current trends. Scientific Bulletin of Mukachevo State University. Series “Pedagogy and Psychology”, 11(3), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.52534/msu-pp3.2025.41