Department of Pedagogy and Psychology

We are pleased to welcome you to the webpage of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology of the International Humanitarian University. The existence of our department is not long, but we are very proud of our achievements, so we want to introduce you to our history of formation.
The Department of Pedagogy and Psychology is a structural subdivision of the Faculty of Linguistics and Translation of the International Humanitarian University, which was established in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Education and Science No. 953 of 27.12.2017. Halyna Kharlampiivna Yavorska became the first Head of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology.

The university management actively studies the demand and rating of specialties among potential applicants. In response to the needs of the labor market, in 2021, the International Humanitarian University received a license for the specialty 053 Psychology (Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of 04.03.2021 № 26-l). This new direction for the university is becoming more and more popular and in demand. At the time of obtaining the license, the department was headed by Candidate of Psychological Sciences Andrii Mychailovych Donchak.

2021 was a year of discoveries, as the first enrollment in the specialty 053 Psychology was launched in the same year. There were 20 applicants enrolled in the 1st year of full-time bachelor's degree, 4 applicants in part-time education, and 26 people in the educational program for master's degree in psychology in part-time education.

In the academic year 2022-2023, the University actively continued career guidance work, enrolling 24 full-time bachelor's degree students, 9 part-time bachelor's degree students, 17 full-time master's degree students, and 24 part-time master's degree students.

In connection with the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Donchak Andrii Mykhailovych was forced to leave the leadership of the department, teaching activities and voluntarily defend the country, as he is a colonel (retired) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Since 2022, the department has been headed by Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor Viktoriia Borysivna Bedan.

The program of the specialty 053 Psychology is focused on the practical training and development of professional competencies of a psychologist for teaching, research and practice in the field of psychology. A special feature is theoretical and practical training in psychological rehabilitation and inclusion.

The activities of the teaching staff of the department are aimed at training highly qualified, competitive psychologists who are able to solve complex professional and practical problems in the process of educational and professional activities in the field of psychology, ready to work in inclusive resource centers as part of a team of psychological and pedagogical support, educational and health care institutions, psychological centers with which the International Humanitarian University works closely.
Since 2024, the department has been headed by Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor Natalia Ivanivna Melenchuk.

Detailed information about the teaching staff

of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology

MELENCHUK Nataliia Ivanivna
Head of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology,
Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor
Psychologist, practicing Gestalt approach
Education:
·Master's degree in Psychology; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2013);
·Candidate of Psychological Sciences in the specialty 19.00.01 “General Psychology, History of Psychology”; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2017).
Dissertation topic: “Psychological factors of personality tendency to adventurous behavior.”
·Associate Professor; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2022).

·Odesa Psychoanalytic Institute (2012-2015).
·Certificate of completion of the practical course “Art Therapy Workshop” on the basis of the Art Therapy Association (2013).
·Certificate “Metaphorical projective maps in the Gestalt approach. Theory and practice” on the basis of the All-Ukrainian Union of Psychologists Practicing the Gestalt Approach (2020).
·Certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Work with Children and Adolescents based on the Kyiv Institute of Rational and Intuitive Psychotherapy “Ya” (2021).
·Certificate in Psychiatric Propaedeutics at the Ukrainian Union of Psychotherapists (2020-2021).
·Certificate of the course of the Ukrainian Union of Psychotherapists “Counseling and Psychotherapy of Children, Adolescents and Their Parents” (2019-2023).
·Gestalt therapy on the basis of the Ukrainian Union of Psychologists Practicing the Gestalt Approach “Ukrainian Gestalt Institute” (since 2020).

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
·Since 2016 - member of the Ukrainian Union of Psychotherapists
·Since 2018 - member of the Association of Political Psychologists of Ukraine
·Since 2020 - member of the All-Ukrainian Union of Psychologists Practicing the Gestalt Approach

Practical activity:
·Experience of psychological practice 7 years



LEFTEROV Vasyl Olexandrovych
Doctor of Psychology, Professor,
Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
First Vice-Rector of IHU
Education:
·Candidate of Psychological Sciences, specialty 19.00.06 “Legal Psychology”; National University of Internal Affairs (Kharkiv) (2001)
Dissertation topic: “Psychological causes of death and injuries of law enforcement officers”
·Associate Professor (2004)
·Doctor of Psychology, specialty 19.00.09 “Psychology of activity in special conditions”; University of Civil Defense of Ukraine (Kharkiv) (2009)Dissertation topic: “Personal and professional development of specialists in extreme activities”
·Academic title of professor (2011)

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
Since 1996 - member of the Society of Psychologists of Ukraine
2009-2014 - Head of the public organization “Association of Psychologists of Donbass”

Practical experience:
· 1996-2001 - senior psychologist at the Donetsk Institute of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
· 2001-2003 - Deputy Head of the Department for Human Resources, Head of the Department of Social and Psychological Work of the Donetsk Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
· 2004-2010 - Head of the Research Center for Psycho-Training Technologies of the Donetsk Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine


VELYTCHENKO Leonid Kyrylovych
Doctor of Psychology, Professor,
Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology

Education:
· Candidate of Psychological Sciences, specialty 19.00.07 “Pedagogical, Child and Age Psychology” (1982)
Dissertation topic: “Development of foreign language speech hearing in adults in language acquisition”
· Academic rank of associate professor (1989)
· Doctor of Psychology, specialty 19.00.07 “Educational and Age Psychology”; National Pedagogical Dragomanov University
Dissertation topic: “Psychological basis of pedagogical interaction” (2007).
· Academic title of Professor; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2008)

Scientific consulting:
· Scientific advising of the Department of Education of the Izmail City Council on issues of pedagogical interaction in educational institutions of the city on the basis of the contract.

· Member of the editorial board of the scientific professional journal “Science and Education” (group B).

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
· Since 2015 - expert of the public organization “Intellectual Staff of Civil Society”
· Since 2022 - expert of the NGO “International Foundation of Scientists and Educators”
· Since 2022 - expert of the Ukrainian Association of Family Psychologists



KOSENKO Korneliya Arturivna
Doctor of Medical Sciences,
Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Head of the mixed psychiatric department of the Odesa Regional Center for Mental Health

Education:
· Specialist's diploma in General Medicine; Odesa State Medical University (2008)
· Candidate of Medical Sciences in the specialty 14.01.16 “Psychiatry” (2019)
Dissertation topic: “Psychosocial rehabilitation of women with paranoid schizophrenia in different models of family interaction”
· Doctor of Medical Sciences in specialty 14.01.16 Psychiatry; State Institution “Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine” (2021)
Dissertation topic: “Clinical characteristics, diagnosis and prevention of borderline mental disorders in long-distance sailors”

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations
· Association of Psychiatrists of Ukraine

Practical activity:
· Since 2014 - psychiatrist at the Odesa Regional Medical Center for Mental Health
· Since 2019 - Head of Department 17 of the Odesa Regional Medical Center for Mental Health
· Practical experience as a psychiatrist for 14 years



YERMAKOVA Svitlana Stanislavivna
Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor,
Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology

Education:
· Specialist's degree in the specialty: “Psychology; qualification - practical psychologist in educational institutions; South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky (2000).
· Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, specialty 13.00.04 “Theory and Methods of Vocational Education”; South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky
Dissertation topic: “Pedagogical conditions for the formation of professional and pedagogical values of future teachers”
· Associate Professor; Odesa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture
· Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences in specialty 13.00.04 “Theory and Methods of Vocational Education”; South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky
Dissertation topic: “Theoretical and methodological bases of monitoring the professional training of future teachers of higher technical educational institutions”
· Academic title: Professor; Odesa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture (2021).

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
· Since 2017 - Member of the Public Organization “Institute of Deep Psychology and Methods of Psychocorrection”

Practical activity:
· Scientific consulting of the public organization “Odesa City Council of Large Families”

Awards:
· National recognition “Honorary Teacher of Ukraine” with presentation:
Badge “Honorary Teacher of Ukraine” (2020),
Certificate of Honor “For significant contribution to the development of the national education system” issued by the Institute of Educational Problems of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, NGO “Union of Educators of Ukraine”, National Ecological and Naturalistic Center for Student Youth of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (2020)
· Diploma for significant personal achievements in professional activity, ensuring the implementation of state policy in the field of education and science, active participation in the training of specialists, scientific, scientific and pedagogical staff and the education of the younger generation, long-term impeccable work on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Academy from the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine.
· Acknowledgement for active participation in the scientific and practical seminar “Legal and economic aspects of housing management” held within the framework of the XXXIII specialized exhibition “Your Home, Odesa 2020”.
· National recognition “Scientist of the Year” with the award:
Order of the Scientist of the Year (2021)
Certificate of Honor “For Significant Achievements and Personal Contribution to the Development of Science of Ukraine” from the National Academy of Ukraine from the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Science and Education, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, the Academy of Civil Engineering of Ukraine, MPs and other government agencies and public associations (2021)
· National recognition “Pride of the Nation” with the award:
Order of the Pride of the Nation (2021)
Certificate of Honor “For active civic position, significant contribution to the development and prosperity of the state, conscientious work, high professionalism, unwavering patriotism, love for Ukraine and creation of its positive image” with the support and participation of the first President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, MPs of Ukraine, public administration and local self-government bodies, NGOs and others.
· Acknowledgement of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine for many years of conscientious work, significant personal contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists and fruitful scientific and pedagogical activities (2023).



BEDAN Viktoriia Borysivna
Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor
Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Head of the Department of Postgraduate Studies and Research at IHU

Education:
· Master's Degree in Psychology; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2014);
· Candidate of Psychological Sciences in the specialty 19.00.01 “General Psychology, History of Psychology”; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky”
Dissertation topic: “Individual-typological features of personality's tendency to experience loneliness.”
· Associate Professor Diploma; National University “Odesa Law Academy” (2023).
Scientific counseling:
Since 2018 - consulting of the Public Organization “WORLD ORGANIZATION AIKITEDO”.

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
· Since 2017 - member of the professional association of political psychologists
· Since 2021 - member of the scientific organization “Center for Ukrainian and European Scientific Cooperation”
· Since 2021 - member of the Ukrainian Psychological Association



ZHYGALKINA Nataliia Vitaliivna
Candidate of Psychology Sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Business psychologist. Trainer of companies.

Education:
· Specialist Diploma in Preschool Education and Practical Psychology; South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky
· Candidate of Psychological Sciences in the specialty 19.00.01 “General Psychology, History of Psychology”; I. I. Mechnikov Odesa National University (2018)
Dissertation topic: “Peculiarities of attitude to psychological health of a person”

Counseling: - EQUILIBRIUM Psychological Center of the public movement “Faith, Hope, Love” - Odesa Regional Employment Center - European Business Woman Association Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
Member of the NGO IRSGP “Institute for the Development of Symbol Drama and Deep Psychology”
Practical activity:
· Since 2015 - Director of the All-Ukrainian Training Festival “ANIMA” in Odesa - Since 2015 - Founder, Director of the Training Corporation “PSYCHOLOGY” - Founder of the 1st National Congress of Trainers (2019). ) - Specialist in the development, adaptation and implementation of training programs and training events, expert in the field of coaching training - Author of branded trainings “Psychology of Successful Sales”, “Training for Trainers” and a system of personal development classes - Cooperation with more than 100 companies in Ukraine - 21 years of psychological practice experience
Awards:
· Winner of the rating “100 Successful Women of Odesa Region - 2018; 2020”
· Winner of the All-Ukrainian rating WOMAN 500 “The most influential woman in Ukraine”
· Winner of the nomination “Best Company of the Year” in the rating “TOP 100. The basis of the Ukrainian economy. Companies” (2018)



POPLAVSKA Eva Vadymivna
Candidate of Psychological Sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Psychotherapist

Education:
· Master's degree in Psychology; South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky (2004)
· Candidate of Psychological Sciences in the specialty 19.00.07 “Pedagogical and Age Psychology”; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2011)
Dissertation topic: “Dependence of negative features of self-concept on gender standards in adolescence”

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
· Permanent member of UATA “Ukrainian Association of Transactional Analysis”

Practical activity:
· Since 2007 - founder of the NGO “Institute of Depth Psychology and Methods of Psychocorrection”
· Head of training projects in Odesa from the NGO IRSGP “Institute for the Development of Symbol Drama and Deep Psychology”
· Experience in psychotherapeutic practice for 24 years



LEBEDINSKY Eduard Bronislavovych
Candidate of Psychology Sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology

Education:
· Specialist Diploma in History; Vinnytsia State Pedagogical Institute (1994)
· Candidate of Psychological Sciences, specialty 19.00.07 “Pedagogical and Age Psychology” (2016)
· Dissertation topic: “Psychological peculiarities of the development of creative potential of a schoolchild's personality in recreation”


VOLOSHENKOV Borys Oleksiiovych
Lecturer of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology


PASTERNATSKII Artem Viacheslavovych
Lecturer of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Psychotherapist

Education:
· Specialist diploma in Psychology; South Ukrainian State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky (2007)
· Postgraduate student of the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology at the International Humanitarian University

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
· Member of the NGO IRSGP “Institute for the Development of Symbol Drama and Deep Psychology”
Practical activity:
· Diploma of psychotherapist in Catatonic-Imaginative Psychotherapy (2010).
· Associate Professor's Diploma in the method of Catatonic Imaginative Psychotherapy (Symbol Drama) (2021)
· 17 years of psychotherapeutic practice experience



GEREGA Svitlana Oleksandrivna
Lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Director of Odesa Inclusive Resource Center #5

Education:
· Specialist diploma in “Defectology”; Kyiv State Pedagogical Institute named after M.P. Drahomanov (1993)

Practical experience:
· 1991-1997 - speech therapist-defectologist of a specialized kindergarten
· 1997-2005 - speech therapist-defectologist at the children's road clinical hospital
· 2005-2019 - speech therapist-defectologist at the All-Ukrainian Medical Center for Rehabilitation of Mother and Child
· 2011-2015 - speech therapist at the Odesa City Dolphinarium
· Since 2019 - Director of the Odesa Inclusive Resource Center No. 5

Activities in the specialty in the form of participation in professional and/or public associations:
· Member of the Association of Correctional Teachers of Ukraine



ZELENSKA Olha Valentynivna
Lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology
Leading specialist in education quality assurance and accreditation at IHU

Education:
-Master's degree in Psychology; State Institution “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushynsky” (2017)