I STUDY AT THREE UNIVERSITIES AND FIND TIME FOR COURSES

Denys is simultaneously studying at three higher education institutions: a full-time postgraduate student in economics at the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, a first-year student of a part-time master's degree in psychology at the National Aviation University, and a part-time master's degree in computer science at Sumy State University. And that's not all, because Denys also studies on the online platforms Coursera and edX. He discovered online courses 6-7 years ago, and today he has received more than 60 certificates. In addition, Denys works as an IT consultant. Read the interview to find out what it's like to get knowledge from different universities and educational platforms and work at the same time.

 What is education for you and what do you like most about studying on the educational platforms you mentioned?

For me, education is a tool for personal and professional development that allows me to spend my free time more efficiently. On Coursera and edX platforms, learning takes place online at a time convenient for the course participant. I like the fact that I have the opportunity to study only what is interesting and valuable to me personally. In addition, there is no time limit for studying. I can study while travelling or playing sports. As a result, it is possible to receive formal education and work on a regular schedule.

 How many certificates have you obtained so far? What do they give you?

In total, more than 60 (in computer science, psychology, business).  The certificates themselves only formally confirm the successful completion of the course. But it is the knowledge you gain during your studies that is of greater value.

 Which course did you like the most?

It was The Analytics Edge course from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the edX platform. I liked that the teacher explained rather complex topics in a relatively simple way. Also, as part of the course, I was allowed to take part in my first competition on the data research platform Kaggle. It was quite an interesting and rewarding experience.

What are the most critical disadvantages of online educational platforms for users?

In my opinion, the biggest disadvantage of online educational platforms in Ukraine is that the obtained learning outcomes cannot be counted as part of formal education at least partially in some universities. As a result, more time needs to be spent on completing assignments in academic disciplines. This approach looks more like an anachronism. At the same time, the knowledge gained from different sources allows you to understand the subject area better.

How would you advise beginners to choose a course to learn?

You need to choose what you like and find interesting. Accordingly, this will give the course participant more motivation to complete the course successfully. Formal education in Ukraine does not yet provide such opportunities due to many factors: for example, the lack of qualified teachers and insufficient enrollment of students to introduce certain elective courses in the educational process.

Do you have any advice for students on how not to quit their studies and make it as comfortable and effective as possible?

In my opinion, understanding why a student needs such knowledge is the best motivator. The war has already deprived many of us of opportunities for both self-realisation and development. At the same time, the opportunity to study for free on the Coursera platform is still available to students and postgraduates of Ukrainian universities. It is a positive and unique opportunity that should be taken advantage of. For example, the ability to study offline on the Coursera platform (by downloading the training materials to your phone or computer in advance) does not depend on the availability of the Internet or mobile connection during the learning process. This was especially useful during long power outages and blackouts. Also, the regular opportunity to do something interesting adds a sense of relative stability to the surrounding uncertainty.

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