Policies and Social Guarantees
TSATU’s activities are aimed at providing decent working conditions for its employees and providing high-quality, practice-oriented education to prepare students for the demands of the labour market. The university shows a commitment to high labour standards based on national legislation and social protection policies.
TSATU adheres to the requirements of the Labour Code of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine “On Wages”, which provide for minimum state guarantees, including the payment of wages not lower than the subsistence minimum established by the state. These obligations are stipulated by the University’s Collective Agreement. Only 6 out of 615 employees (1%) who were on standstill received wages below the subsistence minimum, which confirms the high level of compliance with social guarantees (Rector’s report).
The University recognises the rights of employees and cooperates with the primary trade union organisation of employees, ensuring freedom of association and collective bargaining for all staff, including women and international personnel, as guaranteed by the Collective Agreement. The trade union organisation comprises 615 university staff, of whom 418 are women (68%), reflecting strong female participation in the protection of labour rights. The Collective Agreement explicitly prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, and other protected characteristics. The trade union organisation operates in accordance with the Regulation on the primary trade union organisation of employees and students of TSATU. Its structure includes 5 faculty-level trade union bureaus, the trade union bureau of the Educational Scientific Institute of General University Training, the trade union bureau of Management and Administrative-Economic Department, the student trade union bureau and 7 commissions (on organisational and mass work, on labour protection, on cultural activities and health improvement, on public catering oversight, on youth engagement, on sports and mass activities, on veteran support). Clause 1.8 of the Regulation affirms the union’s support for freedom of association and collective bargaining for all workers, regardless of political, religious or other beliefs, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social or foreign origin. Every year the Collective Agreement between the administration and the trade union committee of TSATU is considered and approved at the annual meeting of the university’s labour collective. Clause 2.7 of the Agreement prohibits all forms of discrimination in the workplace, including violations of the principle of equal rights and opportunities. It explicitly forbids any direct or indirect restriction of workers’ rights based on race, skin colour, political, religious or other beliefs, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social or foreign origin, age, health status, disability, suspicion or presence of HIV/AIDS, or family and property circumstances. In accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities”, employees who reach retirement age may conclude a new employment contract with the university administration.
TSATU implements its workplace non-discrimination policy (based on religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, etc.) in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Principles of Prevention and Counteraction of Discrimination”. This commitment is also integrated into the University’s Code of Academic Integrity. The university adheres to the principles of ensuring equal opportunities and rights for all representatives regardless of their gender, gender identity, age, nationality, social status, etc. The requirement to comply with the principles of gender equality and social inclusion is stipulated in the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy of TSATU.
TSATU has adopted a Policy on the Prohibition of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct in the Workplace, affirming its strict adherence to the zero tolerance approach, and prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment of employees on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, religion or belief, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or self-expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, marital or civil partnership status, military or veteran status, genetic information, information about persons, survivorship of domestic violence or assault, appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, education, or any other characteristic or status protected by law.
TSATU is guided by the requirements of the legislation of Ukraine and the Policy on the Prevention of Forced Labour, Human Trafficking and Child Labour. The university is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment, free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. This commitment applies to all employees and candidates for employment, regardless of their social security status or category. The Collective Agreement defines transparent and fair working conditions (36 hours per week for scientific and pedagogical staff) and guarantees the duration of inter-shift rest, which prevents exploitation.
The Collective Agreement of TSATU establishes clear working conditions (36 hours per week for academic staff) and guarantees the duration of inter-shift rest, which prevents exploitation.
TSATU adheres to the principles of equal pay for work of equal value, as guaranteed by the unified tariff grid for budgetary institutions. All salaries, allowances, and supplements (including those for academic degrees, titles, and years of service) are administered in a gender-neutral manner. Gender equality is supported through the Policy for Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities, as well as through the Collective Agreement, which is subject to control by the Trade Union and elected bodies, particularly the Academic Council of TSATU. According to the staff list of TSATU and the Collective Agreement between the administration and the trade union organisation of the university (Clause 4.2, pp. 8-9), the remuneration of all employees is clearly regulated and calculated based on tariff categories, ensuring transparency, non-discrimination, and gender equality. The amount of allowances and supplements is determined by scientific degree, academic title, and years of service. Both female and male employees have the right to additional vacation time and its payment in the same amount. According to Clause 29 of Chapter 4 of the TSATU Statute, the administration ensures timely settlements with institutions, banks, and other organisations, full and punctual payments to the state budget, including contributions to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, and prevention of salary arrears. In addition, all members of the university trade union organisation are entitled to receive financial assistance regardless of their position, gender or age.
The university has established a transparent procedure for filing appeals and challenging decisions related to employee rights, remuneration, attestation, and evaluation (for example, through the Labour Disputes Commission, Trade Union Bodies or judicial channels), which is guaranteed by the Labour Code of Ukraine and the university’s internal regulations on the attestation of scientific and pedagogical staff. The Supervisory Board of TSATU plays a key role in public oversight of financial resource utilisation, with particular attention to wage-related issues. In cases involving gender equality violations, especially those concerning remuneration, university employees and students have the right to apply to the authorised person for the prevention of corruption at the university or to the head of the TSATU trade union committee. The university complies with all relevant regulatory documents governing the protection of employee rights, including the Procedure for Settling Conflict Situations and Considering Complaints, the Regulations on the Commission for the Assessment of Corruption Risks at TSATU, and the Code of Honour of TSATU, among others.
In 2024, TSATU employed a total of 402 staff members, comprising 224 scientific and pedagogical staff members. Among them, 162 individuals hold scientific degrees (Candidate or Doctor of Sciences), of which 95 are female employees, representing 58.6% of the degree-holding academic staff. All employees work under long-term employment contracts exceeding 24 months. The ratio of doctors of science to candidates is approximately 1:3, while in Ukraine as a whole this ratio is 1:6. Such indicators were achieved due to the continuous training of scientific personnel.
TSATU has created an effective system of professional development of teachers based on the identification of professional needs and individual development trajectory, which is a form of encouragement and ensuring decent work. The university, through the functioning of the Institute of Professional Development and the Higher School of Pedagogical Mastery, implements professional development programmes in modern engineering (TechnoMay-2024) and innovative technologies of the food industry (NoveFood-2024) together with partner universities. Training teachers in SAP S/4HANA and 3D modelling in Autodesk Inventor (as part of the DigiTech project) contributes to the integration of advanced IT systems. In 2024, 12 scientific and pedagogical employees of the university completed a 90-hour internship (3 ECTS credits) at various enterprises and institutions:
- Spas Village Council (Kalush district, Ivano-Frankivsk region);
- Training Centre “FRESHCODE LLC (Zaporizhzhia);
- Ukrainian Research, Design and Technological Institute of Transformer Construction JSC (Zaporizhzhia);
- Peregium LLC (Berehove, Zakarpattia region) (3 people);
- Yakymivka Village Military Administration (Zaporizhzhia) (5 people).
According to the Internal Revenue Code 2201080 “State awards, scholarships and grants in the field of education, science and technology, scholarships to winners of international competitions”, appropriations for the reporting period in the amount of 190,7 thousand UAH were approved, cash expenditures for a lifetime scholarship amounted to 190,7 thousand UAH. In 2024, the general fund expenditures for the Internal Revenue Code 2201160 “Training of personnel by higher education institutions and ensuring the activities of their practice bases” were approved in the amount of 125431,3 thousand UAH, the amount was financed from the State Budget by 100%, and amounted to 125431,3 thousand UAH. Of this amount, UAH 117,229.4 thousand (93.5% of the total funding) was allocated for wage payments, including a 22% accrual. This amount also includes budget savings directed towards bonuses and financial assistance for university employees. Labour and socio-economic relations during the reporting period between the administration and the university workforce were regulated and regulated in accordance with the terms of current legislation and the Collective Agreement. The official salaries of university employees are formed in accordance with the Unified Tariff Scale of Ranks and Coefficients for Remuneration of Budgetary Employees, taking into account their qualification requirements. The administration seriously contributed to the timely payment of advances and wages to university employees and scholarships to students. In accordance with current legislation and the Regulations on Bonuses, within the approved salary fund, TSATU employees were paid material incentives in the form of bonuses. The sources of payments are differentiated: this is at the expense of the university administration, and at the expense of the Tavria Charity Fund, and at the expense of the trade union committee. In particular, in 2024, the university administration allocated material assistance to employees and applicants for higher education for a total amount of UAH 2,472,841.27. In general, UAH 3,081,441.27 was allocated from all sources for material assistance to employees and students from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, academic and social scholarships are awarded to students. Students who study at the expense of the general fund of the state budget receive an academic scholarship.
The organization of planning and conducting practical training of students
of the university was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education”, Regulations on the Practice of Students of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine, Regulations on the Practice of Students of the TSATU, Regulations on the Organization and Conduct of Foreign Practice of Students of the TSATU, orders of the rector and decisions of the administration and the Academic Council of the university. The state of practical training of university higher education applicants and measures to form new approaches in its organization were considered at meetings of the academic councils of the university and faculties, administration, deans’ offices and graduation departments. A feature of the organization of practical training in 2024 was the difficulty in finding new bases of practices, which was associated with the introduction of martial law, the occupation of a significant part of the Southern region and, as a result, the temporary cessation of the work of basic enterprises and institutions. To form in students sufficient professional skills in making independent decisions under the conditions of specific production, mastering modern methods and forms of labour organization, tools of labour in the scope of their future speciality, the desire to systematically update their knowledge and creatively apply them in practical activities, 15 graduation departments of the university were involved. Thus, in the reporting year, 133 educational and industrial practices were planned in the curricula of all specialties and educational programs (88 educational, 45 industrial). Of the 88 educational practices, 44 are an integral part of academic disciplines. All student practices in areas of training and specialities are fully provided with educational and methodological documentation: work programmes and methodological guidelines. One of the important elements of the educational process is industrial practical training, which is aimed at consolidating theoretical knowledge obtained by students during the period of study. During the year, 25 students were involved in industrial practical training abroad. The most popular among students are the United Kingdom (11 students) and the Czech Republic (4 students). Students also completed their internships at enterprises in Germany, Austria, Latvia, Hungary, and Austria. Students of the following specialities completed internships abroad:
- Agricultural Engineering – 1 student;
- Industrial Mechanical Engineering – 4 students;
- Applied Mechanics – 3 students;
- Economics – 1 student;
- Marketing – 2 students;
- Tourism – 2 students;
- Hotel and Restaurant Business – 8 students;
- Food Technology – 4 students.
For the period of the legal regime of martial law, by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated 24 February 2022 No. 64/2022 “On the introduction of martial law in Ukraine”, the departure of male citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 60 years outside the country is prohibited, therefore some of students could not leave for exchange programmes and for industrial practical training. An important task is the practical training of students, therefore, TSATU was one of the first higher education institutions in Ukraine to begin implementing a dual form of education and became an active participant in the experiment of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine on the implementation of a pilot project for training specialists in a dual form. During this time, the regulatory and legal framework has been worked out and a powerful network of partner enterprises has been created. The beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation led not only to the loss of more than 90% of partner enterprises in the temporarily occupied territory, therefore, in 2024, work was continued on the search for partner enterprises for the implementation of the dual form of education. In 2024, the partners are leading enterprises of Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Poltava and other regions of Ukraine. The most powerful partner enterprises in the dual form are Tractorozapchastyna Romenskyi Plant PJSC (Romny), Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo PJSC, Motor-Sich LLC, Zaporizhstal PJSC, Zaporizhpolymertara PJSC, Zaporizhzhia, and MHP (Mironivskyi Hliboproduct).
The total contingent of TSATU students as of 01 January 2025 was 5695 people. TSATU has a policy of practice-oriented training, therefore all educational programmes provide for industrial practical training at the enterprise for more than 1 month. Therefore, the number of students with work experience of more than 1 month, as of 01 January 2025, is 3082 people. In addition to providing decent working conditions and practical training for students, TSATU has examples of successful integration into the labour market and impact on economic growth. TSATU monitors employment. The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine published a report on the Monitoring of Alumni Employment, where the employment rate of TSATU alumni is 44.89, and the employment rate is 1.05, which confirms the effectiveness of training. The University has created an effective system of professional development for teachers based on identifying their professional needs, determining an individual trajectory of professional development and implementing a set of measures that contribute to ensuring the improvement of teachers’ professionalism. Systematic monitoring of the level of teaching professionalism contributes to the adjustment of existing professional development programmes and is taken into account when planning areas of professional development for the new calendar period. During 2024, 122 teachers of vocational colleges from Berdiansk (20 people), Vasylivka (27 people), Melitopol (23 people), Nohaisk (22 people) and Orikhiv (30 people) had their internships at the departments of TSATU.