Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics

The Department of Physical Education and Sports: Traditions, Science, and Athletic Triumphs
The history of the Department of Physical Education and Sports at the Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics traces its origins back to the establishment of the higher education institution itself in 1930. It was during this period that the foundations of physical education for student youth began to take shape within the structure of the institute. The first directors of this vector were experienced educators—A.I. Sobolev, A.A. Fradkin, and V.I. Lozov—who laid the bedrock for systematic student physical conditioning.

During the initial decades of the institute’s existence, physical education was a vital component of the core educational workflow. Until 1948, the “Physical Culture and Sports” track operated within the Military Department. In 1948, a separate and autonomous Department of Physical Education was founded at the Kharkiv Mining Institute, headed by Mykola Stepanovych Kleshchenko, a Master of Sports in weightlifting. He managed the department for nearly three decades, focusing heavily on expanding collegiate sports and mass physical culture.

In the post-war years, the institute earned a well-deserved reputation for its organization of mass athletic workflows. Students actively engaged in cross-country runs, cycling marathons, swimming races, and other sports initiatives. The varsity teams of the institute achieved significant success: the artistic gymnastics team, under the coaching of Y.M. Raizer, repeatedly placed as a medalist at the Championships of Ukraine; the weightlifting team, guided by V.A. Zemlyanyi, won all-union competitions among higher education institutions; and the football team, coached by A.S. Brakhovetskyi, secured podium finishes at all-Ukrainian and all-union collegiate tournaments. Renowned athletes also emerged from the student ranks—such as Masters of Sports B. Pylshchykov, V. Matsenko, and L. Masliy, who became champions of Ukraine and national medalists in rowing.

A new era of departmental evolution commenced in 1973 under the leadership of Professor Stanislav Fedorovych Tanyanskyi. An outstanding educator, sports veteran, and Academician of the International Personnel Academy, he dedicated over half a century to advancing physical education in higher education institutions. Professor Tanyanskyi long headed the educational-methodological commission of physical education departments for all HEIs in Kharkiv. For his multi-year and fruitful work, he was honored with numerous state awards, including citations from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the title “Excellent Worker of Education of Ukraine,” and an honorary award from the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

Initiated by S.F. Tanyanskyi, the student physical education system underwent deep modernization. Physical education sessions were introduced across all years of study, and the sports base of the institute was significantly expanded. Specialized gyms were built within student dormitories, enabling youth to engage in physical culture, train on modern equipment, and receive professional consultations from faculty members. Combining practical preparation with theoretical knowledge became a core priority, realized through instructional manuals, textbooks, and scientific developments authored by the department’s faculty.

Today, the Department of Physical Education and Sports continues to build upon the traditions established by previous generations of educators. The department is currently headed by a student of Professor Tanyanskyi—Natalia Oleksandrivна Didiuk, a Candidate of Sciences and Master of Sports of International Class in powerlifting. Under her leadership, both scientific research and athletic operations are expanding dynamically.

The department’s faculty conduct scientific research in the fields of physical education, athletic training, and health-preservation technologies. The results of their studies are routinely published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, integrated into the active curriculum, and used to optimize the physical education framework for student youth.

The university takes exceptional pride in the athletic milestones of its student body. NURE athletes have repeatedly become champions and medalists of the Championships of Ukraine, Europe, and the World across diverse disciplines. The high tier of student preparation and the profound professionalism of the faculty ensure the department’s strong reputation both in Kharkiv and across Ukraine. The department successfully merges long-standing traditions, scientific achievements, and a modern approach to collegiate sports, focusing on instilling a healthy lifestyle and training new generations of competitive athletes.