National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

Department of Physical Education
Physical education at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is an integral component of modern university education aimed at the harmonious development of personality, the formation of a health culture, accountability for one’s own physical condition, and the capacity for long-term productive activity. In this context, physical education goes beyond the boundaries of a purely academic discipline and emerges as an important element of the Academy’s value and cultural model.

Under the conditions of full-scale war, physical education has acquired additional significance as a factor in supporting the psychophysical resilience of students, preserving the stability of the educational process, and supporting the university community. Since the revival of NaUKMA, the Department of Physical Education has ensured the continuity of the educational and training processes, flexibly adapting them to security restrictions without a loss of quality, even in the absence of a modern sports complex.

In 2025, the status of the “Physical Education” discipline transitioned from mandatory to elective, accompanied by a shift to a section-based (club-based) model of educational organization. The implementation of this format aligns with the overarching educational strategy and modern European practices, where physical activity is integrated into a student’s individual educational trajectory. The club-based model at NaUKMA granted one-third of the students the opportunity to make a conscious choice of physical activity according to their interests and fitness levels, facilitating the formation of sustained intrinsic motivation. Despite the state of war, the department ensured the stable functioning of these sports clubs, adjusting schedules and formats to meet security requirements.

The Educational Process
The discipline of “Physical Education” is implemented across all faculties and years of study in a section-based format (depending on the mode of instruction). For students, it carries a recreational, wellness, and adaptive character, does not add to the weekly academic workload, and is aimed at a smooth integration into the university environment while reducing psycho-emotional stress. Classes in sports clubs allow students to acquire skills in a specific sport or refine existing ones, as well as pass selections for NaUKMA varsity teams.

In 2025, 8 such groups were operational, namely:

Basketball (women’s and men’s groups)

Volleyball (women’s and men’s groups)

Table tennis

Aerobics

Strength training

Tennis

Futsal (men’s group)

Chess

A total of 215 student-athletes were engaged in these classes. Volleyball held the leading position as the most popular and community-shaping section: women’s and men’s groups were formed, ensuring the sustainability of the training process and preparation for competitions.

Mass Sports Events
Mass sports remain a vital component of the academic culture at NaUKMA. In 2025, the department ensured the execution of the Spartakiad across all scheduled sports (3×3 basketball, volleyball, table tennis, arm wrestling, and futsal). The total number of Spartakiad participants exceeded 260 individuals.

The traditional “Mohyla Mile” event brought together over 100 participants and carried a clear charitable focus in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, blending physical activity, university traditions, and social responsibility.

Student Sports Organization “Sportoday”
The student organization “Sportoday” operates within NaUKMA. It was founded on October 10, 2023, and commenced its official activities on January 22, 2024. “Sportoday” is an athletic society of students (spudeis) of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The goal of the organization is to create opportunities for realizing the athletic potential of Mohyla students.

The team of the “Sportoday” student organization raised over 100,000 UAH for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Currently, the society’s accounts have over 1,200 subscribers on social networks (approx. 25% of all 4,800 NaUKMA students). Over 30 events have been organized, including the “Ostap Onistrat Cup” memorial tennis tournament and the “Mohyla Games” university-wide inter-faculty competitions. Over the first two years of operation, events by the “Sportoday” student organization were attended by more than 700 participants. Within the structure of the student organization, regular running and yoga clubs function successfully, systematically raising funds for the needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

Plans for the Future
The Mohyla community shows a significant demand for developing the Academy’s sports infrastructure. Active representatives of the student body, faculty, and administration are looking for opportunities to implement new sports projects within limited resources. Plans include expanding the athletic potential of the university campus, particularly by utilizing the sports infrastructure of the Podil neighborhood. The community has a clearly defined strategy for sports development at NaUKMA and is ready to initiate its implementation.