13.07.2026
From June 29 to July 8, 2026, the second-year students of the K. Niemets Department of Human Geography and Regional Studies took part in the field stage of the educational professional practice, which took place in the picturesque highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
The practice was organized on the basis of the Training Base of Field Geographic Practices "Yasynya" of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, located in the village of Chorna Tysa, Rakhiv district, Zakarpattia region. This base is traditionally used to conduct landscape-ecological, geomorphological, microclimatic, hydrological and economic-geographical research.
In the conditions of a full-scale war, the educational process at the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University has undergone significant changes. A significant part of educational classes, consultations and other activities are conducted remotely. At the same time, practical training remains an integral part of the professional development of future geographers. During the field research the students have the opportunity to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in real conditions, master the methods of observation, collection and analysis of primary geographical information, and learn to work with natural and social objects directly on the ground.
The internship was made possible thanks to the support of the Dean of the Faculty of Geography of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Professor Serhiy ZAPOTOTSKI, and fruitful cooperation with colleagues - associate professors Oleg HRYNYUK, Yulian BRAYCHEVSKY and Tetyana KUPACH.
Students of the educational and professional programs “Economic, Social Geography and Regional Development” and “Geography of Recreation and Tourism” participated in the field stage. The internship was supervised by associate professors of the department Liudmyla KLIUCHKO and Olha SUPTELO. The team of Kharkiv lecturers was also joined by Associate Professor Anastasiia KLIESCH from the Educational and Scientific Institute of Ecology, Green Energy and Sustainable Development.
From the classroom to a real field laboratory
During the practice, the students studied the natural and human-geographical features of the mountainous area, assessed its tourist and recreational potential, analyzed the state of the tourist infrastructure, the conditions for laying routes and the possibilities for developing active, cognitive and ecological tourism.
The Carpathian landscapes became a real open-air educational laboratory for the participants of the practice. The students conducted field observations, carried out route studies, recorded the features of the relief, vegetation and water bodies, analyzed changes in natural complexes depending on the height and nature of the economic use of the territory.
Special attention was paid to the study of water quality. Students took samples, made the necessary measurements and learned to interpret the results obtained. Such work allowed not only to consolidate the skills of conducting field research, but also to more deeply understand the importance of preserving water resources in mountainous areas.
Carpathian routes, peaks and high-altitude lakes
The program of the practice was rich in hiking routes of varying difficulty levels. One of the important directions was the ascent to Mount Chorna Kleva – one of the peaks of the Bratkivskyi ridge, which belongs to the Vnutrishni Gorgany massif.
The students also explored the mountain routes of the Svydovetskyi massif, visited the peaks of Velykyi Kotel and Vorozheska, walked along the Apshynets ridge and visited the high-altitude glacial lake Vorozheska. Velykyi Kotel and Vorozheska are among the famous peaks of Svydovets, and Lake Vorozheska is located on the northern slopes of the massif in a glacial crater at an altitude of about 1460 meters above sea level.
The participants were given an unforgettable experience by the route to the Tatul meadow, located near the village of Chorna Tysa at an altitude of about 1,400 meters. There, the students had the opportunity to observe the features of the traditional use of high-mountain areas and evaluate the recreational attractiveness of the Carpathian meadows.
A separate event of the practice was the climb to Hoverla – the highest peak of Ukraine. Overcoming the difficult mountain route required endurance, responsibility, mutual assistance and coordinated teamwork. For many students, this climb became not only an important professional experience, but also a personal achievement.
The participants also got acquainted with individual sections of the Transcarpathian Tourist Route – one of the longest marked hiking routes of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Its route passes through the mountainous areas of Zakarpattia and connects numerous natural and tourist sites of the region.
Experience cannot be obtained only online
Field practice has become an important stage in the professional training of future geographers. Participants not only improved their skills in conducting route observations, working with field materials, and evaluating tourist and recreational resources, but also developed communication and organizational competencies.
Mountain routes taught students make decisions quickly, be responsible for own safety and the safety of others, distribute responsibilities, support each other and work as a single team. The kilometers traveled together, difficult climbs, changeable mountain weather, incredible landscapes and evenings at the training base created a special atmosphere that will remain in the memory of each participant for a long time.
Practice has shown that even in today's difficult conditions, students have the opportunity to receive full-fledged professional training, get to know Ukraine, conduct real field research and form the competencies necessary for a modern geographer, specialist in regional development and tourism.
We sincerely thank the Dean of the Faculty of Geography of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Professor Serhiy Zapototsky, Associate Professors Oleg Hrynyuk, Yulian Braichevsky and Tetyana Kupach for their support, professional assistance, hospitality and assistance in organizing the field stage of the practice.
We express our special gratitude to the director of the Yasynya Field Geographic Practice Training Base, Vasyl Derdyuk, and all the base employees for their warm welcome, care, proper living conditions, and assistance in implementing the rich program.
We return from the Carpathians with new knowledge, professional skills, vivid impressions, and confidence: geography cannot be fully understood only from textbooks and maps - it must be seen, explored, and experienced firsthand!
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