Discussion Club

One type of students creativity at the Department of Human Geography and Regional Studies is their participation in the work of scientific discussion club, which unites students, PhD students and young scientists of the department. At the club meetings, which are held every month more than a year, topical issues are discussed related to contemporary human- geographical research, the science development, youth scientific research, etc.

The club activities are based on democratic principles. Everybody can take part in the club, from first-year students to the dean. The meeting are held according to the approved plan, students offer the topics of meetings. The club holds in the the form of debates, where some students act as speakers on a particular topic, and others – as opponents and referees. Experts usually act as independent observers – students, PhD students, professors from other university departments or representatives of local and regional governments level, depending on the discussed topic.

Knowledge and skills acquired by students during discussion club meetings, help young people better to understand modern society challenges, encourage them to active scientific research, form the ability to work in a team, to find innovative solutions in solving various problems, they foster tolerant communication, form speaking skills, etc. Participation in debates of the scientific discussion club also helps students to develop other important personality values, especially – increases the learning motivation, develops self-awareness, teaches objectively evaluate themselves and their classmates, allows students expressing their thoughts freely, to develop scientific speech, etc.

Participation in the scientific discussion club also foster training students to scientific conferences, colloquiums, seminars, because during debates they learn clearly to express their opinion, to build their speech logically structured and consistently, to defend their own point of view, to give a review to their opponents, etc. .

So, thought out and precise organization of such educational work forms as a discussion clubs fosters increasing creative students activity, raising contribution of young researchers in the research activity not only the department, and the whole staff of the university.

PLAN

of the work of a discussion club of students, PhD students and young scientists

of the K. Niemets Department of Human Geography and Regional Studies

for the 2025/2026 academic year