On December 28-29, 2020, a number of significant events took place in the scientific life of the university community, which are important not only for our university, but also for the further development of national and European theory of education.

On December 28, 2020 two dissertations were defended:

• the dissertation of Professor of the Department of Music and Instrumental Training of Teacher of Kharkiv National Pedagogical University named after G.S. Skovoroda Olga Kuznetsova on the topic «Theory and practice of methodical preparation of future music teachers for educational work with students», presented for the degree of Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences in the specialty 13.00.02 - Theory and methods of music education. Scientific consultant is Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor Alla Volodymyrivna Kozyr, Head of the Chair of Theory and Methods of Music Education, Choral Singing and Conducting of the Faculty of Arts named after Anatoly Avdievsky of National Pedagogical University named after M.P. Drahomanov.
• the thesis of the lecturer of the Chair of the English language practice of Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko Sydorenko Olena on the topic «Development of non-state higher school of Ukraine in the late XIX-th - early XX-th centuries», presented for the degree of candidate of pedagogical sciences in the specialty 13.00.01 - General pedagogy and history of pedagogy. Supervisor is Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Korzh-Usenko Larysa Viktorivna, Associate Professor of the Chair of Education Management and Pedagogy of Higher School of Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A. S. Makarenko.

On December 29, 2020 the dissertation of the candidate of pedagogical sciences, associate professor, associate professor of the Chair of Education Management and Pedagogy of Higher School Kozlov Dmitry Alexandrovich on the topic «Theoretical and methodical foundations of innovative culture of the future head of general secondary education in the process of master’s training» presented for the degree of Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences in the specialty 13.00.04 - Theory and Methods of Vocational Education took place. Scientific consultant is Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor Alina Anatolievna Sbruieva, Head of the Chair of Pedagogy of Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko.

The defences of all these dissertations were held successfully. The specialized academic council and the opponents of the dissertations noted the high quality of the presented works and the level of scientific competence of the applicants for scientific degrees.

Photos of dissertation defences are presented in the gallery below. The text of dissertations, abstracts, reviews of the opponents can be found on the website of the specialized academic council D 55 053.01 Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A.S. Makarenko.