The thought of writing this blog was pretty old, but as a student, every-time i get scared about the consequences. Talking about blackmailing, this is a regular thing medical students here go through. Bribery, Bribery and a lot of bribery is asked from students to fill pockets of agents, teachers and of dean himself in order to not to create any problem with their subjects. Most of the students give the money because they are scared of loosing the grades. And here we are not talking about small bribery in "Ukrainian Hrynia", but the money is US dollars. Per subject costs for 150-300 US Dollars depending upon the number of middle men involved ( teachers, head of department, Dean, agent).
And students who can't pay money or delay due to some reason, they are blackmailed to be expelled. Few weeks ago, one of friend asked me for help for money 1500 USD as he had to pay to university as he was expelled as per the agent. I asked him "But you cleared all the subjects and there was no official expel list released from dean office at all". He said "yes, there isn't but the agent keep pressurizing me that if i didn't paid it now, they would deport me back to India and I would have to come with new contract with all old expenses again or maybe even repeat the year. And if i pay now, the agent will help to remove my name right away."
Same day he borrowed the amount from few friends and paid the agent. But do you see it? This is not just one time in a year situation. After every 3-4 months, these middle-men open their mouths asking for money for the sake of expel list, subjects etc. Parents are already spending their whole lifetime savings paying for tuition fee and living expenses of their child in a foreign country, and in these situations, that student can't even ask money for these Bribery from them, and then starts the circle of borrowing and lending money. You can't even imagine- How difficult it has become for students here to survive with empty pockets and pressure from university and to repay the money.
Speaking of academics, there is English speaking medical course in the university but half of the teachers don't even speak English, they enter the class, take attendance, maybe ask 1-2 questions, criticize students for not understanding Russian/Ukrainian, give homework and that's it. Later the grades are given on the basis of teacher's choice of students.
Now let's talk about the people who are willing to help students in the foreign land - NONE at all. Starting from the contractor - ending till the rector, each one of them is corrupt. Here these agents are present inside the university, in the dean office and the students who create issues about not paying their unrealistic fines suffer from consequences by paying more and more money. Few months ago, i got to know that the rector of the university might prove to be helpful in case of corruption going on in the university, so I wrote him emails, but till now, there was no response or action taken.
Another point, talking about this year, the Krok 1 exam which is actually the national exam went through a huge corruption era in Kharkov. To pass the krok, the charges were 6000-6500 USD, which is actually double of the yearly tuition fee. and still there were students who couldn't pass the exam, so they have option to transfer the university or repeat the year. Repeating the year is going to cost them for 9000-10,000 USD and transfer will cost for around 6500 USD. Anyhow, the process of any of this will take time and students need to collect their academic documents from the university dean office but Dean office refused to give back the documents anyway. And the worst part, Recently I came to know an inside news that the university already expelled the students and cancelled their visa more than a week ago without even informing the students or giving any prior notice, which means they will have to leave Ukraine as soon as possible and come back with new visa from their own country which is going to cost a lot of money and time again. Otherwise they might get banned from entering Ukraine. I mean What the hell is going on here? Is there any proper system of information? Is there someone actually helping students here? I hope this article will be reaching the authorities and some exact information will be announced asap.
I actually wrote the names of people involved in this corruption but then i edited because I am still scared, please share this link to let people be aware of Student Situation here. Indian students are going to do the huge mistake coming here, if this corruption continues the same way.
