Ecology is a fundamental and applied natural science specialty situated at the intersection of biology, geography, chemistry, resource conservation, environmental law, and IT technologies. In an era of global climate change, the Green Deal transition, and the necessity of post-war environmental reconstruction, a modern ecologist is not merely a observer of nature, but an environmental auditor, environmental analyst, ecosystem solutions engineer, and developer of sustainable development models.

The specialty prepares professionals capable of assessing the state of the environment, predicting the consequences of human activity on nature, developing waste minimization technologies, and implementing environmentally safe standards in business and public administration.

The training of ecology specialists is based on studying the following objects:

- structure and functional components of ecosystems: biosphere, biogeocenoses, natural and artificial ecosystems (agroecosystems, urboecosystems), abiotic (air, water, soils) and biotic components of the environment;

- anthropogenic and technogenic impact: pollution sources, industrial emissions and discharges, radiation, chemical, biological, and physical pollution, military impact on the environment (ecocide);

- optimization of environmental management: balanced (sustainable) use of water, land, forest, and subsoil resources, preservation of biodiversity (Nature Reserve Fund facilities);

- monitoring and standardization: environmental quality control methods, GIS technologies, environmental standardization, EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), and SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment);

- circular economy and waste management: resource conservation, emission and wastewater treatment technologies, management of hazardous and municipal waste.

Learning goals by higher education levels:

First (Bachelor's) level — developing in higher education students a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities for application in professional activities in ecology, environmental protection, and sustainable nature management under complex practical conditions.

Main focuses of Bachelor's degree training:

- mastering fundamental natural sciences (general ecology, hydroecology, soil science, meteorology, landscape ecology);

- acquiring skills in conducting environmental monitoring, sampling (water, air, soil), and express analysis in field and laboratory conditions;

- mastering the regulatory and legal framework of environmental legislation and rules for compiling corporate environmental reporting;

- mastering basic GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS) for mapping the ecological status of territories.

Second (Master's) level — training highly qualified specialists, scientists, and managers capable of solving complex problems and issues in ecology, environmental protection, and sustainable nature management, which involves conducting scientific research and implementing innovations under conditions of requirements uncertainty.

Main focuses of Master's degree training:

- conducting EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) procedures for major infrastructure and industrial projects;

- climate change modeling, environmental management, and auditing according to international standards (ISO 14001);

- developing strategies for post-war restorative ecology, land reclamation, phytoremediation, and demining;

- managing environmental projects (ESG strategies for business), scientific research, and teaching activities.

Key competencies of a graduate:

- environmental inspector and analyst — conducting laboratory and field measurements, analyzing environmental pollution levels, calculating environmental damages;

- impact assessment and consulting — conducting EIA and SEA, preparing "Environmental Protection" sections in construction project documentation;

- ESG and corporate ecology — developing green strategies for business (ESG), implementing environmental management systems (ISO 14001), reducing carbon footprint;

- GIS and geoecology — spatial analysis of environmental risks, remote sensing of the Earth, modeling pollution dispersion using satellite data;

- nature conservation and biodiversity — organizing protected areas, developing measures to preserve rare species of flora and fauna (Emerald Network, Red Data Book).

Graduates of specialty E2 Ecology have broad employment prospects due to stricter environmental requirements for business and Ukraine's European integration commitments:

- industry and business: environmental protection engineer (corporate ecologist), ESG manager, environmental safety specialist in manufacturing, energy, and agricultural companies;

- environmental consulting and audit: specialist in EIA/SEA reporting, environmental auditor, consultant for certification according to international environmental standards;

- public sector and inspectorates: specialist/inspector in the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, basin water resources management units, environmental departments of RSA/ATC;

- nature reserve institutions: researcher, ecosystem conservation specialist in national nature parks, biosphere reserves, botanical gardens;

- international and non-governmental organizations: climate and environmental expert at the UN (UNEP), WWF, Greenpeace, USAID, international grant environmental projects;

- science and education (for Master's degree holders): researcher at research institutes (Institute of Ecology, Institute of Botany, etc.), lecturer of environmental disciplines in higher education institutions and colleges.

Training is provided by:

- Department of Ecology and Technogenic Safety (Department 106)

Education is provided under the following educational programs:

Educational Program	Degree	Mode of Study	Duration of Study
Ecology and Environmental Protection	Bachelor based on complete general secondary education	Full-time and Part-time	3 years and 10 months
Ecology and Environmental Protection	Master, professional educational program	Full-time and Part-time	1 year and 4 months