Project period: December 2024 – May 2026

Project donors: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Poola Solidaarsusfond (SFPL)

Project partners: Tartu Ülikool, Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University, Berdychiv Pedagogical Professional College

Project budget: 919 602 €

The educational reform in Ukraine is also changing the contemporary vocational education and training (VET) system. The Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science has been supporting the transfer of VET service provider assets from the state to local governments. The second part of the reform focuses on developing curricula that reflect the changing needs of the labor market, especially due to the impacts of the war in Ukraine. The war has changed the labor market on both the demand and supply sides, and skill mismatch is an immediate economic challenge. VET schools have an important role to play in adapting to the situation and training the necessary workforce.

Although these changes have granted VET schools greater autonomy, many institutions remain under-resourced. Educators often have to rely on curricula which do not meet all of their needs.  Therefore, it is crucial to invest in teacher development and support them in acquiring digital tools and interactive teaching methods to equip them with the modern skills necessary for Ukraine’s recovery.

The aim of the project is to enhance the level of digital competences of teachers and representatives of management of VET schools, to develop a strategy of Educational Technology curricula and to facilitate knowledge and best practices sharing. 

Through training, the skills of inclusion and digital competencies of at least 360 teachers and 90 representatives of management from 45 Ukrainian VET schools will be improved. 

The Educational Technology curricula will be developed to improve the sustainability of modern and inclusive education in Ukraine, including VET education. For this, a joint working group will be established and led by the Centre for Educational Technology at University of Tartu with universities and colleges in Zhytomyr oblast. Additionally, a micro-degree in Educational Technology will be offered by the University of Tartu to 8 students from Zhytomyr oblast. 

For facilitating knowledge and best practices, two study visits to Estonia for VET school representatives and one study visit for representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine will be organised. In addition, the awareness events and a conference will be held during the project. 

The project “Empowering VET Education: A Systematic Approach through Digital Competencies Training and Educational Technology Curriculum Development” is being implemented by the NGO Mondo within the framework of the Multi-Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery, which is financed by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), and is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).

Contact:
Kristi Lillemägi
kristi.lillemagi@mondo.org.ee