Within the InConnect 2 project, the Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery and the NGO “The Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine” organised the forum “Sustainable partnerships between VET institutions and business for economic recovery”. The event brought together heads of VET providers, representatives of business, civil society organisations and government.
During the forum, participants shared examples of successful cooperation between VET institutions and local business partners. They also presented a draft handbook for replicating this experience and building sustainable partnerships.
“The education system connects people with employers. Through cooperation with business, VET institutions help people gain skills that are relevant to the labour market, while employers can find the specialists they need,” said Daryna Marchak, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, highlighting the importance of vocational education for economic development.
Iryna Shumik, Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, presented cooperation models between VET institutions and business, as defined by the Law “On Vocational Education”, including dual education and employer involvement in supervisory boards.
“By working closely with business, training young professionals and offering reskilling opportunities for adults, VET institutions help build the skilled workforce that Ukraine urgently needs. They also play an important social role. In the context of the war, which has increased the number of vulnerable groups, vocational education helps people return to active life through new skills, upskilling and employment,” said Michael Paulo, Programme Director of Skills4Recovery, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Overall, 33 VET providers joined InConnect 2. A total of 72 participants completed a 2.5-month training programme on partnership development and project management. As a result, 10 teams comprising VET institutions and their business partners received grants totalling EUR 40,000 to implement joint projects.
The project also strengthened cooperation with business. Teams mobilised more than UAH 958,000 in co-financing from businesses and civil society organisations. In addition, VET institutions and businesses signed 22 memoranda of cooperation, opening up opportunities for further joint programmes, internships and new educational initiatives.
The project results show that shared responsibility, cooperation and partnerships between vocational education and business are effective tools for driving real change and supporting sustainable development.
Background
The project “InConnect2: Strengthening VET-Business Partnership” is implemented by the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine with financial support from the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Denmark within the Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).
