On 3 December 2025, 48 vocational education and training (VET) providers from across Ukraine took part in a full-day workshop in Kyiv dedicated to the implementation of the new Law on Vocational Education.
The event also welcomed new partner schools added with Danish co-financing, marking their first introduction into the wider Skills4Recovery community.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, and the State Employment Service of Ukraine, the workshop aimed to help VET leaders familiarise themselves with the key changes of the new VET Law, including strengthened work-based learning, the introduction of Supervisory Boards, and expanded institutional autonomy. These themes framed the day’s discussions.
A key element of the event was the opportunity for participants to hear first-hand how the new legislative mechanisms will work in practice — directly from the national institutions responsible for implementing them.
Iryna Shumik, Director General of the Directorate for Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, presented the core innovations of the law and clarified expectations for VET providers during the transition.
Liliia Hrabovska, Head of the Vocational Training Division, Department for Employment Policy Implementation at the State Employment Service of Ukraine, outlined how public employment services plan to strengthen cooperation with VET institutions to align programmes more closely with labour-market needs.
Skills4Recovery expert Rodion Kolyshko explored practical implications of the new law for employer engagement, including the development of educational programmes, the creation of professional standards, student employment contracts, and the structure of dual education.
Participants then engaged in World Café discussions and a joint SWOT analysis, working across four thematic tables: autonomy and financial stability, inclusive VET, VET–business cooperation, and work-based learning.
This format served as the first networking platform for this community within Skills4Recovery, allowing institutions from across Ukraine to exchange experiences and reflect on key aspects of implementing the new law. Discussions covered topics such as the future functioning of Supervisory Boards in different regions, ways to preserve each institution’s specific profile, and incentives for stakeholders to engage more actively in programme development.
At the same time, participants emphasised the opportunities offered by the new law, which brings Ukraine closer to European approaches to VET governance and quality assurance. Among them are greater competitiveness on the labour market, increased financial and staffing autonomy, simplified administrative procedures, and the ability to shape programmes in line with real employer needs. Such changes, participants noted, can help institutions operate more flexibly, efficiently, and strategically.
“It was inspiring to see so many VET providers from across Ukraine come together for the first time under our initiative to discuss the new VET Law. Their perspectives are essential for shaping a reform that works in practice, not only on paper. Based on the feedback we received today, we will refine our next steps — from targeted trainings to new formats of cooperation with key ministries — to make sure VET institutions have everything they need to navigate the changes ahead.”
— Sophie Meinke, Implementation Team Lead, Skills4Recovery
Insights gathered during the workshop will guide upcoming Skills4Recovery activities, ensuring that support on law implementation, methodological guidance and cooperation platforms fully reflect the needs of VET providers – including those newly joining through Danish co-financing.
The Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery is jointly co-financed by the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia, and Denmark. It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).
