As part of the EdUP Project, a roundtable was held to discuss the role of steering boards in vocational education.
The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, local education authorities, business leaders, and vocational school directors to explore best practices, challenges, and future steps for enhancing governance in vocational institutions.
Key discussions focused on engaging businesses in steering boards, training board members, and ensuring legislative support for this management tool.
Steering Boards: A Key to Effective Vocational Education
Deputy Minister Dmytro Zavgorodniy emphasized that steering boards could become an effective governance tool, but only if their members are properly trained. Without clear guidance, even the creation of numerous boards would not yield meaningful results. He highlighted the importance of businesses playing a leading role in these boards, ensuring that vocational education aligns with market needs while reducing administrative pressure on school directors.
Business Perspective on Steering Boards
Pavlo Mashyna, CEO of ITC IVIK, stressed that steering boards should influence curriculum development to better match industry demands. Previously, vocational training operated separately from labor market needs, but steering boards can bridge this gap by fostering direct communication between educators and employers.
Success Stories in Steering Board Implementation
Nazar Zakal, director of the Interregional Higher Vocational School of Automotive Transport and Construction, shared a successful case of steering board implementation. The board has enabled stronger collaboration with businesses, secured additional resources for infrastructure upgrades, and expanded training programs aligned with industry requirements.
Similarly, Natalia Starodub, expert in dual vocational training, highlighted the positive impact of steering boards in Lviv’s vocational schools, including the introduction of dual education, curriculum updates with employer input, and mechanisms for quality assurance.
Ivan Pikus, head of innovations and vocational education at the Lviv Regional Education Department, noted that steering boards help attract strategic partners for teacher training and student internships, fostering long-term development and improving graduates’ employability.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
This roundtable marked a significant step toward improving vocational education governance and strengthening collaboration between education and industry.
The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine (CBU), a key information partner of the EdUP project, plays a crucial role in engaging CBU board members in project activities, further supporting the integration of vocational education with industry needs.
