For the first time in the Project’s decade-long history, the Steering Committee meeting was held outside the capital. The event took place in the newly renovated shelter of the Kharkiv Vocational College of Construction and Industry—an infrastructure upgraded as part of the Project’s support component.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Programme at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, and his deputy Viktor Shutkevych; Dmytro Zavhorodnii, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine; Iryna Shumik, Director General of the Directorate for Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Science; Poshan KC, Country Director of Swisscontact in Ukraine; members of the Project’s Business Advisory Board; and heads of partner vocational education institutions.
The EdUP team presented a progress report covering the period from December 2024 to May 2025, which the Steering Committee unanimously approved. Key achievements included participation in the development of vocational and educational standards, organization of practical training conferences and professional skill competitions, capacity-building for psychologists and social workers, experience-sharing tours for instructors (“Carousel”), business partnership development, industrial site visits, and student training programs. The Project also supported the leadership development of VET school managers and the modernization of educational infrastructure amid wartime conditions.
Project Manager Yuliia Epifanova presented the work plan for the next half-year. In 2025–2026, EdUP aims to scale up its most successful initiatives while also introducing new ones. These include launching short-term adult training courses based on labor market needs, supporting inclusive education, upgrading equipment and facilities, developing qualification centers, and strengthening business cooperation through mentor training, workshops, and awareness campaigns. A key focus will remain on modernizing educational shelters and ensuring accessibility for people with limited mobility.
🎯 The new Chair of the Steering Committee was elected for the upcoming reporting period. For the first time, the position will be held by a representative of a Ukrainian company—Serhii Derzheruk, Director of Paton International, an active member of the business community and a key partner in implementing cutting-edge welding practices through the Project.
