An off-site meeting of the Steering Committee of the Swisscontact EdUP project took place in Zaporizhzhia. The participants gathered in a shelter renovated with project support at the Zaporizhzhia Technological Vocational College “Motorobudivnyk” — one of the 29 VET schools participating in the project.
Steering Committee brought together the Project stakeholders, including Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine, Viktor Shutkevych, Assistant Head of Cooperation, members of the Project’s Business Advisory Board, Iryna Shumik, Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and heads of VET schools partnering with the project.
The event was also attended by Ivan Fedorov, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, and Richard Rose, Regional Director of Swisscontact, and Omar Kassab, Head of Private Sector Engagement, Swisscontact.
The EdUP team presented the project implementation report for July–December 2025, which was unanimously approved by the Steering Committee members.
Among the key achievements were the expansion of educational offerings through the development of occupational standards and short-term courses; the growth of the network of qualification centers; the introduction of digital and distance learning formats; the development of workplace mentoring; and the systematic engagement of businesses in the modernization of vocational education.
A significant milestone was the implementation of the infrastructure component: the first phase of shelter upgrades in vocational education institutions has been completed — including the installation of solar power stations — and the second phase of creating safe and accessible learning spaces has begun.
Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine, emphasized that supporting vocational education during wartime is not only necessary but strategically vital for the country’s recovery. He noted that the EdUP project continued operating even after the start of the full-scale invasion, adapting to new realities and strengthening cooperation with the private sector.
“Aligning labor market supply — meaning skills and competencies — with the real needs of businesses is absolutely essential. This is the model we use in vocational education in Switzerland. While the Swiss model cannot be transferred one-to-one, it can be adapted — and that is exactly what we are trying to do here.”
Richard Rose, Regional Director of Swisscontact, highlighted that EdUP reflects the core principles of the organization’s global strategy.
“EdUP is an excellent example of the types of projects Swisscontact strives to implement. Our strategy is focused on quality, and the results of this project over the years clearly demonstrate that. It also emphasizes meaningful cooperation with the private sector. In this sense, EdUP is truly a flagship program for Swisscontact, showing how effectively public-private partnerships can work.”
Ivan Fedorov, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, underlined the strategic importance of vocational education for the region’s economic future.
“For many years, vocational education was not seen as a priority for industry and business. Today, thanks to your support, we are changing this. We are making vocational education relevant again for local industry, and this is extremely important. Cooperation between enterprises, vocational education institutions, and schools is critical. Otherwise, we will continue to see a gap between the people we train and the specialists actually needed by the labor market. When such a gap exists, businesses face serious difficulties.”
Project Manager Yuliia Yepifanova presented the EdUP implementation plan for January–June 2026. The plan includes further expansion of educational offerings through short-term courses for adults, support for the development of occupational standards, teacher upskilling, the development of digital courses and learning materials, expansion of the Profosvita platform, strengthened cooperation with employers, and support for qualification centers. Preparation and implementation of the second phase of shelter upgrades remains an important component. The plan was approved by stakeholders.
“In the project, we do nothing without the involvement and expertise of businesses. One of our key priorities is strengthening direct links between vocational education institutions and local businesses so that training, upskilling, and other initiatives originate directly from employers and VET institutions.”
Iryna Shumik, Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, highlighted the particular value of the infrastructure support provided to vocational education institutions.
“We work very closely with the project, are constantly involved in its processes, and clearly see how initiatives are developed and implemented. I would especially like to highlight those we are particularly grateful for and where we already see real results. First and foremost, this is the creation of safe learning conditions — the renovation of shelters, which allows the educational process to continue even in such difficult times.”
During the meeting, Andrii Bezuhlyi, Director of Vinnytsia Higher Vocational Art School No. 5, was elected Chair of the Project Steering Committee for the next reporting period.
