Dina Yusko, a student of Volodymyrets Higher Vocational School in Rivne region, took part in the EdUP Welding Cup 2026 skills competition held in Vinnytsia.
Among students from vocational education institutions across different regions of Ukraine, she was the only female participant. At just 16 years old, Dina is continuing a family tradition of welding. Before her, only the men in her family — her father and grandfather — had mastered this profession. Inspired by their example, she also decided to pursue welding.
“I don’t think this is a man’s job. It’s a job for both men and women. There are no priorities here. What matters is that this profession is very important today, it is highly valued, and in my opinion, it is a very good job.”
The EdUP Welding Cup 2026 took place at Higher Art Vocational School No. 5 in Vinnytsia. Its aim was to enhance students’ professional competencies, promote skilled trades, and strengthen cooperation between education and business. Over three days, students demonstrated their skills in four modern welding methods:
- Manual arc welding (111)
- Semi-automatic welding in shielding gases (135)
- TIG welding (141)
- Gas welding (311)
The competition programme included theoretical, practical, and creative stages. Participants completed electronic tests, carried out practical welding tasks, and presented their own products created in training workshops.
The creative competition became a particularly distinctive part of the programme. The jury assessed welding quality, composition, creativity, and precision. Dina Yusko’s work received an award in the “Creativity” nomination, proving that talent and perseverance matter more than stereotypes.
The competition was supported by partners:
- SAMMIT (Kemppi OY)
- ABICOR BINZEL
- PATON INTERNATIONAL
- DTEK Academy
- MHP
- Interenergoservice
- DTEK Energo
- DTEK Dniproenergo
- DTEK Prydniprovska TPP
- Plazmatek
- UBC Group
- TÜV Thüringen Ukraine
- TAS Group
- SV Technologies
Today, Ukraine is experiencing an acute shortage of qualified welders, and such initiatives of the Project help engage young people in this profession.
“The EdUP Project supports the development of vocational education and motivates young people to choose skilled trades. It is important that girls also see these opportunities and confidently choose such professions.”
In addition to competition tasks, the programme included masterclasses, professional sessions, and experience exchange with industry experts and business representatives.
Vocational training teachers who accompanied the contestants also attended a soft skills training titled “Active Learning and a Case-Based Approach in Vocational Education.” During the training, participants worked through two modules: “Instructor as Facilitator” and “Team Interaction and Optimal Problem-Solving in Production Settings.” The training was delivered by education experts from Technomatix.
“Such competitions are a major event for us. As the hosting institution, we also learn a great deal. It is an opportunity to connect with colleagues, explore new technologies, and engage with modern working methods.”
Dina Yusko’s story is an example of how young people choose skilled trades and confidently grow in them. Competitions like this help students showcase their abilities, gain new experience, and take the first step towards their professional future.
