The first group of vocational training teachers in welding professions has successfully completed an internship at a production facility. The programme brought together participants from seven vocational education institutions partnering with the EdUP project.
They completed both theoretical training and hands-on practice in real production conditions. The practical component took place at an enterprise where participants worked with real equipment, materials, and production tasks. Experts from TÜV Thüringen Ukraine served as trainers during the internship.
During the programme, participants deepened their knowledge of three key welding methods:
- 111 — Manual Metal Arc welding (MMA)
- 135 — Metal Active Gas welding (MAG)
- 141 — Tungsten Inert Gas welding (TIG)
The teachers also gained new knowledge in assessing welding quality in line with European ISO standards and practiced testing weld quality using ultrasonic inspection methods.
At the end of the programme, all participants successfully passed certification in accordance with the international standard ISO 9606 and received internationally recognized welder certificates in various specializations.
This programme was especially valuable because we worked in a small group of only seven participants. This allowed us to explore many specific issues in detail and receive more individual attention. Both the theoretical and practical components were aligned with European and ISO standards. I have been working for over 20 years, but this training completely changed my understanding of welding and the knowledge I had before.”
The internship at the production site gave me a lot of hands-on practice and very valuable theoretical knowledge. The experts helped us identify mistakes we had previously made and explained how to correct them properly. Now we will be able to transfer this knowledge to our students and help them perform welding work at a higher quality.”
It is very important for us to be part of such initiatives and to support the development of vocational education in Ukraine. We strive to ensure that Ukrainian learners and teachers have access to European experience and can pass it on to future generations.”
This EdUP initiative aims to bring vocational education closer to the needs of modern industry and to improve the quality of training for future specialists.
“Internships for VET teachers in real production settings are not just a formality — they are a foundation of modern vocational education. Without exposure to the latest technologies and hands-on experience at enterprises, it is impossible to train specialists who meet labour market needs. This is a critical step that allows instructors to pass on up-to-date knowledge and real-world experience to their students.”
