On March 5-7, as part of the EdUP project, the training “Effective Communications for Vocational Education Institutions” was held, bringing together 29 vocational education institution leaders – project partners.
The training was part of EdUP’s comprehensive support for vocational education institutions in building effective collaboration with businesses, attracting applicants, and shaping a positive image of vocational education.
Training Program: Practical Knowledge for Effective Communications
The event’s program included:
✅ Training on developing a communication strategy for vocational education institutions;
✅ Practical sessions on building partnerships with businesses;
✅ Interactive masterclasses on effective communication and engaging target audiences.
In addition to the main training modules, a roundtable discussion, “Partnership Dialogue: Project Initiatives and Their Scaling Pathways,” was held before the School began. EdUP experts presented key areas of work and emphasized the importance of communication in public-private partnerships.
Learning from Experts
The trainers were experts from the Ukrainian Center for Social Engineering, who provided a high-quality combination of theory and practical exercises. Participants learned key aspects of strategic communications, including:
🔹 Attracting applicants: how to engage with youth on relevant platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Telegram);
🔹 Branding and positioning the institution as a modern educational hub;
🔹 Overcoming stereotypes about vocational education and enhancing its prestige;
🔹 Building business partnerships to ensure graduate employment.
Additionally, participants learned how to develop communication strategies, plan information campaigns, manage social media, analyze the competitive environment, and tailor messages for different target audiences.
At the same time, the trainer highlighted certain weaknesses in the communication efforts of vocational education institutions. In particular, they mainly focus on parents via Facebook, while not engaging young people on platforms where they spend most of their time – TikTok and Instagram.
"I clearly realized that vocational education institution leaders fully understand that they operate at the forefront of cooperation with businesses. They are an integral part of business processes because business is about people, and vocational education shapes these people at all stages. Thus, vocational education is becoming a kind of educational hub where businesses seek new talent. This is even more relevant given the labor shortage and the country's future reconstruction."
Participant Feedback
Vocational education institution leaders praised the high level of organization of the training and its practical value.
Natalia Lugovska, Director of Chernivtsi Vocational Construction Lyceum:
💬 “The section on social media development, the importance of a Telegram channel for the institution, and branding of educational institutions was extremely valuable. This will help make our lyceum more recognizable and attractive to future students. I also want to highlight the work on assertiveness – an essential skill for effective team communication.”
Svitlana Mantula, Deputy Director of Dnipro Higher Vocational School of Construction:
💬 “We realized that it’s crucial to engage not only with parents via Facebook but also actively reach out to young people through TikTok, Instagram, and Telegram. This changes the communication approach.”
Anatoliy Doroshenko, Director of Pryluky Vocational Lyceum:
💬 “It is now important to make cooperation with businesses more systematic, allowing us to expand our partner network and attract more employers.”
Lyudmyla Yarostyuk, Deputy Director of VPU No. 21, Mykolaiv:
💬 “I was most interested in improving our institution’s website and utilizing a Telegram channel to communicate with prospective students.”
The Training’s Role in the EdUP Project
The training was a significant step in implementing a modern communication policy for vocational education institutions. Participants gained not only knowledge but also practical tools for implementation in their institutions.
Why is this important?
✅ Strengthening ties between education and business: Effective communication helps vocational education institutions attract more employers, enhancing graduate employment opportunities.
✅ Increasing the number of applicants: Proper institution positioning and modern communication channels help overcome negative stereotypes and make vocational education more appealing to young people.
✅ Improving management efficiency: Institution leaders received practical tools to implement strategic communications, which will contribute to building sustainable partnerships and improving the reputation of vocational education institutions.
