In August, the EdUP project held its Summer School 2025 for leaders of vocational education and training (VET) institutions “The Power of Community.” The event brought together 38 participants — directors and deputy directors of 23 VET schools engaged in the project — and became a platform for experience exchange, leadership development, and finding solutions in the challenging context of war.
The Summer School program was built around three key topics:
The role of community in school development. Participants carried out self-diagnosis of their teams, analyzed the state of their educational communities, and presented results in the format of mini-cases in a “gallery of results.”
Tools for strengthening communities. Through interactive exercises, school leaders explored how to foster leadership, support corporate culture, and involve parents, alumni, local communities, and business partners in school life.
Resilience in times of crisis. Participants worked on developing crisis communication protocols and change scenarios that will help institutions endure and grow even under the most difficult conditions.
“It was important to show participants that a true community is not limited to the walls of a school. It includes not only students and staff but also alumni, parents, partners, and the wider community. Such an environment makes an institution alive, open, and resilient. Strong communities are the social capital and human potential that allow schools to develop even in times of uncertainty and crisis.”
EdUP project expert Viktoriia Rudyk explained why community is important for education.
“The issue of community-building in vocational education institutions remains largely overlooked by the expert community. Yet in the context of limited human resources, developing educational communities can become an effective tool for support, mutual assistance, and improving the quality of education.”
Before the Summer School, EdUP hosted a roundtable discussion on “The Vector of VET Development: Strategic Vision, Initiatives, Best Practices.” It gathered representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, VET school leaders, and EdUP experts.
Ministry representatives presented the updated framework of the Law on Vocational Education, which provides financial autonomy to schools, strengthens the role of supervisory boards, and reduces bureaucracy.
"The new law transforms the image of vocational schools, turning them into professional colleges and granting students formal status and academic rights.”
The roundtable also addressed EdUP’s next steps, including public-private cooperation and new opportunities for schools.
“Among them are joint initiatives with Geberit, Sika, and Glass Trosch, as well as cooperation with UBS Bank in five pilot schools. This includes the development of short-term training programs and upgrading school facilities. A new sixth component of the project will focus specifically on this area.”
The Summer School 2025 became more than a training event — it was a space where values of community were put into practice. It proved that strong, trust-based communities make VET institutions resilient and ready for the future, even in times of crisis.
