The EdUP project organized a three-day offline training for coordinators of Career Development Centers (CDCs) from vocational education schools across Ukraine. The event was part of a comprehensive learning program that combined a series of earlier online webinars with practical teamwork sessions during the in-person phase.
Educators from 26 VET schools representing various regions of Ukraine took part in the training. Over the course of three days, they developed their managerial and communication competencies, designed event concepts, learned to plan budgets, write scripts, develop communication plans, and define performance indicators to evaluate results.
Strategic, Effective, and Measurable Learning
The training program covered key topics essential for managing CDC activities effectively:
Strategic management of Career Development Center events
Planning, preparation, and effective event implementation
Performance evaluation and analytics
The focus of the training was to understand that CDC events can go far beyond being purely informational — they can serve as powerful tools to support young people in building their careers. That is why participants learned to approach event organization as part of the institution’s strategic development, focusing on the needs of both students and employers.
According to trainer Zlata Tiahunova, career counselor and expert in career guidance development, the three-day course was designed to provide educators with practical tools:
Young people should start building their careers consciously from the very beginning of their educational journey and understand what opportunities await them after graduation. That’s why we devote these days to making Career Development Center events more effective. I hope that after this training, participants will be able to update their event portfolios and organize activities that bring the greatest benefit to each target audience. Most importantly, we want graduates to be able to find their first job.
Strengthening Partnerships Between Education and Business
A separate module of the program was dedicated to exploring ways to involve the private sector in CDC activities. Participants discussed examples of partnerships between VET schools and businesses, analyzing cooperation formats that help young people not only gain professional skills but also find their place in the labor market.
According to Tetiana Pron, Head of the “Organizational Development of Vocational Education Institutions” component of the EdUP project:
A Career Development Center is a platform where three key actors meet: the educational institution, business, and graduate. It is here that they begin to understand one another and seek common solutions. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to shape a future employee to match their needs; for graduates — a chance to choose a job aligned with their interests and goals; and for educational institutions — a way to enhance their reputation and strengthen ties with employers.
Building a Nationwide CDC Network
Developing a network of Career Development Centers is one of the key directions of the EdUP project. These centers serve as meeting points for education, youth, and business — where students receive career guidance and employers find motivated specialists.
