On April 2025, the VII Practical Conference “Innovations in Plumbing Education” took place in Kyiv, organized by the EdUP project in cooperation with leading companies in the plumbing industry.
The event brought together vocational training teachers from 22 partner vocational education schools. The conference included two key components: a soft skills development training and hands-on sessions held at Install Fest Ukraine 2025. In addition, a professional skills competition for instructors was conducted.
Soft Skills Training at Academy DTEK
The training was hosted at the Academy DTEK education center and aimed to enhance educators’ communication and conflict resolution capabilities. Participants explored the following topics:
Conflict studies and de-escalation techniques
Argumentation and building effective dialogue
Providing constructive feedback to build trust in the classroom
Persuasive communication without manipulation
These skills will help instructors strengthen their engagement with students and respond effectively to the challenges of modern vocational education.
Practical Workshops at Install Fest Ukraine 2025
The hands-on component featured expert-led workshops delivered by specialists from top industry companies, including Walraven UA, WAVIN, Raftec, Leon-Service Plus (GEB), and TECE Ukraine. Participants practiced:
Pipeline installation
Polypropylene polyfusion welding
Working with sanitary fittings and repair technologies
Additionally, Geberit — a key donor of the EdUP project — conducted a dedicated seminar on drinking water hygiene and the new FlowFit piping systems.
Professional Skills Competition
Alongside the conference, a professional competition was held for instructors specializing in the installation of plumbing systems and equipment.
Participants demonstrated their expertise in:
Laying pipelines
Welding polypropylene pipes
Installing sanitary equipment and filtration systems
The competition was supported by Geberit, WAVIN, Ecosoft, Caleffi, Atlass Filter, and Cordivari.
Winners of the Competition
🥇 Oleksandr Melnychenko, Brovary
🥈 Volodymyr Herasymenko, Cherkasy
🥉 Mykola Kosovych, Ivano-Frankivsk
The winner and runners-up received professional tools and materials from private sector partners to support their work at vocational schools.
