Is it possible to tell something new about the plumbing of an institution that has been training installers for over 40 years? And the answer is yes!
Vinnytsya Higher Art Vocational School No. 5 has been teaching plumbers for decades. Throughout this time, they have been following professional trends and trying to update their equipment.
In 2016, with the support of the state and local authorities, the school set up a training and practical centre for plumbers. The total investment in the centre was over a million hryvnias. The establishment of a new centre affected cooperation with business and enrolment. However, participation in the second phase of the Ukrainian-Swiss project to improve plumbing education allowed the VET school to qualitatively improve the qualifications of teachers, conduct more activities for students, and upgrade the centre.
Dmytro Nikolin, Deputy Director for Education and Production, tells us more about his impressions of participating in the project.
About the training of plumbers
Vinnytsya High Art Vocational School No. 5 annually recruits a group of plumbers from among 9th grade school leavers. They receive integrated training in the following professions: “Installer of sanitary systems and equipment. Electric and gas welder. Manufacturer of artistic metal products”.
The VET school representative says that when schoolchildren come to the open doors events see the training centre, they realise that the skills they need to work with the equipment there provide for good pay.
“Young people want to earn good money and become independent of their parents as soon as possible. The profession of plumbing provides a good income, but it all depends on the qualifications of the worker. The labour market is currently experiencing an acute shortage of staff, and each employer is solving this problem as best they can. We, as educators, face a problem when there are only a few months left before a group graduates, and some students want to drop out because they have received job offers. In addition, as soon as a student has mastered a certain skill in the first or second year, goes on an internship and starts earning good money, he or she thinks that they have understood everything about the profession and there is no need to study further. In both cases, we explain that holistic learning is part of professional development, and that without it, it is impossible to earn a higher income. In addition, serious employers want to see professional workers, not self-taught ones, so it is very important to master the profession comprehensively. So far, such conversations have worked,” Dmytro Nikolin commented.
On cooperation with business
The VET school cooperates with local businesses, in particular to provide all students with internships.
“The upgrade of the logistics facilities has affected the training of students and the way cooperation with employers is developing. It happens that students come to employers for internships and see that the equipment at the school is more modern and better. Representatives of companies come to visit us and inspect the centre to purchase similar equipment in the future. The business understands that they will have workers - graduates of the school - who will be able to work properly with this equipment,” he said.
About participation in the EdUP project
The first result of participation in the EdUP project at the school is the professional development of teachers. Attending exhibitions, seminars, and workshops has become a powerful development for teachers and craftsmen.
“At conferences, teachers learn new systems and technologies. After returning from such events, they begin to raise the issue of purchasing new equipment for the workshop. Whenever possible, we try to meet such requests. After all, they mean the professional interest of the teacher and the fact that the profession is developing in the institution,” the Deputy Director explained.
In addition, the EdUP project has given impetus to updating the educational standard for the profession of ‘Installer of Sanitary Systems and Equipment’. According to Dmytro Nikolyn, the new document is more flexible and allows for training in modern approaches.
About writing a business plan
Last year, each EdUP member institution was trained in business planning and then drew up a development strategy for the coming years. The business plan of Vinnytsya Higher Art Vocational School No. 5 envisaged the creation of a high-quality educational space.
“In a few years, we want to improve the educational space, create comfortable conditions for students' learning and leisure. For example, we don't have a dining room, but the business plan includes the creation of a dining room. We also envisaged improving the conditions for long-term stay in the shelter. To implement the plan quickly and efficiently, we need a large budget. Now, during the period of martial law, we cannot afford large expenditures. So we will implement the plan gradually. But we will definitely accomplish the tasks set out,” Dmytro said.
About the joint project with Geberit
In 2021, the plumbing company Geberit implemented a social project to improve living conditions in the dormitory at Vinnytsya Higher Art and Vocational School No. 5. The project included the modernisation of bathrooms in the educational building, as well as the renovation of bathrooms and showers in the dormitory. The students of the school took part in the installation of the equipment as part of their on-the-job training.
Now the dormitory is 100% occupied: both the students of the school and internally displaced persons live there. The EdUP project also provided assistance to the school to help it better accommodate IDPs, including the purchase of hygiene products and household chemicals.
What’s next?
“What I personally liked most about EdUP was the focus on achieving true results. That is why the project is valuable for the participating institutions. Last year, EdUP held many training sessions for VET school principals. For example, there was a seminar for accountants of educational institutions. They were told how to make a budget when it comes to project work, how to calculate the cost of adult education courses. Our employees were very pleased with the training,” Dmytro Nikolin admitted.
In the future, the team of Vinnytsya Higher Art Vocational School No. 5 would like to see the continuation of training activities and professional competitions for students. It would also help to get certain consumables for the students’ training.
***
The Public-Private Partnership to Improved Plumbing Education (EdUP) is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, in partnership with Geberit Trading LLC, implemented by Swisscontact Foundation for Technical Cooperation and supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.