Key topics for the implementation of the reform of specialised senior secondary education discussed with heads of education authorities in Lviv region
On 18–19 June, Lviv hosted a two-day training seminar-workshop for heads of education authorities and their deputies from 63 communities in Lviv region. The professional development programme was approved by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and is worth 2 ECTS credits (60 hours). The training lasted from 11 until 27 May in a remote format, while on 18–19 June, an in-person workshop was held in Lviv. The event became a platform to discuss the key directions for
Aesthetics as a strategy: How vocational college in Ivano-Frankivsk is breaking down stereotypes and creating a space for the future through cooperation
‘I’ve changed my mind, I’m not going to study here!’ – these words, spoken hysterically, were what Nataliia Kohuch, Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Centre for Vocational and Technical Education No. 1, heard from a prospective student right in the hall of the educational institution a few years ago. The girl had been looking at beautiful photos of modern workshops on social media, but the first thing she saw in person was an old, shabby hall. This story was a defining moment f
Lviv region: Community leaders complete training on implementing reform of specialised senior secondary education
On 17 June, Lviv hosted a workshop “Reform of specialised senior secondary education: Opportunities and challenges for the community”, which became the final event in a series of specialised advanced training programmes for community leaders, their deputies, and heads of education departments. The professional development programme was approved by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and is worth 0.6 ECTS credits (19 hours). Keynote speakers at the event included:
‘Old methods of career guidance no longer work.’ How Brovary College sparks children’s love for professions
Career guidance from vocational schools used to look like this: a team of recruiters would come to the school, hand out leaflets and calendars – which the schoolchildren would throw away within a few minutes – and talk about the benefits of free education. These days, Brovary Vocational College has replaced such activities with welding simulators, virtual truck driving experiences, and a real modular house where students can see how the electricity, water, and heating systems
Practical solutions for forming a network of academic lyceums and implementing the reform of specialised senior secondary education discussed by hackathon “Network Map”
Practical solutions for forming a network of academic lyceums and implementing the reform of specialised senior secondary education were addressed by the participants of the strategic hackathon “Network Map: Transformation of Senior Secondary Education”, which was held on 12 June in Hatnenska community in Kyiv region, hosted by the Hatne Lyceum. The event brought together over 80 community leaders, their deputies, and heads of community education departments. The event was or
How Kremenchuk breaks stereotypes about vocational education and builds economy of trust
Until recently, the building was a typical Soviet-era canteen, with worn-out windows, damaged walls, and the atmosphere of a bygone era. Today, however, students who come here from secondary schools across the city and surrounding villages are stunned by what they see, describing it as a “spaceship”. Higher Vocational College No. 7 in Kremenchuk, in Poltava region, opened a modern DECIDE career guidance hub. This article is of how the college’s team, together with its partner
Ecosystem of quality education: How Chernihivska community cares for youth's future with support from Switzerland
Career guidance, reconstruction, and modern vocational education are not merely isolated areas, but form a single strategy for human capital development. In order to learn about the results of educational initiatives supported by Switzerland, a delegation comprising Félix Baumann, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation to Ukraine; Ilona Postemska, Senior National Programme Officer at the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation to Ukraine; Valentyna
How do European countries plan their regional development, and what approaches can be useful for Ukraine?
On 10 June, an analytical review “Experience of Regional Development Planning in European Countries”, written by Myroslav Kosheliuk, the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project expert, was presented in Kyiv. The event brought together Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Head of International Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland to Ukraine; Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine; Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager; and representatives
Education of the future begins in communities: Volyn is preparing for the reform of specialised secondary schools
The success of the reform of specialised senior secondary education will depend on its implementation at the local level; therefore, DECIDE experts continue to provide advisory support and assist communities in finding the best solutions for establishing a capable network of academic lyceums. Since March 2025, our team of experts – Petro Hotsaliuk, Khrystyna Duda, Ihor Melnychuk – has provided 48 consultations to the communities of Volyn region. This time, public consultation
Renovation of senses: How Savran transformed a former russian headquarters into an innovation hub for young people
Formerly, the building, constructed in 1854 on the territory of the Pivnichnyi Vocational College in Savran, Odesa region, housed a russian headquarters with a casemate, and later served as a command post. During the World War II, it was home to the Romanian police and a torture chamber with a gloomy basement. For many years, this building scared off passers-by: a collapsed roof, damp and cracked walls, the smell of neglect and a gruesome history. It was impossible to legally