DECIDE and Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils sign Memorandum of Cooperation until 2030

The Memorandum provides for a broad partnership framework until 2030 within the framework of DECIDE Phase 2.

The document lays the foundation for long-term, systematic cooperation aimed to comprehensively develop education at the regional level by strengthening the capacity of local governments to implement reforms in education.

The partnership provides for:

• support for the reform of vocational education, including expert guidance on the transfer of institutional assets from state to public ownership by regional councils and the introduction of new funding models for vocational education institutions;

• support for the development of a network of general secondary education institutions established by regional councils;

• strengthening inter-municipal cooperation between communities to establish, jointly maintain, and finance academic lyceums;

• support for updating regional development strategies with a focus on education as a key driver of economic growth;

• implementation of professional development programmes for local council members.

Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager, commented:  ‘The decentralisation reform creates a clear framework for the delineation of powers and responsibilities between different levels of authorities, strengthening the role of local self-government in the development of education policy. In this context, regional councils play a key role as the bodies responsible for establishing and developing the network of vocational education institutions.

These institutions are crucial for training the workforce needed to rebuild and restore Ukraine, as well as for strengthening the regional economy. Therefore, we consider the support of regional councils in their endeavour to become effective owners and strategic managers of vocational colleges to be of fundamental importance – this can be achieved through systematic institutional support, capacity building, and the establishment of partnerships with the labour market.’

Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko, President of the UAROR and Chair of the Kharkiv Regional Council, emphasised: ‘The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils and the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project opens a new phase of systematic cooperation in the development of vocational education. Today, the issues of property transfer and a clear delineation of powers between authorities are key to establishing a modern network of lyceums and colleges. It is the regional councils, as the highest representative body of local self-government, that are responsible for determining the regional demand for personnel, developing the network of institutions, and striking a balance between the needs of the economy and the training of specialists.’

The Memorandum is expected to contribute to the creation of a modern, flexible, and effective education system and to strengthen the role of regional councils in developing the network of vocational education institutions and training the workforce needed for the restoration of the country.

The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

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