During the fall 2022, more than 50 representatives of the VET sector strated training on “European practices of regulation of vocational education and training” to improve the qualifications of pedagogical workers of VET schools and regional scientific and methodical centers. The purpose of the training is to consolidate European recommendations and principles for the development, support, and modernization of the Ukrainian vocational education system. In addition, the training will help to strengthen the ability of Ukrainian VET schools to modernize educational programs based on the use of the best European approaches. The training is conducted by international expert Vidmantas Tutlis under the auspices of the Directorate of VET Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
The series of 6 webinars and workshops “European Practices of Regulation of Vocational Education and Training”, which will last from September 2022 to the end of February 2023, is complemented by interactive discussions and communication in a distance classroom. Please click here to learn more
At the September session, the participants learned about European practices of regulating VET sector. The greatest attention was paid to professional and educational qualifications and standards in the context of using the national and European framework of qualifications.
The training participants noted the relevance of the acquired knowledge and will incorporate those into practice. According to the listeners, it is important to disseminate this information among other representatives of VET sector in order to integrate it into the Ukrainian education system as soon as possible.
“We plan to apply the acquired knowledge during professional seminars, meetings of regional methodical sections and other regional methodical events. It is also important to take them into account when developing state educational standards and curricula,” shared Svitlana Zapadnova, methodologist of the Educational and methodological center of VET in Vinnytsia region.
The practical value of the acquired knowledge for the future of professional and technical education in Ukraine was also noted by Olesya Samelyuk, a methodologist at the Educational and Methodological Center of Professional and Technical Education in Kyiv region: “The possibilities of modern information technologies help to fundamentally change the educational process, in which the role of the acquirer changes from a “consumer of knowledge ” on an active “researcher-searcher”. The issues of integration of learning outcomes, which were outlined at the webinar, will become the foundation for further changes in the reform of VET education. After all, theoretical and practical knowledge in broad contexts, as well as an understanding of principles, methods, processes in the field of education and professional activity can broaden one’s outlook and combine different methods and techniques. And as a result, to raise the prestige of working professions,” the expert believes.
The October session was devoted to the topic of development of capacities (competencies) of developers of educational programs for formal and informal vocational education. They discussed modern pedagogical, professional and key competencies (skills) necessary for VET teachers and masters. Particular attention was paid to current global trends – digitalization, the fourth industrial revolution and the green transition – and how they will affect the requirements for the competence of teachers and instructors.
“Modern educational policy directs teachers to the systematic introduction of digital technologies into the educational process. This gives space for the creation of systems of mass continuous self-learning, general exchange of information. This system can adequately and flexibly respond to the current needs of society. The world of digital technologies is developing faster every year. If more attention is paid to the development and distribution of digital educational content, new digital media, electronic educational resources and virtual platforms, this will positively affect the development of digital skills of students, and therefore the quality of vocational education,” commented Olesya Samelyuk.
During each session participants also actively discuss current problems of the development of VET education in comparison with world practices.
The general benefit of the trainings conducted by EU4Skills was noted by Lyubov Nedashkivska, a methodologist at the Educational and Methodological Center of VET Education in the Zhytomyr region: “With this information, I can form a systematic approach for the development of educational and program documentation packages, focusing on European experience and requirements of employers. The acquired knowledge, its distribution and application in practice can contribute to the improvement of the quality of VET education in Ukraine, its European integration.”