First Steps in Implementing the International Grant Project VETpartEx

On January 22, 2025, the first coordination meeting of the new international grant project “Future-Oriented Vocational Training for Ukraine’s Construction Sector in Partnership for Excellence” (VETpartEx) took place at Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies, based at the SEI Prydniprovska State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

The project is implemented within the framework of the Erasmus+ “Capacity Building in Higher Education” program and holds strategic importance in addressing the acute shortage of skilled professionals in the construction industry. After the full-scale war, Ukraine will face unprecedented challenges related to large-scale post-war reconstruction, requiring a significant increase in the number of trained specialists in the construction sector. Therefore, the VETpartEx project aims to create a modern vocational education system that will serve as a foundation for the country’s economic recovery and future development.

The project’s key objectives include modernizing vocational education, developing new educational programs, introducing advanced teaching methodologies, and strengthening international partnerships. During the first coordination meeting, the project team was introduced, responsibilities were assigned, and the main aspects of project implementation were discussed. These included the organization of an international consortium, financial planning, the creation of the project’s official website, and the development of mechanisms for quality assessment in education.

The project coordinator is Cand. of Tech. Sc., Associate Professor of the Department of Electrometallurgy named after Acad. M.I. Hasyk, Oleksandr Zhadanos. The project manager is Cand. of Econ. Sc., Associate Professor, and Head of the International Relations Department, Nataliia Chernova. The head of the working group is Dr. of Tech. Sc., Professor, and Director of the SEI PSACEA, Vladyslav Danishevskyi.

The implementation of the VETpartEx project is of great significance not only for the modernization of vocational education in Ukraine but also for creating a solid foundation to ensure the training of highly qualified specialists capable of tackling the challenges of post-war reconstruction. This project marks a crucial step toward rebuilding the country and enhancing its global competitiveness.