Today, a presentation of the results of the "EU4Skills: Modernisation of Vocational Education and Training Infrastructure in Ukraine" project took place. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the German development bank KfW in cooperation with the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund (USIF) and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Within the project, the EU invested EUR 19.5 million in the modernisation and equipping of 15 vocational education institutions in seven regions of Ukraine.

Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of Section for Public Finance, Business Support, and Social Policies at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, emphasised: “Supporting vocational education is a long-term investment in Ukraine’s stability and recovery. Modern, well-equipped institutions help ensure that students acquire the practical skills needed in a competitive economy. The European Union remains committed to working with Ukraine and its partners to build a resilient and forward-looking vocational education system”.

Within the project, eight vocational education institutions were modernised. The total renovated area is 16,254 m². These include school buildings, workshops, laboratories, and engineering systems. The institutions now have barrier-free access and modern educational spaces operating as mini-production facilities.

For example, at the Rivne College of Restaurant and Hotel Business, laboratories for milk processing, brewing, and food technology were created, as well as a training restaurant. Students work with professional equipment, mastering processes as they take place in real enterprises. Thanks to this, the institution opened two new professions and expanded its partner network by nine companies. “I was very surprised that everything here is so modern. My dream is to open my own café and bake pastries like top chefs,” says student Halyna Oleksiichuk.

At Stryi VET School No. 34, the modernisation transformed the workshops into a high-tech space where students literally “shape the future”: there is a simulator of specialized equipment and systems for digital modelling that fully reproduce real production processes.

The Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, emphasised the importance of these results for the reform of vocational education: “EU4Skills has become one of the largest investments in vocational education in recent decades. Together with partners, we laid the foundation for change — a change in attitude toward vocational education, its role in the development of the state and the economy. Modern workshops, advanced laboratories, and equipment — this is not just infrastructure. This is an opportunity for young people to receive quality training and be competitive in the Ukrainian labour market. We are grateful to our international partners for their continued support.”

Another five schools received agricultural and construction equipment worth almost EUR 4 million:

• 43 units of machinery (from tractors and combine harvesters to trucks, excavators, and bulldozers),
• 35 sets of spare parts and training tools. 

Thanks to the project, at VET School No. 22 in the city of Sarny, a training and practical centre “Centre for Innovative Transport for Road Construction” was established, where students learn to work with modern equipment demanded in the region. The centre has become a platform for training, retraining, and upskilling — not only for students but also for internally displaced persons, enterprise employees, and local residents.

Additionally, two institutions in war-affected regions were equipped with 96 units of modern equipment, ensuring uninterrupted educational processes even under challenging conditions.

Modern workshops and laboratories, created thanks to EU4Skills, now annually provide access to quality education for nearly 8,800 pupils, students, and teachers — and shape a new generation of Ukrainian specialists.

“EU4Skills was the first project dedicated to the vocational education sector in Ukraine. Despite significant challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russian aggression, we have achieved remarkable success. By equipping institutions with modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, we are helping to ensure that the private sector has access to the skilled professionals that the Ukrainian economy urgently needs. A strong Ukraine requires not only financial resources for recovery, but above all, a qualified workforce — and we are proud to contribute to this vital goal,” concluded Lorenz Gessner, KfW Office Director for Ukraine.

Background information: 

The EU-funded "EU4Skills: Modernisation of Vocational Education and Training Infrastructure in Ukraine" project is part of the "EU4Skills: Better Skills for Modern Ukraine" programme (Component 3) and aims to update and modernise the equipment and infrastructure of VET schools in Ukraine. The project aims to create a modern VET infrastructure, that contributes to increased attractiveness for students. The project works on laying the foundation for effective, demand-driven education that equips students with skills that the Ukrainian labour market seeks. On behalf of the European Union and the German Development Bank KfW, the project is implemented by the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund.

For additional information, please contact Inna Pavliuk via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.