{"id":157639,"date":"2025-11-06T12:33:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kirkonulkomaanapu.fi\/?post_type=news&p=157639"},"modified":"2025-11-06T12:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T10:34:37","slug":"education-meets-business-for-a-brighter-future-in-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.kirkonulkomaanapu.fi\/en\/latest-news\/news\/education-meets-business-for-a-brighter-future-in-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Education meets business for a brighter future\u00a0in Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Youth career development in Odesa and Dnipro: education meets business for a brighter buture<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Over 750 young people from Odesa and Dnipro gathered this October to take part in ProfSTART<\/em> \u2014 a vibrant regional career events connecting education with business, organised by Finn Church Aid (FCA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MoES) and local authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text: Veronika Korobko
Photos: Evgenij Zhulai\/FCA Ukraine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE SERIES OF CAREER EVENTS<\/strong>, held under the Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW)<\/strong>, brought together students from vocational and pre-vocational education institutions, secondary school graduates, and representatives from leading Ukrainian and international companies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youth and employers face to face<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The goal was clear: to bridge the gap between education and the job market, offering young people practical guidance and the confidence to take the next step in their professional lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a unique opportunity for students to explore different career paths, gain essential life and employment skills, and learn what it means to prepare for real-world opportunities,\u201d<\/em> said Iryna Shumik<\/strong>, Director of the Vocational Education Directorate at MoES. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Each ProfSTART event offered a mix of interactive activities \u2014 from speed-dating sessions with HR experts and employers to workshops on CV writing, interview techniques, and entrepreneurship. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hands-on experiences and inspiration<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each ProfSTART<\/em> event offered a mix of interactive activities \u2014 from speed-dating<\/em> sessions with HR experts and employers to workshops on CV writing, interview techniques, and entrepreneurship. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Students experienced virtual reality career tours.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Students also experienced virtual reality career tours and live demonstrations of modern professions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Odesa<\/strong>, students of the Berezivske Vocational School of Odesa Polytechnic and the Odesa Vocational Lyceum of the Service Sphere presented creative fashion shows, showcasing the talents and craftsmanship of Ukraine\u2019s youth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Dnipro<\/strong>, the focus turned toward \u201cprofessions of the future,\u201d such as energy, IT, and digital technology.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very useful for us, students, to try ourselves in a new field or to practise in the one we\u2019re already studying,\u201d<\/em> said Oleksandra<\/strong>, a third-year vocational student from Odesa. \u201cI\u2019d like to try myself as a hairdresser, an analyst, a programmer \u2014 or even work with electricity.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her words echoed the enthusiasm of many young participants who used the event as a chance to discover new directions for their careers and passions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business joins the conversation<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Representatives from some of Ukraine\u2019s largest and most innovative companies \u2014 including MHP, Kernel, Interpipe, ArcelorMittal, Metinvest, DTEK Energo, Elf Decor, Synergy Group, Silpo, and EDS Ukraine<\/strong> \u2014 joined the dialogue, presenting internship and employment opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their participation underscored the growing commitment of Ukrainian businesses to collaborate with the education sector in preparing a skilled and motivated workforce ready to meet modern industry needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anzhelika Yakymchuk is the Lead Specialist for Regional Engagement and Youth Development at MHP, an agri-tech company headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was amazing to take part in such a large-scale event and to speak directly with students about the career opportunities our company provides,\u201d<\/em> said Anzhelika Yakymchuk<\/strong>, Lead Specialist for Regional Engagement and Youth Development at MHP.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe work with many educational institutions across Ukraine and offer students different forms of cooperation \u2014 internships, on-the-job practice, and dual education programmes. Events like this are a hundred percent useful for them. They learn about modern businesses and discover that many companies are ready to hire and train young people even without work experience.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yakymchuk added that several students approached her during the event expressing interest in internships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe exchanged contacts and shared a QR code for our application form. I\u2019m confident we\u2019ll soon be welcoming some of them to join our company.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building resilience through education<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n
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The events were held under the Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The ProfSTART<\/em> initiative is part of the Education Cannot Wait-funded Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP)<\/strong>, which supports education continuity and resilience for children and youth affected by the war in Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through MYRP, FCA and its partners aim to create stronger links between education and employment, ensuring that learning leads to tangible life opportunities. The programme focuses on three main areas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n