Representatives of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University visited the Republic of Estonia from 02 to 06 June as part of the project: "Integrating entrepreneurship education into vocational education in Ukraine".
The aim of the project is to support vocational schools in Ukraine by introducing an approach to teaching that promotes the development of entrepreneurial skills, as well as systematic integration of entrepreneurial education into all disciplines and levels of vocational education in 16 pilot institutions. The project also includes the development of the necessary methodology and teaching materials to ensure that all students in vocational schools have access to entrepreneurial education.
The Ukrainian delegation was led by ESTDEV coordinators: ESTDEV Senior Project Manager Anna Silem, ESTDEV Project Coordinator Alona Yaskevych, and ESTDEV Chief Project Experts Katrin Kivisild and Erika Weide.
The programme included training aimed at developing entrepreneurial competences, delivered by Estonian experts. In cooperation with Estonian colleagues, training materials will also be developed to integrate entrepreneurship education into the curricula of vocational schools. In addition, the delegation had the opportunity to learn about the practical implementation of entrepreneurship education in Estonia and gained insight into the roles and contributions of various stakeholders in this process.
The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of the Zhytomyr City Council and Butterfly K LLC, the Training and Methodological Center for Vocational Education in Lviv region, the Training and Methodological Center for Vocational Education in Rivne region, the Volyn Resource Centre, Chernivtsi Vocational School No. 8, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, and Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University.
N. Karazin Kharkiv National University was represented by Iryna Shteimiller, Head of the International Relations Department; Maryna Vasylieva, Deputy Director of the Education and Research Institute "Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogical Academy"; Roman Nesterenko, Deputy Head of the International Relations Department; Tetiana Bondarenko, Professor of the Department of Information Computer Technologies and Mathematics of the Education and Research Institute "Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogical Academy"; Viktoriia Chobitok, Professor of the Department of Marketing and Commercial Business.
On the first day, the Ukrainian delegation visited the Tehnopol Science and Business Park. The head of the start-up incubator, Anne-Liisa Elbrecht, spoke about the specifics of the business park's work and the main role of the business park. Representatives from Ukraine also spoke about their startups that they are implementing in this business park. The Ukrainian delegation had the opportunity to take part in a seminar on Entrepreneurship, conducted by Katrin Arvola, which focused on the area of faith in development.
The delegation was further divided into two groups: a working group consisting of representatives of VET institutions and administration and a group of teachers. Thus, the working group visited the Ministry of Finance, where Marge Aasalaid, Coordinator of Financial Literacy and Financial Awareness, spoke about the importance of implementing the ESTDEV project with the involvement of the Ministry of Finance. The university representatives visited Tallinn University, where they met with professors of vocational pedagogy Sergje Rekor and Reeli Liivik and reviewed in detail the structure of the Entrepreneurship Pedagogy course to be implemented in Ukrainian institutions.
On the second day, the Ukrainian delegation attended a seminar by Eneken Titov in Ülemiste City, dedicated to the development of entrepreneurial competence. The participants also visited the Tallinn School of Economics, where Aneli Pickmets, representative of the international office, and Allan Kalyakin, head of research, introduced the delegation to the school's structure, training features, and conducted a tour of the school's facilities and innovations, including a modern video recording studio.
On the third day of the visit, the organisers prepared a move to the city of Pärnu, where the Ukrainian participants visited the Pärnu County Development Centre and met Viviha Vilja, a community leader. She spoke about the importance of developing entrepreneurship among young people and shared successful practices in implementing youth projects. On the same day in Pärnu, the delegation visited Pärnu Hospital, where the staff spoke about patient care and explained the similarities and differences between the medical system and the Ukrainian one.
The fourth day was spent on the island of Saaremaa, in Kuressaare, where the delegation visited Kuressaare Ametikool Community College, got acquainted with the peculiarities of student training and the material and technical base of the educational institution. The Ukrainian teachers also took part in a seminar on ‘Creating Value in Entrepreneurship Education’ conducted by Jane Magee and created a Value Map.
Representatives of Ukrainian institutions had the opportunity to visit Kuressaare Fortress, almost the only medieval fortress in Estonia that has survived to this day, as well as the best-preserved fortress in Old Livonia.
The visit was organised and funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
All participants gained incredible professional experience and positive impressions. We thank the ESTDEV project and our Estonian colleagues for their support and cooperation.
We wish them success in implementing new ideas and projects.
