Ukraine

DVV International has been active in Ukraine since the mid-1990s, initially only as part of a co-operation with a local partner in western Ukraine. In 2010, the regional office was founded in Kiev, which, in addition to promoting adult learning and education (ALE) in the country, also coordinated project work in the Republic of Moldova. Following the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the regional office was relocated to Chişinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova. The country office in Kiev continues to work with all local staff.

In Ukraine, the perception of ALE among education policy-makers and learners has been significantly reduced to continuing vocational training. More general, non-formal adult learning and education lacks favourable regulations as well as public funding and nationwide support structures. In addition to the many human casualties, the war has also affected the educational (infra)structure. Millions of people have to reorient themselves and re-secure their livelihoods. The demand for (in some cases) low-threshold, short-term vocational training programmes has therefore risen sharply, particularly among socially disadvantaged population groups. In addition, millions of traumatised people express a high demand for psychological counselling and diverse forms of trauma management.

In light of these challenges, DVV International supports the development of an ALE system in Ukraine with the involvement of civil society actors, and seeks to improve access for adults to local, high-quality and affordable educational programmes.

Main focus of work

• Improving the framework conditions for ALE: In close cooperation with the Ukrainian Adult Education Association, DVV International is advises and remains in dialogue with state and municipal decision-makers to ensure that general, non-formal ALE becomes a recognised and independent pillar of the education system which benefits from systematic public funding, especially from municipal budgets.
• Strengthening ALE centres: DVV International supports the Ukrainian ALE centres in their organisational development as well as in the qualification of their teaching staff, using the Curriculum institutionALE as well as the Curriculum globALE for this purpose.
• Expansion and qualitative improvement of ALE services in seven municipalities: Together with local partner organisations, educational programmes are being developed and piloted to meet the needs of the local population for vocational and personal training, trauma management and strengthening resilience, as well as for the return of veterans to civilian life. Part of the vision is to use pilot educational programmes to improve access for prisoners and those released from prison to educational programmes that promote their reintegration into society.

Partners

The main partners are the Ukrainian Adult Education Association and local adult education centres run by civil society in Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kiev, Poltava, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Nikopol and Zaporizhzhya. The organisation “Free Zone” is an important partner in the development of educational programmes for prisoners.