Ukraine and the European Union held the first high-level dialogue dedicated to education and skills development. As a result of the meeting, it was revealed that since 2022, the EU has allocated over one billion euros to support the education sector in Ukraine, and this assistance will continue at least until 2027.
This is reported by Finway
Main Areas of Funding and Support
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Roxana Minzatu, reported that one of the main goals of the funding is to ensure access for Ukrainian children to quality education in EU member states. Currently, about 730,000 Ukrainian children are receiving education in the educational systems of the European Union.
“And here our responsibility remains clear: they must have access to quality education today, while keeping the path open for reintegration in Ukraine tomorrow.”
Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, who participated in the event in Brussels, emphasized the importance of supporting education for children in EU countries, developing joint educational projects, and mutual recognition of qualifications. Ukraine is also participating in European initiatives and quality education research.
The second important area is vocational education for adults. A budget of 650 million euros is allocated for its reform. Special attention is given to training specialists who will be needed for the country’s reconstruction.
Programs for Adults and Veterans
As part of the Team Europe initiative for retraining veterans and internally displaced persons, 10 million euros have been allocated. These funds are aimed at developing the skills needed for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
One-fifth of European funding comes through the Erasmus+ program. Since 2022, it has supported 52,000 Ukrainian participants in mobility programs and facilitated the delivery of 1.5 million textbooks for Ukrainian children.
Ukraine and the EU have already agreed to hold the second high-level dialogue on education and skills in 2027.
Minister Lisovyi emphasized the strategic importance of educational partnership, noting that education is the foundation for European integration, democracy, the country’s recovery, and Ukraine’s victory.
Separately, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the launch of a national adult internship program “Experience Matters” for people aged 50 and over. This initiative aims to help the older generation of Ukrainians acquire new skills, update their resumes, adapt to labor market demands, and improve their competitiveness.
The government emphasizes that the shortage of qualified specialists remains one of the most pressing issues for Ukraine’s economy. This is particularly true in the construction and defense industries, where the demand for personnel is steadily increasing.