The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine visited Switzerland last week for an official visit

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine visited Switzerland last week for an official visit. DECIDE project manager, Valentyna Poltorak, joined the delegation.

Together with Yevhen Kudriavets, the first deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, we met with representatives of the Swiss government and also had the opportunity to visit vocational schools, higher education institutions, and a technology park.

“We thank Switzerland for its solidarity and unwavering support for the Ukrainian education system during this time of war. Ukraine is currently undergoing complex reforms in all areas of education to create conditions for the return of our children home. So we need and appreciate the support of Switzerland, our long-standing reliable partner,” emphasized Yevhen Kudriavets, the Head of the delegation.
The program was very intense.

The delegation, together with Irina Venediktova, held negotiations with Guy Parmelin, Federal Counselor and Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research, Ambassador Alexandra Baumann, Special Envoy of Swiss Government for Recovery of Ukraine. We also spoke with Ambassador Jacques Ducrest, Head of International Relations at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, and Katerina Pamphilio and the team Swiss Development & Cooperation.

What was agreed upon:
– Strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and Switzerland in the field of vocational education.
– In the next phase, expand the activities of the DECIDE project to support education reforms and the restoration of access to education.
– Deepen cooperation in higher education.
– Focus on further support for the reconstruction of destroyed educational infrastructure and the creation and repair of shelters in schools.

“The successful long-term implementation of the DECIDE project is the result of the partnership between Ukraine and Switzerland in implementing reforms in education management, supporting communities and regions during the war. Together, we unite efforts to ensure that even during the war, Ukrainian children have access to quality education and safe conditions for learning and development,” emphasized Valentyna Poltorak.

Thanks to Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, Ambassador Irina Venediktova, and the team Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland, as well as PHZH International Projects in Education Swiss Development & Cooperation, Eidgenössische Hochschule für Berufsbildung EHB, SwissSkills, and Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG.