International cooperation is an important part of building a sustainable future. Omnia supports its educational institution partners in Kryvyi Rih in all ways available to Omnia.
"We support our partners with a selection of training during the Russian war of aggression. We are also moving towards the future together with the development of skills required for the future reconstruction of Ukraine and the reform of the Ukrainian education system", says Tuula Antola, General Director of Omnia.
Long-term continuous and close cooperation
"The start of cooperation with educational institutions in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, was one of the joys of this year. The cooperation is part of the partnership between the cities of Espoo and Kryvyi Rih. We are proceeding this in the spirit of Omnia's success plan - solutions, together, for everyone", comments Tuula Antola.
Vitaly Lysenko, who is responsible for Kryvyi Rih's international affairs, is also happy about the opening of cooperation.
"In the near future, we have plans and challenges ahead of us, such as continuing the digitalisation of the education process, solving problems in the education quality system, mobility of teachers and students, managing grants, etc. One of the trends in vocational education is the international mobility of students and teachers. By opening the cooperation with Omnia, we are an even stronger part of the European education community, we promote new ideas and trends and form a modern European model educational institution", says Lysenko.
The aim of the educational institution cooperation is to develop continuing education for management and teaching staff and to raise the pedagogical skill level, to improve the quality and teaching culture of vocational education, to expand students' international knowledge and vision, and to cooperate with regard to the dual education system. In addition, the goal is to organise events and conferences as well as smaller meetings between educational institutions.
"Ukrainian colleagues are very enthusiastic and active regarding cooperation. We hope that the cooperation will bring joy, help and benefit to both students and staff", says Tatyana Pitchulina from Omnia.
Finland contributes to the reform of Ukraine's education system
The education system is being reformed in Ukraine. The goal is for educational institutions to operate in a competence-based and individual-oriented manner. According to Pitchulina, Ukraine is interested in the Finnish education system and wants to adopt Finnish models and solutions.
"For example, a personal study plan is a completely new thing for the Ukrainian education system in vocational education. The best answers and practical examples can be found when considering what is similar and what is different in school systems. At the same time, educational institutions learn from each other," says Pitchulina.
Pitchulina says that educational institutions in Ukraine are interested in, for example, Finnish card trainings, such as hygiene passports and learning in working life and apprenticeship contracts.
Learning together
Cooperation has been promoted through close communication via Teams and on the telephone. At first, the cooperation is carried out as light cooperation projects, where the students get to know each other.
"For example, so that students from both countries do the same tasks and then compare the results. This kind of cooperation can be very invigorating and rewarding," Tatyana Pitchulina describes.
After the summer vacation season, an orientation session on the Finnish vocational education system will be organised. Omnia has also decided to support Ukrainian cooperative educational institutions with equipment to make distance learning smooth.
"In the future, the goal is for both students and staff to be able to participate in joint events on site," says Pitchulina.