The ninth career guidance hub has opened at Brovary Vocational College as part of the Swiss-Ukrainian ‘Decentralisation for Improved Democratic Education’ (DECIDE) Project. This modern, interactive space allows schoolchildren to learn about different professions and make more informed choices about their future careers. Ten such centres have been created in total in six regions of Ukraine as part of the initiative.

The hub is a specially equipped 100-m² space combining a training area with seven practical stations. Here, schoolchildren in Grades 7–9 can gain hands-on experience of being a welder, plumber, painter, building insulation specialist, frame construction specialist or truck driver. The goal is to give children the opportunity to learn about professions and experience them first-hand, helping them to discover which career path is closest to their interests.

The hub was created through a partnership between the DECIDE Project, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Kyiv Regional State Administration, as part of a pilot programme introducing a new career support system for students in the region. The total budget for the project was UAH 4.8 million, which was financed by the DECIDE Project. These funds were used to completely renovate the premises, with repairs carried out in the lobby, corridors, and restrooms. A new ventilation system was installed and modern technical equipment and comfortable furniture were provided.

The hub as part of the career support system

The opening of the hub in Brovary is just one element of broader work in the community. The following has already been achieved within the pilot partnership model involving educational institutions, authorities and businesses:

• two educational institutions are covered: Trebukhiv Lyceum and Brovary V. O. Sukhomlynskyi Lyceum No. 2;
• a team has been formed consisting of one career guidance coordinator, one hub coordinator and four teacher-career advisors, who have delivered the JOBS course with the support of PHZH International Projects in Education;
• 17 career guidance events were organised, including 7 excursions to enterprises, 4 visits to vocational schools, career fairs and master classes, in which almost 5,000 high school students participated.

A notable outcome was the engagement of businesses. Baumit Ukraine LLC, Mira Budmaterialy LLC, Frounis Ukraine LLC, Grand Sport Hotel and Holland Bakery 21.3 LLC have already become residents and partners of the hub. Their presence adds a practical dimension, linking training to the real labour market.

The opening of the hub in Brovary is a practical step towards establishing a modern career guidance system at the local level. It will provide the entire community with a permanent resource, helping adolescents to find their way in vocational education and life through practice, cooperation with businesses, and qualified career guidance. This approach gives decentralisation in education a practical dimension by creating an infrastructure for developing young talent directly in communities.

DECIDE Project is implementing a number of initiatives to create career guidance hubs in Ukraine. They are currently operating in six regions: Kyiv, Lviv, Chernihiv, Poltava, Odesa, and Ivano-Frankivsk.