The overall Objective of the Project is to transform two existing VET Schools which are determined jointly by the MoES, PEA and KfW into CoEs. The Centres of Excellence offer high-quality, practice-oriented vocational training that is relevant to the labour market and thus improve the employability of graduates.

The achievement of this objective shall be measured with the help of following indicators:

• Indicator 1: the number of graduates, who have found employment within 6 months after graduation (broken down by women and men), increased by 5%.
• Indicator 2: The proportion of practical trainings of VET formation increased by 10% by the end of the implementation period.
• Indicator 3: Participants from at least two other Eastern Partnership countries benefit from study tours or events.

To achieve the Project objective, following outputs have been defined:

• Output A: Modernisation. CoE buildings were modernized in an energy-efficient way.
• Output B: Equipment. The supported schools are equipped with modern, needs-based and labour market-relevant equipment and the staff is trained.
• Output C: Cooperation. Practice-oriented cooperations between vocational schools and local companies/employers have been concluded.
• Output D: Learning environment. An attractive, barrier-free and inclusive learning environment has been created.
• Output E: Knowledge Transfer. Knowledge transfer between centres of excellence in Ukraine and selected countries of the EaP has taken place.

The FC project contains two components:

• Component 1: Investment measures
• Component 2: Supporting TVET measures

The direct target groups of the project are the female and male students at the targeted vocational schools. The increased participation of women in VET as teachers and students also in traditionally male domains, incl. in IT and the green sector, shall be promoted. In addition, young adults, and job seekers as well as employees without sufficient qualifications can improve their situation through short-term courses and further training opportunities at the centres of excellence. In particular, the CoE will address veterans’ employment needs, helping them identify new suitable job opportunities and prepare for the workforce. The indirect target groups are businesses, especially those with significant shortages of skilled personnel, which benefit from an increased supply of skilled labour, but also from short-term courses offered to employees.

The project budget for phase 2 is EUR 20.5 Mio from German financial cooperation funding, which will be used to rebuild, equip and  modernize 2 VET schools.

• The recipient of the grant funds is the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, represented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES). The Ukrainian Social Investment Fund (USIF), which was founded in 2000 by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to implement social infrastructure projects, will be the PEA of the Project.