President Meets with College Students
In Rivne, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with students from the Professional College of Restaurant and Hotel Business. The institution had been renovated and equipped with state-of-the-art tools under the EU4Skills program—an initiative supported by the European Union and its member states aimed at reforming vocational education under the banner 'Better Skills for Modern Ukraine.'
The Rivne region currently hosts 40 training and practice centers, seven of which were established in 2025. These facilities serve as professional hubs for training young people and facilitating retraining for adults, including military veterans. The President also held discussions with business leaders who employ college graduates, particularly in the food service, restaurant, and hospitality sectors.
Vocational Education Reform Discussions
The talks centered on the role of vocational education, how to promote it, and the need to train specialists for domestic industries. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized:
“It is crucial to advance vocational education in Ukraine: it offers a major advantage by providing clear direction regarding one’s future career path.”
Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi briefed the President on the outcomes of the vocational education reform launched in 2024. He also noted that the 'Law of Ukraine on Vocational Education,' passed in 2025, has broadened opportunities for collaboration between businesses and educational institutions to train specialists aligned with labor market demands.
This meeting highlights the Ukrainian government's efforts to strengthen vocational and technical education, a vital component for developing a skilled workforce amid ongoing economic challenges. By modernizing educational facilities and fostering business partnerships, the aim is to better align training with labor market needs, which could in turn boost youth employment rates across Ukraine.
In light of ongoing reforms, the government is also addressing personnel changes within various state bodies. These adjustments aim to enhance operational efficiency and align leadership with the evolving needs of the country. For more information on these significant shifts, you can read about the recent government and state company shake-up announced by Zelensky.