That is why strengthening vocational education is one of the key priorities of the KRYTSIA: Support for Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev – the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, in partnership with Proman and the NDI. The project helps vocational education institutions become modern centres of excellence by upgrading training workshops, creating technology laboratories, equipping institutions with modern machinery and tools, supporting teachers, and developing new educational programmes that meet the needs of today’s labour market.
To date, 11 vocational education institutions across Kryvyi Rih and Kryvyi Rih Raion have received support through the project. This includes the establishment of seven modern training workshops and five technology laboratories, as well as the development of 15 new educational programmes. Ten of these programmes have been integrated into regular vocational curricula, while five are short-term courses designed to help adults quickly acquire new professional competencies.
One of the institutions benefiting from this support is the Kryvyi Rih Mining Professional College of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council. Within the project, the college established a modern welding workshop and the innovative Smart Energy Lab—a learning space where students and experienced professionals alike can gain practical experience using the same technologies and equipment they will encounter in today’s industries.
It is here that two women found new opportunities to shape their futures. Although their professional journeys are very different, both demonstrate how investment in education can change lives.
New Skills for the Energy Transition
Svitlana Kravchuk has spent many years working in Ukraine’s energy sector. As a Category I Protection Relay and Automation Engineer at NPC Ukrenergo, she is responsible for ensuring the reliable operation of the country’s power system. Despite her extensive professional experience, she firmly believes that learning should never end with graduation.
In 2026, Svitlana completed the short-term course “Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Solar Power Plants”, delivered in the newly established Smart Energy Lab.
Throughout the programme, she worked with photovoltaic modules, hybrid inverters, battery energy storage systems, charge controllers, and professional diagnostic equipment. The practical training covered the complete lifecycle of a solar power installation—from assembling mounting structures and connecting system components to configuring inverters, testing performance, and carrying out maintenance.
“Training on equipment that reflects today’s energy technologies allowed me to acquire highly relevant practical skills. Combining my experience in power system protection with new knowledge of renewable energy has become an important step in my professional development and has significantly expanded my career opportunities,” says Svitlana.
Her story demonstrates the importance of lifelong learning. Access to modern equipment and innovative technologies enables experienced professionals to continuously develop their expertise and remain prepared for the ongoing transformation of the energy sector.
Choosing a Profession Beyond Stereotypes
For Nataliia Bielietska, the modern welding workshop became the first step towards a career in a profession that has long been considered male-dominated.
In 2025, she graduated from the Kryvyi Rih Mining Professional College with qualifications as an Electric and Gas Welder and a Maintenance Electrician.
During her studies, Nataliia trained on modern welding equipment, mastered different welding techniques, and completed practical assignments using machinery purchased through the project.
“Training on modern equipment provided through the KRYTSIA: Support for Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project gave me real practical experience. Thanks to this, I successfully passed my job interview and secured employment in my profession,” Nataliia recalls.
Today, she works as an electric and gas welder at the Yuvileina Mine of Sukha Balka PJSC. She is the only female welder on her team, proving every day that professionalism is defined not by gender, but by skills, knowledge, and determination.
Investing in the Future
Svitlana and Nataliia have followed different paths, yet they share one important experience: access to modern vocational education opened new opportunities for both of them.
For Svitlana, it meant advancing her expertise in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy. For Nataliia, it meant launching a successful career in a highly demanded technical profession.
This is what investment in education looks like in practice. It is not only about renovating workshops or purchasing equipment. It is about empowering people to develop in-demand skills, build sustainable careers, secure decent jobs, and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
By supporting vocational education today, the project is investing in the people who will help shape Ukraine’s future.
