Swiss educational practices for Ukrainian communities: visit of the delegation within the DECIDE project
Despite the challenges of the war, Ukrainian educators continue seeking ways to improve the educational process in communities.
The delegation, consisting of DECIDE Project experts, heads and representatives of local authorities of DECIDE Project partner communities, visited Switzerland to learn how education is organised in this country, how education is managed at the local level to ensure that it is of high quality, modern and truly democratic. The visit was organised on the invitation of the Zurich University of Teacher Education.
The visit was held from 28 October to 1 November 2024. It provided an opportunity to learn about the best practices of decentralised education management and building an education system based on democracy — the key principles of the Swiss education system. In addition, the Swiss colleagues had an opportunity to learn more about the Ukrainian education system, which, despite the incomplete reform process and numerous challenges, has impressed the world with its resilience and adaptability in the face of war.
The delegation had a rich programme of events, meetings with leading experts, plenary discussions, and excursions to educational institutions in Zurich. The heads of communities and representatives of local self-government bodies had a unique opportunity to communicate with school board leaders, heads of educational institutions, teachers, lecturers and students, which allowed them to dive deeper into the Swiss education and career guidance system. It also enabled us to see the opportunities for the development of education in Ukrainian communities based on the Swiss experience.
The first day of the visit took place at the Zurich University of Teacher Education, where the participants learned how the decentralised model of education management contributes to the creation of a high-quality educational environment and the development of educational institutions.
The second day was devoted to educational technologies: the experience of implementing immersive learning and digital innovations in Swiss vocational education and training was discussed with Martin Berger, a secondary vocational education teacher. In addition, the participants discussed the situation in Ukraine, its main needs and outlined areas for further cooperation.
The delegation also visited a modern vocational education institution, where the educational space motivates learning, and unique areas for communication and interaction between students of different specialities facilitate the exchange of experience and help develop teamwork skills necessary in professional activities.
We are grateful for the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine and the Zurich University of Teacher Education and all Swiss partners who contributed to the organisation of the visit!