SCIENTIFIC-METHODOLOGICAL CENTRE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND FURTHER TRAINING FOR ENGINEERING-PEDAGOGICAL WORKERS IN KHMELNYTSKYI REGION
To promote the development of human capital in the field of vocational education
- to provide educational, methodological and scientific support for the activities of vocational (vocational and technical) education institutions;
- promoting the quality training of highly skilled workers for the economy of the country and the region;
- ensuring the functioning of the system of teachers` professional development in vocational education and training institutions.
– methodological support for the modernization and optimization of the infrastructure of vocational education and training institutions in the region;
– updating the content of vocational education, ensuring state requirements for its quality and volume at the level of the latest technologies, digital transformation technologies, successful practices, and principles of sustainable development;
– implementation of a competence-based approach and dual, inclusive education in vocational (vocational and technical) education institutions;
– introduction of innovative pedagogical, production and information and digital technologies in the process of training skilled workers;
– formation of a regional information educational and professional environment;
– formation of a regional information educational and professional environment;
– promotion of vocational education, intensification of vocational guidance among the population;
– implementation of national education tasks, scientific and methodological support of the activities of teaching staff to form national consciousness, patriotism, and tolerance of students;
– monitoring the quality of educational services in the region’s vocational education institutions.
The Scientific-Methodological Centre of Vocational Education and Training and Further Training for Engineering-Pedagogical Workers in Khmelnytskyi Region (hereinafter referred to as the SMC VET FT) is an innovative scientific and pedagogical complex of regional level vocational education, which in 1993 was the first in Ukraine to combine the functions of course-based professional development of teachers of the vocational education system and scientific and methodological support of the activities of vocational (vocational and technical) education institutions (hereinafter referred to as V(VT)E).
In 2006-2022, 31 state educational standards for professions were developed under the guidance of the SMC VET FT, 20 of which were competency-based. Within the framework of the EU4Skills programme, together with partners from EDUFI, 4 educational programmes were created in the professions of “Car Repairer”, “Welder”, “Turner”, “Electrician for the repair and maintenance of computers” based on a competence-based approach. Over the past 5 years, the teaching staff of the SMC VET FT have prepared four textbooks that have received the stamp of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and more than 200 teaching materials approved at the regional level.
The SMC VET FT has developed and implemented a system of continuous development of professional competence of VET teachers, which consists of intra-school and regional levels, self-education, and course-based professional development. In 2004-2009 and 2011-2016, the SMC VET FT conducted all-Ukrainian experiments on the introduction of innovative forms and content of in-service training in psychological and pedagogical training of teachers of vocational education institutions.
On the basis of the developed scientific and methodological tools, professional and pedagogical profiles of employees of vocational education institutions have been developed, which are a guide for teachers to build individual trajectories of professional development.
The author’s team of the SMC VET FT was awarded the State Prize of Ukraine in Education in the nomination “Vocational Education” for the cycle of works “Forms and Content of Course-based Professional Development for Managers and Teachers of Vocational Education Institutions” (2012).
3,119 teachers of vocational (vocational and technical) education institutions in Khmelnytskyi region and other regions of Ukraine underwent advanced training on the basis of the SMC VET FT during 2018-2022.
Over the last 20 years, together with vocational education institutions under the scientific guidance of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and institutes of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, 10 pedagogical experiments of the national level, 17 of the regional level, and 6 regional experimental laboratories have been conducted.
Effective communication with governing bodies, vocational education and training institutions, enterprises and employers’ associations, the Institute for Modernization of Education Content of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, leading institutes of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, and public organizations contributes to the successful completion of the main tasks of the SMC VET FT.
The official website of the SMC VET FT plays a leading role in promoting successful pedagogical practices, establishing constructive relationships with social partners, maintaining an appropriate level of development of professional competence of teaching staff, and increasing the prestige of vocational education in the region. The SMC VET FT has its own printed media – the scientific and methodological bulletin “Professional Education”, which presents innovative directions of reforming the system of vocational education and best educational practices.
The SMC VET FT participated in the implementation of the international projects “Turin Process – Regional Level” (2014, 2016, 2019); Twinning “Modernization of Legislative Standards and Principles of Education and Training in line with the EU Lifelong Learning Policy” (2014); “Estonian Experience in Supporting Vocational Education Reforms in Ukraine” (2019, 2020), “EU4Skills: Best Skills for Modern Ukraine” (2019-2022).
The results of the work of the SMC VET FT in Khmelnytsky Oblast in ensuring the continuity of professional development of teachers and providing scientific and methodological support for the educational process have been repeatedly recognized at the national and international levels.
Today, the SMC VET FT has established itself in the educational arena as a successful provider of educational and methodological services in the field of vocational education.