On April 23, a working meeting was held in Sumy at Sumy National Agrarian University, attended by Mykola Trofimenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine; Svitlana Lypova, Deputy Head of the Sumy Regional State (Military) Administration; and representatives of regional authorities, higher education institutions, and local businesses.
The key topic of discussion was the development of dual education as an effective tool for training competitive professionals capable of meeting the needs of the modern labor market.
According to Ihor Kovalenko, Rector of Sumy National Agrarian University:
“The decision to hold this event at Sumy National Agrarian University is no coincidence, as the university has long been systematically implementing elements of dual education across all its faculties, combining theoretical training with practical experience in collaboration with employers.”
For many years, Sumy National Agrarian University has been training specialists in a wide range of fields—from engineering, IT, veterinary medicine, and agriculture to law, management, economics, food science, and social sciences—actively integrating practical components into the educational process.
During the meeting, participants discussed ways to increase employer involvement in shaping educational programs, organizing practical training, internships, and mentoring, as well as mechanisms for better aligning educational outcomes with the region’s workforce needs.
“For us, dual education is a key tool for bridging the gap between the classroom and the real workplace. When students gain more practical experience during their studies, the university better understands employers’ needs, and businesses themselves participate in training specialists. For the Sumy region, as a border region, this is also a matter of sustainability: young people must see the opportunity to study, work, and build their professional future here,” noted Mykola Trofimenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.
Particular attention was paid to the role of universities in regional development—not only as centers for training professionals, but also as drivers of economic growth, partners to local communities, and hubs for developing modern competencies that provide students with a clear career path even while they are still in school.
Hosting such meetings at SNAU once again confirms its leading role in implementing innovative educational approaches, particularly dual education, and in strengthening partnerships between education, government, and business for the sustainable development of the region.
