Our project Jean Monnet’s module “EU Experiences for Enhancing Youth Employability through Professional Skills Development”, financed by the Erasmus+ program (ERASMUS – JMO -2021-MODULE -SKILLS4JOB-101047867) which was implemented jointly by the Department of Accounting and Taxation and the Department of International Economic Relations over the period of 2022-2024, has come to an end. Throughout this project, many tasks were carried out, and we would like to share the results and achievements of this project.
The project was implemented by the team of four team Associate Professors of SumDU: Yuliia Serpeninova and Natalia Vynnychenko (the Department of Accounting and Taxation), Oksana Zamora and Tetyana Shcherbyna (the Department of International Economic Relations).
Progress towards the project objectives:
1.Professional Skills for the EU Market” MOOC Development: designed and launched an interdisciplinary MOOC, ensuring open access for students and the broader public, fostering awareness of EU values and professional practices.
You can join the online course by following the link:
https://examenarium.sumdu.edu.ua/free_study/join/295
2. Curriculum Enhancement: improved four existing courses across bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs in Sumy State University (SumDU) by incorporating EU-related modules focused on professional, market-oriented skills and teaching modules within these courses.
3. Capacity Building Through Schools and Workshops: organized summer/winter schools and the “Laboratory of Ideas” workshops, promoting practical applications of theoretical knowledge. The number of participants involved in the summer/winter school was 200-300 participants annually.
The results of these activities are available under the links:
Summer School 2022 “EU Grants for Personal and Professional Growth”
Summer School 2023 “Competences for Successful Employment in EU Companies and Organizations“,
Winter School 2024 “The Best EU Experiences For Enhancing Employability”,
4. Dissemination and Research played an important role in amplifying the project’s impact:
– 4 academic articles were published in Ukrainian peer-reviewed journals to attract academics to the suggested topic;
To download the articles, please follow the link:
https://op.biem.sumdu.edu.ua/en/86867
– 12 publicistic articles (4 each year) were published in digital media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, the Telegram channel of SumDU, and partner universities;
To download the articles, please follow the link:
– 1 monograph “Enhancing Employability of Graduating Students Using the Best EU Experiences”;
To download the monograph, please follow the link:
https://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/95596
– 1 methodological guide for university teachers “Developing the Professional Skills for Graduating Students: European Lessons”.
To download the methodological guide, please follow the link:
https://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/97166
The SKILLS4JOB project successfully met its objectives, providing innovative solutions to enhance youth employability in alignment with EU standards and values. The SKILLS4JOB project addressed critical gaps in Ukrainian higher education curricula concerning EU-related professional skills and employability. The project sought to enhance graduates’ market-oriented skills for employment in companies operating under EU standards. By embedding EU-focused project objectives into education process, the project contributed to bridging the gap between academic preparation and labour market needs.