The outcomes of the stakeholder meeting in the form of a hackathon held as part of the SKYLA Interreg Europe

Organised by the Regional Development Agency of Lviv Region, the event brought together representatives of businesses, vocational education, and the public sector. More than 20 vocational school students also took part in the intensive course, forming four teams to seek innovative solutions.

Participants paid particular attention to the analysis of barriers to the development of vocational education, and explored new ways to promote it. They also discussed the principles of the circular economy, upcycling development, digitalisation processes, and the new skills that are already shaping today’s labour market.

Maryana Bas-Yurchyshyn, the Agency’s Deputy Director, shared with participants key insights and European best practice gained through the SKYLA project:

“Twin transition – digital and green – isn’t some distant prospect from the textbooks. It is a reality we are already dealing with today. Our students are part of this and are learning to think globally and act locally for the benefit of their communities”.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the teams’ ideas: all teams had the opportunity to publicly present their final concepts and receive feedback from an expert jury.

The event was moderated by Maryana Udovytska. The jury consisted of Taras Prystupa, Taras Levytskyi, Oksana Straz, Anastasiya Pelekh, and Maryana Bas-Yurchyshyn.

Both the jury and the moderator praised the participants’ creativity, the quality of their work, and their fresh perspective on the tasks at hand. The experts were impressed by the teams’ level of preparation, the quality of the ideas presented, and the young people’s willingness to seek innovative solutions for the sector’s development.

The hackathon proved to be an excellent example of effective collaboration between the education sector, the business community, and the public sector. Such initiatives encourage young people to view vocational professions as promising areas for innovation, sustainable development, and new career opportunities.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all participants for their support, active involvement, and significant contribution to developing young people’s potential and promoting vocational education. Together, we are building a sustainable future for the Lviv region!