In March 2025, an innovative educational program for the retraining of internally displaced persons in the field of solar energy – EcoSKILL – started at Kharkiv Polytechnic. The program was organized by the NGO «Association of Young Scientists of NTU «KhPI» with the financial support of Razom Relief. More than a hundred participants joined the program. Within 2 and a half months, they will attend a training course, complete practical tasks, pass tests, and then get their first job in the field of photovoltaic system installation. Today, there are more than 100.000 IDPs of working age in Kharkiv, 20.700 of whom need immediate employment.
The EcoSKILL program is designed to meet the current needs of employers in the solar energy industry and international standards. It consists of five modules, which include theoretical classes, online and offline practice (training in the use of modern equipment). The internally displaced persons (IDPs) will receive up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge from leading experts that meet current labor market requirements and international standards, as well as experience with modern tools and equipment, which will allow them to feel confident working with photovoltaic systems. The training program is designed to last for two and a half months, with a final test, after which participants will be able to take part in the Job Fair and get their first job in the field of PV systems.
In addition, EcoSKILL graduates who successfully complete the training and pass the test will be provided with letters of recommendation, which will significantly increase their chances of successful employment after graduation. In addition, for the most motivated and persistent trainees, a separate training track will be launched to teach them how to start their own solar energy business, including basic entrepreneurship and management skills.
«Before the start of the training, we held a Round Table discussion where we invited representatives of the NTU «KhPI» teaching staff and businessmen working in the field of solar energy in different parts of Ukraine. And one of the priorities facing installation companies today is the search for qualified personnel. The demand is so high that even in winter, when such work is usually not carried out, the work did not stop at all,” said Roman Tomashevskyi, project manager of the EcoSKILL program, head of the Association of Young Scientists of NTU «KhPI», director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Power Engineering, Electronics and Electromechanics.
«Our team has extensive experience in implementing educational programs, including in the field of renewable energy. Thus, two years ago, we successfully implemented the project «Sustainable and Renewable Energy. Essential» project, which was aimed at providing an opportunity to gain basic knowledge, skills, and experience in the field of modern renewable energy technologies. But the tasks facing these two projects are completely different. Now we have a more pragmatic goal – to quickly train PV installers, providing them with the knowledge, experience and opportunities to quickly adapt to new working conditions and effectively start a career in this area,» said Serhii Radohuz EcoSKILL team member and head of the Methodology Department at NTU «KhPI».
In total, more than 100 participants have joined the EcoSKILL program. The participants are very different: some already have experience in the energy or electronics industries. For others, it is a completely new field of work.
«I am studying at a college in «Geodesy» specialty and I understand how important it is to develop renewable energy today, especially in the context of war and constant attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. I see my future in this field, because solar energy is not only a promising area but also a real opportunity to provide the energy independence of our country,» says Stepan, a participant of the program.
«I expect to obtain knowledge in the design and installation of photovoltaic equipment to start my own business. Additional knowledge in solar energy will be an important and necessary addition to my education in the field of heat and power engineering to realize my plans,» says Valeria, an EcoSKILL trainee.
The program is implemented in cooperation with the Kharkiv Volunteer Union Charitable Foundation, the National Technical University «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», as well as local employment centers and employers who are looking forward to the first graduation of the program.
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Currently, there are more than 100.000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) of working age in Kharkiv, 20.700 of whom need immediate employment. The main obstacles are the underdeveloped system of professional retraining and the mismatch of competencies with the needs of the modern labor market.
The NGO «Association of Young Scientists Сauncil of NTU «KhPI» was founded in 2017 to create favorable conditions for the development of young scientists, support their scientific, educational and social initiatives. The organization is actively working on the implementation of innovative ideas, providing young researchers with access to the necessary resources, mentoring support and opportunities for professional growth. One of its key activities is to promote technological and energy innovations, particularly in the field of renewable energy. Since the outbreak of full-scale war, the NGO has focused on engineering prototyping through the Ukrainian Assistive and Biomedical Engineering Hub, which is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, as well as on training renewable energy specialists through the AlterEnergy and EcoSKILL projects.
Razom for Ukraine is a non-profit organization that works to unlock Ukraine’s potential by contributing to its security, prosperity, and democratic development. Razom for Ukraine supports short- and long-term initiatives, working with Ukrainian and international partners to implement projects in the areas of education, humanitarian aid, civil society development, and economic support. Razom unites volunteers in Ukraine and the United States, creating a community that facilitates the effective implementation of programs important to Ukraine. In 2023, Forbes Ukraine recognized Razom as one of the ten best charitable organizations in the country.