National Conference on Career Counselling and Guidance: National Experience, Current Challenges and the European Dimension – Cluster Event on Inclusion and Diversity(16.10.2026, Kyiv)
On 16 October 2026 National Conference on Career Counselling and Career Guidance, “Developing Career Counselling and Career Guidance in Ukraine: National Experience, Current Challenges and the European Dimension”, took place in Kyiv as a Cluster Event on Inclusion and Diversity.
The conference was organised by the National Qualifications Agency of Ukraine and the NGO “Ukrainian Institute of Career and Career Guidance” with the participation of the European initiatives Europass, Euroguidance, National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine and Eurodesk.
The event brought together around 100 representatives of public institutions, the education and expert communities, employers, international organisations, and career counselling professionals to discuss current challenges in career development, career decision-makin and cooperation between education and the labour market.
National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine contributed to the conference by presenting the opportunities offered by the EU Erasmus+ Programme as a tool for career development, international cooperation and professional growth.
The conference was opened by Yurii BALANIUK, Head of the National Qualifications Agency of Ukraine; Anna PURTOVA, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and member of the National Qualifications Agency; Zlata TIAHUNOVA, Co-founder of the NGO “Ukrainian Institute of Career and Career Guidance”; and Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine.
During the panel discussion, “Who Is Responsible for a Person’s Career in Ukraine Today? Education – the Labour Market – Employers – the State – Career Counsellors – the Individual?”, participants discussed the distribution of responsibility for career development, the roles of the state, educational institutions and employers and the importance of access to high-quality career counselling in a changing labour market.
The next part of the conference featured the presentation session, “From Ideas to Results: European Solutions for Career Development in Ukraine”. Participants explored European tools, programmes, and practices that can support the development of career counselling and career guidance in Ukraine.
Marharyta POLISHCHUK, Head of Project Management at the Secretariat of the National Qualifications Agency of Ukraine, presented Europass opportunities in Ukraine and its tools for career counselling and career guidance.
Yana BOBYRETS, Head of the Euroguidance Support Unit within the Project Management Department of the Secretariat of the National Qualifications Agency of Ukraine, highlighted European opportunities for career counsellors offered through Euroguidance.
Veronika IVANOVA, Project Manager, National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, presented the EU Erasmus+ Programme as a tool for expanding career opportunities, highlighting its potential to support professional and academic development, broaden international cooperation, develop new competencies and create career pathways through international projects.
Particular attention was also given to the PROMENT project “Promoting Vocational Education and Students’ Active Participation through the Establishment of a Comprehensive Mentoring and Tutoring System in Higher Education Institutions”. Oleh MATVIYKIV, Professor and Director of the Institute of Computer Science and Information Technologies at Lviv Polytechnic National University, presented approaches to supporting students and developing mentoring and tutoring systems in higher education institutions.
The second part of the event featured parallel professional tracks dedicated to lifelong career counselling, career guidance and education. Participants discussed contemporary approaches to career transitions, job searching in the age of artificial intelligence, career decision-making among adolescents, support for veterans transitioning to civilian life and inclusive career guidance.
The conference provided a platform for exchanging experience and presenting European tools that can strengthen Ukraine’s national career counselling and career guidance system.
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