Avtostrada, one of the leaders of road and bridge construction in Ukraine, has signed the dual education program agreement with the Kharkiv National Automobile and Road University.
The dual education program is the combination of studying in professional technical educational institutions with work in road construction companies. In Ukraine, there are only a few similar educational programs, which are being implemented, aimed at eliminating the technical professionals’ lack.
Starting from the 2022/2023 academic year, KhNADU students will be able to work on the roads and bridges of Avtostrada during their studies. The company has received more than 100 applications for participation in the program. The harmonization of the study format, curricula, and student assessment criteria is currently being finalized.
Dual education, which was first introduced in Germany in the 1960s, is now widely practiced in a number of European countries. For Ukraine, it is a know-how that is only gaining momentum. Avtostrada is ready to adopt the European approach and promote the project by transferring its best practices to educational institutions in order to bring the educational process to a qualitatively new level. This will help students to get deep knowledge of modern technologies and innovations used in road construction, and gain working experience with the latest technology.
This approach will allow training professionals who need both the company and the market. Students will receive all the necessary skills and will be able to work in the relevant sphere.
“Participation in the dual education program is a continuation of Avtostrada’s systematic approach to employees’ development. We have internal programs for staff development and training, internships, special internships with a guaranteed social package, as well as scholarship initiatives. Avtostrada updates the technical base of specialized educational institutions. Employees of the company share their experience with students at open lectures, meetings, and study tours to the company’s production facilities. Our goal is to popularize the profession of a road worker in order to help train a new generation of professionals and eliminate the “staff shortage” in the industry”, said Kateryna Vasyuta, HR Director of Avtostrada.
According to the rector of KhNADU Viktor Bogomolov, the implementation of the dual education program will bring the training of future road workers to a qualitatively new level and increase the institutional capacity of the university. “We have a strong educational base and strive to give our students the most up-to-date knowledge. Launching a dual form of training in cooperation with Avtostrada, one of the most innovative companies on the market, is an opportunity for our students to gain the full range of practical skills they need. Participants in the program will have exactly the experience that will allow them to succeed in the profession. About 50% of the internship will be the process of learning on-site. This internship will bridge the gap between the theory in lectures and the modern realities of the profession”, said Victor Bogomolov.
Avtostrada has been cooperating with Kharkiv National Automobile and Road University for a long time. The company employs almost 50 graduates of KhNADU, 35 of whom hold senior positions. Half of those who completed the training course was transferred to the positions of engineering and technical workers. Also, Avtostrada employees are undergoing advanced training at KhNADU, and employees of the university are involved in providing scientific and technical support for road construction projects of Avtostrada.
For reference
Avtostrada Group of Companies is one of the leaders in the road construction sector, a powerful modern Ukrainian company that has its own production chains and is part of MS|Capital holding. The company carries out major repairs and construction of roads and bridges. It owns more than 2.5 thousand units of specialized equipment and has a team of 5.5 professionals.