OREANDA-NEWS  On 24 February was announced, that the biggest Ukrainian investor System Capital Management initiates a Discussion Club project expected to be a platform for a constructive and effective dialog between the labour market and education sector. The main objective is to seek for the ways to improve the practical value of the knowledge and skills of students graduating from Ukrainian universities from the real economy perspective. The Discussion Club will be a part of the social investment programme "SCM to Higher Education Institutions".

A high interest of employers in professionals, of specialists - in a good job, and of education facilities - in an excellent reputation and recognition by entrants makes improving the education system in Ukraine a national goal. SCM has developed and implements the programme "SCM to Higher Education Institutions" based on concrete steps to ensure that the quality of training of the Ukrainian university graduates matches the demands of the real economy sector. The first step of the programme was the launch of Compass national university ranking in 2008, which was highly appreciated by employers, education institutions and experts.

The Discussion Club targets to ensure an effective dialog between the labour market and the Ukrainian system of higher education on central and levels; study cases of the most effective cooperation between businesses in universities in Ukraine; establish opportunities to adopt the best practices throughout the higher education system", said Project Coordinator and SCM's project manager Natalya Krivulina. "The Discussion Club is also expected to debate on the global practices. For this reason, we will invite international experts to take part in every session. We believe the dialog will help Ukrainian universities, employers and education experts hear each other, exchange opinions and practices, thus finding the ways to address the problems in the area of training of young specialists".

The discussion clubs will be attended by representatives of the education sector, high-profile international organizations and authorities, employers, members of expert community and media.

In 2009, SCM plans to hold four regional discussion clubs: in eastern region (Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov oblasts), southern region (Dnepropetrovsk,  Zaporozh’ye, Nikolayev, Odessa oblasts and the Crimea), central region (Kiev, Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, Kirovograd, Poltava, Sumy, Cherkassy, Chernigov oblasts and Kiev city) and western region (Volyn, Zakarpatye, Ivano-Frankovsk, Lvov, Rovno, Ternopol, Khmelnitsky and Chernovtsy oblasts).

"Being one of the biggest employers in the country, SCM Group has a direct interest in bridging the gap between education and the labour market. I am positive that the Discussion Club will be a platform for a constructive dialog between local universities, employers and the leading education experts. As a result, the gap will be removed on the stage, when a student studies at a university. So, the goal of ensuring quality training for the future specialists in the real economy sector will be met", adds Natalya Krivulina.

The first regional meeting of the Discussion club will take place in Donetsk in March 2009 attended by universities and the biggest employers from Ukraine's East.

For more information about the social programme "SCM to Higher Education Institutions", Compass university ranking and Discussion Club, please visit the corporate website of SCM Group.