Cross-domain competencies to improve the employability of graduates of the National University “Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic” in the global labor market

Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University is a grantholder and coordinator of the international project 619034-EPP-1-2020-1-UA-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP «Cross-domain competences for healthy and safe work in the 21st century» [WORK4CE].

The main objectives of the project are to develop a new form of cooperation between universities and enterprises in the era of digital technologies to improve the employability of graduates; provide the latest competencies necessary for employment, to shape the workplace of the future; promote international and interdisciplinary development of the educational content of the competency model for Work 4.0.

The project started on November 15, 2021 and will be implemented for 3 years in a consortium with European, Ukrainian and Azerbaijani universities.

The Scrumban methodology was chosen as the project management model, which allows for iteratively increasing results. Thus, from the moment of signing the grant agreement with the donor (the European Union) to the official start of the project, the project coordinator, Ph.D., Prof. G.V. Tabunshchyk, held working meetings with representatives of Ukrainian and Azerbaijani universities, actively participated in events for representatives of the winning teams of the Erasmus+ KA2: Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) competition from member states and partners of the Program with project coordinators from the EU Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA), representatives of the EU Directorates-General, EU Delegations in partner countries, National Erasmus+ Offices and National Erasmus+ Agencies.

The kick-off meeting of the project consortium representatives was held in the last days of his term by the rector of the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Prof. S.B. Belikov. The understanding of the high trust of the EU and the responsibility of the university as a recipient of a grant under the Erasmus+ program was noted. The project team was welcomed by: General Director of the Directorate of Higher Education and Adult Education of the Ministry of Education and Science Oleh Sharov, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration Viktor Zakharchuk, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine Svitlana Shitikova and Coordinator of NEO in Azerbaijan Parviz Bagirov. During the 8-hour online meeting, the university teams presented their educational institutions and the potential that will be used to achieve the project goals.

A separate meeting was held between the Acting Rector, Prof. S.T. Yarymbash and the First Vice-Rector E.A. Gugnin with representatives of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine. It was decided to initiate a meeting with the heads of Ukrainian HEIs participating in the project to build transparent horizontal ties and understand the joint responsibility and responsibility of each partner.

Work has been carried out to sign partnership agreements and international expert community groups have been formed to develop specifications for the modules «Data Analysis for Work 4.0» (coordinator: Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University), «Healthcare Management in the Age of Digital Technologies» (coordinator: FH Dortmund, Germany), «Industry 4.0» (coordinator: KU Leuven, Belgium), «Distributed Teams» (coordinator: Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture), «Work 4.0» (coordinator: Western Ukrainian National University), «Safe Workplaces» (coordinator: Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry), «Digital Change Management» (coordinator: Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction), «Life Cycle Thinking and Sustainable Management» (coordinator: University of the Basque Country Bilbao, Spain), «Development of Digital Business Ecosystems» (coordinator: Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction), «Training of Trainers and teachers» (coordinator: Academy of the State Tax Committee of Azerbaijan).

Since the digital modules that will be developed during the project should provide cross-domain competencies, the working group from Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University consists of representatives of 4 faculties (TF, CST, MTE, BAD):

– Kuzkin O.F. – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Transport;

– Karpenko A.V. – Doctor of Economics, Professor of the Department of Economics and Customs;

– Kaplienko T.I. – Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Software;

– Parkhomenko A.V. – Ph.D., Associate Professor of the Department of Software;

– Plynokos D.D. – Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Entrepreneurship, Trade and Exchange Activities, Head of the Center for Internationalization and International Cooperation.;

– Subbotin S. O. – Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Software;

– Tabunshchyk G.V. – Ph.D., Professor of the Department of Software.

As is known, one of the main tasks of HEIs is to train specialists in accordance with the requirements of the national and regional labor market, which today consists of both domestic and global manufacturers. Therefore, with the support of the Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and Humanitarian Issues V.L. Greshta and the Head of the Zaporizhzhia Cluster «IAM» Prof. A.V. Karpenko, meetings were held with the cluster leadership and working visits to enterprises in the region. The project coordinator, Prof. G.V. Tabunshchyk presented ideas for cooperation at the TECHNOLOGY and INNOVATION DAY 2021 event, the goal of which is to unite industrialists from across the region with higher education institutions and local authorities. Work is currently underway to develop a cooperation strategy and forecast the necessary competencies of university graduates.