During the 16 months of a full-scale war, DTEK Grids has employed 69 dual students
“DTEK Grids is a foundation and support for normal life of the country and Ukrainians, including now – during the war. Our projects are aimed not only at recovery after hostilities, but also at the long-term perspective and sustainable development of Ukraine. Despite the war in the country, we did not suspend our dual education project. Over the past 16 months, we have trained and employed 69 boys and girls. Now, they are part of a large team of DTEK energy workers. We plan to continue the project in the next academic year as well. Moreover, we will expand its boundaries to cover the specialized higher education institutions in order to enable as many students to participate in it as possible,” – noted Ihor Vovk, head of the HR department at DTEK Grids.
Today, DTEK Grids collaborates with 9 higher education institutions in the city of Kyiv, as well as in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. Students of specialized specialties of these educational institutions that chose dual education get an opportunity to study according to the individual program, where 40% of time is theory, and 60% is practice at the enterprise. Throughout study, the company provides students with salary and full social package (medical insurance, vacation, sick leaves, etc.).
“In the University, they use books to teach students work on electrical equipment. While we, at the enterprise, not only show them how it is done in life, but also provide an opportunity to work at power facilities. This is the main advantage of dual education – immediate consolidation of acquired knowledge in practice. After participating in the project, the youth is more confident in tomorrow, as it knows the equipment well, understands the energy situation and has no problems with employment,” – told Oleksandr Radzyvilchuk, DTEK Kyiv Grids foreman, mentor of dual students.
In order to participate in the DTEK Grids dual education program in 2023-2024 academic year, a student should be studying in a specialty related to power engineering, attending 2-4 year of study at one of the educational institutions that concluded an agreement with the company, fill in the form and qualify. Dual students sign a tripartite agreement for dual education, and fixed-term employment contracts.
“Energy workers are now holding the energy front and I am proud that I chose this profession. A lot depends on them today. Both country’s development and normal life of Ukrainians in these difficult conditions. I believe that we will not only repair power equipment, but also build modern Smart Grids. And I am glad that I will be able to be part of the team making every effort for this,” – underscored participant of the project, DTEK Kyiv Grids electrical fitter, Andrii Zakonov.
DTEK Grids launched “Dual Education” project in 2019. Over the course of 5 years, 311 students have completed education under the program. They combined theory with practice on equipment that modern Distribution System Operators work with. 52% of them (161 students) got a permanent job in the company.
For reference
Specialized educational institutions in Ukraine that currently participate in DTEK Grids Dual Education project:
- Kyiv Electromechanical Professional College
- National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine"
- National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”
- National University of Food Technologies
- Tarashchansky Technical and Economic and Legal College
- Nemyshaiv professional college of the NULES of Ukraine
- NTU “Dnipro Polytechnic”
- Kamianske State Energy College
- Professional college of oil and gas technologies, engineering and service infrastructure ONUT