On 11 September 2020, Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University signed an agreement with the International Foundation for Social Adaptation on the university’s participation in the project “Norway–Ukraine” UKR-20/002 (NUPASS).
The agreement focused on the professional retraining of military personnel, veterans and members of their families. The project aimed to support their social and professional adaptation to civilian life through education, entrepreneurship training and practical preparation for new career pathways.
During the official part of the meeting, the participants were welcomed by Viktor Yevdokymov, Rector of Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University; Volodymyr Rubtsov, President of the International Foundation for Social Adaptation; Olha Filina, Coordinator of the “Norway–Ukraine” project; and Nataliia Kharytonova, psychologist of the “Veteran House” Civic Union.
The partner organisation responsible for recruiting training groups and monitoring class attendance was the “Veteran House” Civic Union.
Under the agreement, the training was planned to take place from 15 September to 15 December 2020 under the programme “Organisation of One’s Own Business.” The programme was designed to support the social adaptation of participants to civilian life and provide them with knowledge and tools for developing their own business initiatives.
Participant recruitment was organised through online application forms.
After the signing procedure, the working meeting also included a discussion of possible future cooperation in the academic field between Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University and NORD University in Bodø, Norway.
The participants also discussed the need to identify practical ways to integrate professional adaptation processes for former military personnel into the state system.
For CCPA, the launch of the NUPASS project in Zhytomyr became part of a broader institutional and community-based effort to support veterans, military personnel and their families through professional retraining, entrepreneurship education and reintegration into civilian life. In the following stages of the project, CCPA acted as a local implementation partner in Zhytomyr, supporting recruitment, coordination and interaction with communities.
