Building Partnerships to Support Ukrainian Education: Ukraine Joins the International Summit on the Teaching Profession

Ukraine's delegation participated in the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP 2026), which brings together education ministers, trade union representatives, and teachers from countries with high-performing education systems. Taking part in an event of this scale gives Ukraine the opportunity to exchange experience and build direct bilateral cooperation with foreign governments — a foundation for financial and expert support of Ukrainian education.

The Ukrainian delegation was led by Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine. It also included Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister; Albina Tsiatkovska, Director General of the International Cooperation Directorate at the Ministry of Education and Science; Olha Chabaniuk, Deputy Chair of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine; Kateryna Maliuta-Osaulova, Head of the International Department of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine; and Mykola Popadiuk, a teacher at Chernivtsi Lyceum No. 10.

The summit brought together not only government representatives but also trade unions and the teaching community. The focus was on coordinating joint action to develop the teaching profession, discussing how the international community can support this field, and strengthening school leadership and autonomy.

A key part of the visit was negotiations with international partners. The Ukrainian delegation met with the summit's organizers — the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Education International.

Together with partners, the delegation agreed to organize a similar summit in Ukraine this year, dedicated to transforming the teaching profession and improving working conditions for teachers. Its goal is to unite the international community around this agenda and bring in additional expertise and support. Work on implementing the initiative is now underway.

The Ukrainian delegation also held a series of bilateral meetings with government representatives from various countries. Based on their outcomes, the following areas of continued cooperation are planned:

• Strengthening partner support for Ukrainian education reforms, including upper secondary, preschool, vocational, and higher education.
• Supporting Ukrainian children abroad. With all partner countries, the delegation discussed the importance of facilitating the establishment of temporary examination centers for the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) in 2026. A particular focus was placed on supporting Ukrainian teachers abroad and engaging them in teaching the Ukrainian language and history to Ukrainian students temporarily living outside the country.
• Integration into the European education and research space. The Ministry of Education and Science is deepening cooperation and learning from partners as Ukraine works toward associated membership in the Erasmus+ programme and expanding scientific and technological cooperation under Horizon Europe.
• History education as a counter to disinformation. Work will continue to strengthen cooperation in history teaching — including under the auspices of the Council of Europe — to counter Russian propaganda and conduct joint research.

Ukrainian representatives participated in summit sessions on the transformation of the teaching profession and the digital transformation of education. The delegation also visited Estonian educational institutions to learn how digital tools are integrated into everyday learning and to exchange best practices. A visit was made to the School of Freedom in Tallinn — an institution established specifically for Ukrainian students. Together with Triin Laasi-Ege, State Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, the Ukrainian delegation spoke with students and teachers at the school.

Improving working conditions for teachers is a priority for Ukraine. Direct cooperation with international partners helps attract expertise and investment to support Ukrainian education during wartime, and to adapt the world's best practices to the needs of the Ukrainian education system.