The 6th educational-practical conference “Innovations in Plumbing Education” for teachers from vocational education institutions was hosted by the Public-Private Partnership for Improving Professional Education in Ukraine (EdUP).
Seven leading companies in the plumbing sector—Sika, Ecosoft, Ariston, Fado, Leon Service Plus, TECE, and K-Flex—provided their equipment and experts for conducting theoretical and practical sessions.
Important! Involvement of private partners: encouraging businesses to identify and provide educational services and support vocational education schools that train professionals in construction trades is one of the activities of the EdUP project.
Participants attended a master class from the EdUP project partner, Sika. At this event, company experts presented solutions for waterproofing systems, which are installed before tiling, and a range of auxiliary materials: adhesives and sealants.
32 educators from across Ukraine were able to enhance their skills under the guidance of industry experts. The participants practiced job market-demanded skills such as: underfloor heating installation, radiator installation, slotting holes, insulating pipelines, joining copper pipes, and water heater installation.
Leon-Service Plus demonstrated copper pipe joining techniques—soldering and pressing—for educators. The task involved manufacturing a section of the pipe using copper fittings through soldering with a gas burner and an electric (induction) heater.
Fado company experts demonstrated press fitting of pipeline assemblies from various materials. The task involved manufacturing a pipe section using fittings by pressing and using a tension sleeve method.
Additionally, skills were practiced in the installation of indirect heating tanks facilitated by Ariston and underfloor heating systems by TECE Ukraine.
Participants of the conference took part in a master class from Ecosoft company. The topic was “Household reverse osmosis filters”: how they work, how to install and maintain them, and the purpose of each filter, including the sequence of their installation.
Pipe insulation training was conducted by K-Flex Ukraine. Each participant had to insulate a section of pipeline using foamed polyethylene and rubber.
No less important than the practice were the soft skills development sessions on the topic “Interaction Strategies: Uncovering Motivation for Communication with Business.”
Integrating business experience into professional education not only enhances the quality of education but also provides students with a better understanding of the practical application of their knowledge, significantly improving their chances of successful employment after their studies, emphasize at the Ministry of Education and Science.
This is already the sixth conference in the field of plumbing innovations by the EdUP project, during which teachers from vocational education institutions absorbed experience and knowledge from private partners. Later, they will pass on their acquired skills to students so that they enter the labor market as highly qualified professionals.