Estonia, Belgium and Ukraine sign cooperation agreement to advance health care education in Ukraine

The cooperation agreement was signed by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Belgian development agency Enabel. 

The project will focus on developing bachelor's degree programmes in occupational therapy in Ukraine, based on European standards and evidence-based practices. The objective is to contribute to the training of qualified professionals and strengthen the capacity of Ukraine's health care system to respond to the war-related growth in demand. 

"We are honoured to cooperate with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Belgium's Enabel at a time when the need for rehabilitation and recovery services is greater than ever. Our collaboration will support Ukrainian higher education institutions in modernising their curricula. We will share Estonia's experience in developing modern teaching materials and methodologies, as well as in strengthening the competencies of academic staff," said Andrea Kivi, ESTDEV’s executive director. 

At the signing ceremony, Estonian Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller stated that the war has left many Ukrainians in a situation where they must relearn the most basic everyday activities: moving, working, caring for themselves and participating in family and community life. 

"Occupational therapy helps people regain their independence, rebuild their confidence, and reclaim control over their lives. For Estonia, supporting Ukraine means investing not only in immediate recovery, but also in the knowledge, skills, and expertise that will strengthen Ukraine’s healthcare system for years to come," said Joller. 

The project will identify Ukrainian universities and educational institutions that are prepared to align their occupational therapy curricula with European best practices. It will also support the launch and sustainable implementation of updated bachelor's degree programmes. 

As an important part of the cooperation, a professional development programme for academic staff will be implemented, combining structured learning with flexible digital learning opportunities. The programme aims to enhance the professional competencies of health care and education specialists and promote the wider adoption of modern knowledge and skills. 

The cooperation agreement signed today contributes to Estonia's development cooperation objective of supporting Ukraine's reconstruction and accession to the European Union. Developing high-quality health care education will improve the availability of high-quality rehabilitation and occupational therapy services and contribute to the country's long-term recovery. 

The project will be implemented by Tallinn Health Care College and VIVES University of Applied Sciences. The Ukrainian partner universities are Dnipro State Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, and Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.