On 5 June, an online focus group titled “Professional Development Centres for Teachers as a Key Tool for Advancing Professional Excellence” was held on the initiative of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme. The event brought together 15 participants from Professional Development Centres (PDCs) representing five municipalities: Slavuta, Sarny, Lubny, Obukhiv and Vinkivtsi. The aim was to reflect on the mission of the centres, exchange experiences, and outline future directions for development.
Centres that Shape the Educational Landscape of Communities
Participants shared practical experiences in fulfilling the mission of PDCs – from providing psychological support to teachers to strategic planning and competence development. A common thread throughout the discussions: centres are becoming vital pillars of change, providing a stable platform for professional growth amid reform and wartime challenges.
“These centres are not just qualification service providers – they are beacons in a complex educational landscape, helping teachers stay on course for quality, resilience, and professionalism,” emphasised Artem Horobets, Polaris Programme expert and moderator of the meeting.
Community Insights: Diverse Practices – Shared Purpose
- Slavuta municipality presented a centre that supports over 490 teachers, built on collaboration with educational institutions. A strong focus is placed on motivating leadership and responding to teachers' needs as a foundation for planning.
- The Obukhiv Centre shared practices in teacher certification support, participation in national competitions, partnerships with universities, and professional activity during martial law.
- Lubny focused on distinguishing between professional development and qualification upgrade, presenting experience in certification processes and development of professional teacher communities in collaboration with universities.
- Sarny highlighted their “Innovation School”, a growth hub for educational leaders and a space for creative leadership. They showcased wide-ranging collaboration with institutions and expert trainers.
- The Vinkivtsi Centre demonstrated their work in three educational areas – preschool, general, and extracurricular education – and shared how they build networking spaces for teachers despite limited resources, driven by strong motivation.
Visions, Metaphors, and Poetry: A Mission-Centred Dialogue
The event concluded with a reflective session, where each participant shared a metaphor or line of poetry describing the vision of their centre – a vivid illustration of the emotional bond they feel with their work and the sense of trust and growth their centres provide.
“A clear understanding of the centre’s mission is like a compass for every teacher. It gives direction, a sense of support, and shared purpose,” said Alla Polishchuk, one of the participants.
What’s Next?
The teams agreed to implement the ideas generated during the focus group in their municipalities and to more actively share best practices via the Polaris Programme’s communication channels. They emphasised the importance of networked collaboration to build an innovative, motivated, and professional teaching community.
Once again, the focus group affirmed: Professional Development Centres are not secondary structures – they are the heart of educational progress at the local level.
