Early childhood education competence centre opens in Zhytomyr with Estonian support
EDUHUB, an innovative early childhood education competence centre, has opened in Zhytomyr, giving 4,000 early childhood educators access to up-to-date teaching practices.
Located at Zhytomyr Kindergarten No. 25, the centre includes a modern learning and training space and a STEAM laboratory. ESTDEV, Liechtenstein and the City of Tallinn developed the centre with support from the Zhytomyr City Administration and the Tallinn Teachers' House, to strengthen teachers' professional development and provide children with a supportive learning environment from an early age.
Russia's full-scale war has placed enormous pressure on Ukraine's education system. "Alongside rebuilding physical infrastructure, it is equally important to maintain the everyday functioning of society. Rebuilding Ukraine requires investment in people, because it is people who keep local communities strong and functioning. The greatest value of EDUHUB lies not only in the building or the equipment, but in the teachers," said ESTDEV's executive director, Andrea Kivi.
EDUHUB is one of the first training centres of its kind in Ukraine, bringing together professional development opportunities for teachers, methodological support and the shared use of educational materials. The centre focuses on STEAM education, first aid, inclusive education, and sharing learning materials.
Drawing on the model of the Tallinn Teachers' House, EDUHUB is introducing a library-style lending system that has already proven successful in Estonia. Teachers can borrow sets of educational resources from the centre, ensuring that expensive and innovative equipment can be used as efficiently as possible by different institutions. Alongside the physical space, a digital platform has also been developed to support digital skills, resource sharing and cooperation between institutions. The centre has trained 19 mentor teachers to support their colleagues' professional development across the region.
The centre will become a strong regional competence hub, connecting educators through network-based learning and active experience exchange. The initiative aims to create a sustainable, supportive environment in which best practices introduced by ESTDEV can be applied flexibly, taking local needs and challenges into account.
Nataliia Ostapchenko, First Deputy Head of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration, who attended the opening, expressed her gratitude to Estonian friends. “We are deeply grateful to our Estonian friends. I am glad that Estonian expertise reaches Ukraine and supports local teachers. This cooperation project brings fresh energy to our teachers,” Ostapchenko stated.
The initiative aims to reach as many teachers as possible by establishing a regional network and employing an effective mentorship model. In this way, EDUHUB will contribute more broadly to the development of Ukraine's education system and its alignment with European Union principles and standards.
This is a long-term investment whose impact will extend far into the future. Experience from both Estonia and around the world confirms that targeted centres of this kind can bring about lasting systemic change, as they encourage teachers to confidently experiment with new methods in practice and exchange experiences with their colleagues.
This model can be expanded to other regions of Ukraine in the future, meaning EDUHUB will support the social and emotional development of thousands of children by providing a safer, more modern learning environment.
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