According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of Ukrainians registered for temporary protection or similar national protection programs in Europe reached almost 6 million as of June 26, 2023. The majority of Ukrainian refugees are women and children, and a country, which has become the first and largest destination for forced emigrants, is Poland.
The key challenge for the migrants was their adjustment and adaptation, which, of course, included integration into the local labor market.
In order to support and increase job search opportunities, the Ukrainian Talent Foundation, together with the Polish educational agency Perspektywy, launched the Incubation Freedom for Ukraine project. Read the article to learn about its goals and results, as well as about the educational contribution of SMART business to the professional development and support of women.
About the Incubation Freedom for Ukraine project
The Incubation Freedom for Ukraine project is aimed at supporting the women of Ukraine who were forced to move to Poland during russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. The goal of the project is to create conditions for switchers in Poland to acquire new knowledge and skills and adapt to the local Polish labor market.
In order to better understand the audience and the needs of migrant Ukrainian women in additional training, the Ukrainian Talent Foundation conducted a survey.
The results showed that about 92.3% of respondents are representatives of the economically active population (from 18 to 49 years old). More than 72% of the respondents were in Poland at the time of the survey, and about 75% of the respondents had completed higher education (Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees). More than half of the respondents were unemployed, so they needed help in finding a job.
At the same time, for further employment, the majority showed a willingness to change their career trajectories (specialization, sphere, profession) quite radically.
About the start of the program and educational areas
The start of an initiative aimed at helping women forced to leave their homes in Ukraine due to the full-scale war took place in March this year. As part of this program, the Foundation offered a number of training courses, including programming languages, business process automation, financial and accounting management, language courses, etc.
To study in one of the listed areas, the candidates had to fill out a questionnaire and be selected. Priority support was provided to applicants who are members of the family of the deceased defender of Ukraine or are members of large families.
About support for our people: ERP academy from SMART business
Realizing the importance of modern digital skills in the field of finance and HR accounting in the European market, SMART business supported the Foundation’s initiative by combining many years of experience in technology development, nurturing specialists and educational activities. Therefore, at the end of spring, the educational academy Finance and accounting in the international ERP system from Microsoft was launched.
Why this particular area?
– World class ERP system used by companies around the world. Becoming a specialist with knowledge of a solution of this level is a significant advantage both for finding a job in the European market and for self-realization in the Ukrainian market. In addition, given the active migration of companies from russian financial accounting systems such as 1C or BAS, knowledge of the world famous ERP platform significantly expands the range of employment options.
The aim of the course was not only to teach how to use Business Central, but also to prepare participants for the role of an implementation consultant. The academy’s program was developed by SMART business practitioners, taking into account the levels and experience of students, and was divided into levels: beginner and advanced. Therefore, everyone who thought about changing their profession and wished to delve into the technology of automating financial processes could apply and gain relevant knowledge. Currently, more than 60 women have completed the training, almost half have successfully completed all practical tasks, and we have already offered three of them a job in our Polish office.
«This course is interesting, and all information about using the program is presented in an accessible and logical way. Video lectures were recorded and provided for doing homework and revision of the material. I figured out the intricacies of setting up the program, editing tables, generating some reports, and much more – and improved my knowledge overall”, – Oksana Hudz, a participant of the ERP academy, says.
«After completing the course, I was invited to work at SMART business, so the knowledge gained is very useful and now I will apply it in my work».
«Participation in this project is important for us for several reasons:
- We consider Microsoft technologies to be the best, especially considering the whole ecosystem that can solve any business, infrastructure and security challenge.
- Our company values the principles of diversity and inclusion in various manifestations. Students also work with us, but we consider it very valuable when experienced people from different industries, with practical and theoretical knowledge of business processes, find themselves in a very dynamic and interesting IT field. So we are always happy to provide such an opportunity and consider it a win-win strategy.
- We are also sure that girls and women are still not sufficiently represented in the IT field due to lack of confidence in their abilities or fears from employers regarding the possibility of their stable work. But IT is exactly the area where women can work remotely, with flexible hours, and be able to realize themselves both in profession and in personal life. We are actively working towards supporting women in IT. And it’s also about the win-win strategy,” says Natalya Onyshchuk, Managing Partner of SMART business.
- “The war has brought boundless grief and sorrow to our society. We try to help wherever we can. The education of Ukrainian women – who are internally displaced persons, very often independently earn money to support their families abroad, and after the war will be able to return and contribute to the construction of a new technological Ukraine – is an extremely important mission for us. We are grateful to our partners for being able to join the initiative and contribute to it by sharing our experience. By the way, those girls who have already returned home also studied with us, and this also pleases and inspires,” Natalya continues.
Overall, SMART business has been engaged in educational activities for many years, both in cooperation with customers and for professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge or become an automation consultant or technical automation specialist.
Two years ago, we introduced open online academies for ERP finance and HR consultants, providing everyone interested with an opportunity to gain new experience or strengthen existing practical skills in working with Microsoft technologies.
In addition to training mature employees and holding regular open events, we constantly interact with higher education institutions and develop the SMART academy, a program for young IT professionals, based on the results of which we invite the most successful students to join our team.
Our company, like many others, is developing an office in Poland, inviting Ukrainian compatriots to it, and conducting Polish and English courses. We are happy to help both future colleagues and those who want to develop in order to change their lives for the better in integrating into the professional environment’.
To find out more about educational opportunities, you can always submit a request
Leave a request to reserve a place at the next ERP Academy: getsmart.com.ua
