Renovation works to create modern STEM laboratories and learning spaces have begun in 22 educational institutions in the Kyiv region as part of the Modern Learning Spaces project.

The project is part of the reform of upper secondary specialized education and is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine with the support of socially responsible businesses, including DTEK and Metinvest of SCM Group, EPAM Ukraine, Quantum Systems Ukraine, and others. One response to the shortage of engineering, technical, and natural science professionals is to develop STEM education, including by creating classrooms in academic lyceums where students can learn through research, experimentation, and hands-on practice.

Modern Learning Spaces covers 250 educational institutions in 22 regions of Ukraine. As part of the project, schools are developing laboratories and learning spaces based on unified approaches and guidelines designed for modern STEM education. The work has been actively underway since the end of July 2026. In the Kyiv region, 22 educational institutions are renovating classrooms and preparing them for the installation of the necessary equipment and the launch of modern learning spaces.

“Today’s children need more than simply listening to a teacher’s explanations or reading a textbook. They need opportunities to explore, experiment, create their own projects, and find answers to their questions through practice. That is why our lyceum is renovating its chemistry, physics, and biology classrooms and creating modern laboratories. These spaces will help students not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also apply it in practice and make informed decisions about their future careers. Support from the state, the community, and partners in implementing such projects is an investment not only in education, but also in the future of our children and our country. They will be the ones building Ukraine as engineers, technologists, doctors, scientists, and IT professionals,” says Olena Illiashenko, Principal of Irpin Lyceum No. 1.

At the implementation stage, when communities move from financing to the practical delivery of a project, there is often a risk of losing momentum or compromising quality. That is why the project’s strategic partners — DTEK and Metinvest — funded the work of the Implementation Support Team (IST), contributing approximately UAH 11 million to ensure high-quality implementation of the reform at the local level. East Europe Foundation oversees the implementation and coordination of the project: it forms the IST team, provides expert and methodological support, and ensures quality control. The IST team helps educational institutions navigate all stages of creating modern learning spaces — from planning renovations to launching laboratories in line with the guidelines.

“In Modern Learning Spaces, we pay particular attention to supporting educational institutions during the implementation stage. It is important to us that modern laboratories and learning spaces become a fully functional environment for practical learning, the development of STEM competencies, and preparing young people for the future. Partnership between the government, civil society, and responsible business makes it possible to support these changes systematically,” said Viсtor Liakh, president of East Europe Foundation.

Yurii Huliaiev, a biology teacher at Irpin Lyceum No. 1, believes that every space is part of the educational process. According to him, a modern classroom should not only provide a comfortable learning environment but also inspire children to gain knowledge.

“Today, students get a great deal of information from their smartphones, but our task is to show them that the world is much broader than a phone screen. That is why teachers need modern spaces and equipment that can help spark children’s interest in the natural sciences,” says Yurii Huliaiev.

The project continues in its active implementation phase, and starting September 1, the renovated spaces in the Kyiv region will gradually open their doors to students.

Modern Learning Spaces is a project supporting the development of modern educational spaces in academic lyceums across Ukraine. It is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine as part of the World Bank-supported Learning and Education Access and Resilience in Times of Crisis in Ukraine (LEARN) programme, financed, among other sources, through the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF), in partnership with East Europe Foundation and socially responsible Ukrainian businesses. The project’s partners include DTEK and Metinvest of SCM Group, EPAM Ukraine, and Quantum Systems Ukraine. Big City Lab provides advisory and expert support to educational institutions in implementing the project.