Historical origins of the formation and development of professional education in Ukraine and European countries (comparative analysis)

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the historical formation and development of vocational education in Ukraine and European countries. It highlights the origins of professional training based on craft traditions during the Kievan Rus period and the guild system of the 14th–18th centuries, as well as the early institutionalization of vocational education in Western European countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The study examines the characteristics of the Ukrainian vocational education system under the influence of imperial models (Russian Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire), the centralized Soviet system of vocational schools, and the contemporary modernization in independent Ukraine. A comparison is made with the European dual education system, where the combination of school-based learning and workplace practice ensures high social prestige and professional flexibility. The article identifies key factors for the modernization of the Ukrainian system, including decentralization of governance, implementation of a competency-based approach, active collaboration with employers, and adaptation to regional labor market needs. The scientific novelty lies in the systematic juxtaposition of historical models, identification of differences and similarities between Ukrainian and European vocational education systems, and the formulation of evidence-based recommendations for aligning Ukraine’s educational policy with European standards.