Regardless of the ongoing military operations and the bombardments of the twin cities Kharkiv and Zaporizhia, a group of Ukrainian experts from the housing sector took part in a study tour to Germany from 10 to 14 October 2022.
During the one-week training course in Bochum, organised by the Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe (IWO), Berlin, and the European educational centre for the housing and real estate industry (EBZ), Bochum, the participants learned about the practice of housing management and administration (housing cooperatives, communal and private housing companies), the institute "Caretaker" and the vocational training of real estate professionals at EBZ.
The focus of interest of the Ukrainian expert group (15 participants) was on the modernisation of residential buildings, on the introduction of energy-efficient measures and on new construction. The large-scale destruction of the housing stock, especially in Kharkiv, which was illustrated in Bochum by a representative of the Kharkiv city administration in a detailed presentation, and the need to create accommodation for the people who are now homeless, are major challenges for the city.
Despite the war, Ukrainians are already thinking about reconstruction! For example, the housing market - rental, social and cooperative housing - needs to be developed. Therefore, visits to the housing companies Rheinwohnungsbau GmbH, Düsseldorf, Vonovia, Bochum and Baugenossenschaft Bochum eG were of particular interest during the educational trip. The participants appreciated the professionalism and high qualifications of the German managers with their diverse skills (commercial, technical, communication, knowledge of energy efficiency in buildings and digitalisation). The general opinion of the Ukrainian group was: "... we need more such joint German-Ukrainian projects for the exchange of experience, knowledge, further education in the field of real estate management. The know-how of the German housing sector will be needed for the reconstruction of Ukraine. And we need to start learning intensively now!".
The project VITAL EAST is funded by the Federal Foreign Office Germany.
The project aims to improve the qualifications of housing managers and caretakers. It helps to open up the potential of these professions for young people. Read more about the project's objectives (eng) here and the project partners (eng) here.
For further information please contact Larissa Schreckenbach | schreckenbach@iwoev.org | +49 30 2067 9802.
