Iryna Shumik is Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. She has extensive experience in education policy, public administration, vocational education reform, and cooperation with regional authorities, education institutions, employers and international partners. Her current work focuses on strengthening Ukraine’s vocational education system, aligning training with labour market needs, and supporting the resilience and recovery of education under wartime conditions.

Before joining the Ministry, Ms. Shumik worked in regional public administration and education governance in Dnipropetrovsk region, including in the Department of Education and Science of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration. She holds degrees in finance and public administration and a PhD in Public Administration. She also completed the Good Governance Academy programme at the European Academy Berlin and is a certified trainer.