Co-train Youth in Communication for a Hybrid Work Environment

Job Description
The Ukrainian polytechnic university partner prioritizes international activities within its educational framework. This includes engaging foreign specialists in teaching roles, hosting guest lectures, coordinating international training programs and projects, and participating in exchange initiatives. In the past year, over 200 students and faculty members have taken part in these various programs. However, feedback from participants revealed a notable deficiency: students lack the necessary intercultural communication competencies. This shortfall impedes their adaptability in foreign cultural environments and limits their ability to fully benefit from the experience. Consequently, the university is seeking assistance from a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to collaboratively develop a training program that equips Ukrainian youth (aged 10–15) with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to maintain effective communication in the modern world.

The training will focus on developing key competencies for successful communication in a hybrid work environment, such as conducting online meetings, engaging participants, maintaining focus, managing conflicts, maintaining trust and morale within a team where face-to-face communication is limited, and adopting transparent practices.

Participants will receive practical tools and techniques to improve written and verbal communication in a virtual setting, use different communication channels, and tailor communications to both the needs of the team and the situation. Developing these skills will increase the productivity of hybrid teams and contribute to a positive, inclusive work culture where every team member feels valued and engaged.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps through Virtual Service Pilot in 2024–2025. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Desired Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in education, psychology, counseling, social sciences, or a related field

Experience:

• Virtual engagement and communication

• 1 year in curriculum and workshop development

Required Skills
Education: Bachelor's degree in any field

Experience:

• 1 year working with youth in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, or volunteer

• 1 year of training and facilitation in a virtual setting

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually

Host Country Partner's Mission and Goals
Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic (NUPP) is a national university whose mission is to ensure a quality educational process based on student centricity. NUPP aims to train highly qualified specialists who meet the requirements of the labor market and stakeholders to implement positive changes, develop the intellectual potential of society at the national and international levels, and to shape the future of Ukraine through the training of well-rounded, active, proactive, honest, dedicated, and open-minded professionals.

Virtual Service Engagement and Tasks
The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Collect baseline data on students' current communication skills in remote and hybrid settings

• Analyze educator feedback on current communication challenges within the team

• Co-develop a curriculum for effective hybrid communication and collaboration

• Co-develop teaching resources on active listening in virtual settings, online collaboration, and effective digital platforms that increase engagement

• Co-facilitate 1-hour weekly sessions for 15 university students

• Meet weekly with counterpart to exchange feedback and discuss strategies

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 5 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom, Telegram, WhatsApp, and e-mail for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.

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