From Ukraine to Bulgaria: CFCC’s Fire Alarms Systems training helps Svitlana rebuild career amidst Russian invasion
To escape the Russian invasion, Ukrainian citizen Svitlana Medianyk packed up her 6-year-old child and relocated to Bulgaria – one of many European countries that opened its borders to Ukrainian refugees. In doing so, she secured her safety and found an opportunity to enhance her career.
For 19 years, Svitlana enjoyed a stable career in the fire systems industry. She considered adding new certifications to her resume even before the war started. Once she fled Ukraine, the urgency to update her training became imperative. Her Ukrainian certificates were not recognized in other countries creating challenges in finding work in her profession.
OVERCOMING CAREER SETBACKS
With a child to raise and relatives back home to support, Svitlana began looking for Fire Alarms Systems training with internationally-recognized certifications. She focused her research on programs in the United Kingdom and the United States since she is comfortable learning in English.
All the programs she found in the United Kingdom were only in-person courses. Relocation to the UK was not an affordable option for Svitlana. So she kept looking until her internet search brought her to Cape Fear Community College’s Fire Alarm Systems Training program.
THE PERFECT FIT: ONLINE AND FLEXIBLE
As a single mother living abroad, Svitlana needed a program that worked with her schedule. She was looking for online classes with a flexible, self-paced timetable. She found the perfect combination at CFCC.
The Fire Alarm Systems Training offered by CFCC equips students with the knowledge to design, install, service, and inspect fire alarm systems. The program is available completely online with optional in-person labs. Students are not required to have US citizenship – perfect for international students.
“As a person and professional, I want to learn the practices in my field that are being used in other countries,” shared Svitlana. “At CFCC, I can train at my pace and still earn the certifications that will increase my value as a professional in the international market.”
CFCC’s Fire Alarms Systems Training Director Paul Inferrera has been most impressed with Svitlana’s unwavering dedication to learning, especially with the challenges in her part of the world.
FOCUSED ON EDUCATION
Despite those challenges, Svitlana remains focused on her education. CFCC’s commitment to providing quality education in a flexible format has empowered Svitlana to pursue her professional goals and advance her career in the international market.
Svitlana hopes that peace will return to Ukraine someday soon. Until then, she plans on continuing the alarms systems modules at CFCC and preparing to sit for the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) exam.
“War has shown me that everything can change in a moment regardless of your wishes,” Svitlana explains. “CFCC has helped me overcome my training challenges and prepared me to move forward with my career.”
