Today marks the beginning of the construction of one of the 28 Centers of Excellence (CoE) in Bulgarian vocational education and training, funded by the European Union through the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The idea behind establishing these centers is to enhance and expand the existing functionalities of vocational schools so that they can provide a modern and stimulating educational environment, innovative content, and training for the professions and skills of the future, in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders. This was stated by Ivan Popov, Deputy Executive Director of the Education Program Agency, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation works under the project “Establishment of a Center of Excellence in Eco-Transport and Energy” at Henry Ford Vocational High School of Transport and Energy.
The centers are expected to assume a leading role at the regional level for other vocational schools, becoming cores of regional educational ecosystems that increase regional competitiveness and operate based on partnerships between vocational schools, universities, businesses, local authorities, and other educational institutions. Their goal is to prepare high-quality professionals meeting labor market needs, enhance the qualification of teaching staff, support reforms in vocational education and training, generate new knowledge, and modernize Bulgarian vocational education, Ivan Popov added.
He noted that an additional resource of 70 million BGN from the Education Program, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus, is allocated for networking these centers among themselves and with similar centers at the European level. This will facilitate experience exchange, provide conditions for professional training of students across the region, and support the qualification and experience exchange of teachers.
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Tanya Mihaylova highlighted that vocational training is a priority for the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). She expressed confidence that practical training at the Centers of Excellence will help students transition smoothly between school-based training and the labor market demands. Improving the condition of the training facilities is a prerequisite for greater success. Deputy Minister Mihaylova emphasized the importance of close cooperation between vocational schools and businesses to adequately prepare students for labor market requirements.
The investment under the project “Establishment of a Center of Excellence in Eco-Transport and Energy” at Henry Ford Vocational High School of Transport and Energy amounts to 3,462,856.12 BGN. It is funded through a direct grant procedure for specific final recipients № BG-RRP-1.014 “Establishment of Centers of Excellence in Vocational Education and Training” within the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, Component 1 “Education and Skills,” Investment 2 (C1.I2) “Modernization of Educational Infrastructure” from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The project foresees major renovation of the building housing the heating plant, premises in the west and north wings, and the laboratory building. Modern equipment and software corresponding to the vocational fields taught at the school will be delivered and installed. The investment execution is expected to continue until the end of May 2026. Participants at the event visited the premises and laboratories planned for modernization.
The procedure “Establishment of Centers of Excellence in Vocational Education and Training” aims to renovate and equip 28 vocational high schools to transform them into centers of excellence in vocational education and training. Renovation of educational institutions, modern specialized equipment, and updated educational infrastructure will enable provision of contemporary vocational training to students in line with labor market requirements. The total funding amount is 96,960,000 BGN.
