On 10 May 2018, a Learning Center for Diagnosis of Electric and Conventional Vehicles was opened at the Vocational School for Transport and Energy “Henry Ford” – Sofia. Minister of Education and Science Krassimir Valchev and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova officially inaugurated the Center.
The Learning Center is built thanks to the joint efforts of the Vocational School “Henry Ford” and the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as Sofia France Auto, Porsche BG and BMW Group. First of its kind, the Center provides excellent opportunities to students to study electric vehicles and hybrids, as well as to diagnose all types of cars at an up-to-date technological level. In addition to the high quality, the focus will be on the training on EV transportation means, which number is rapidly growing in Bulgaria.
According to Minister of Education and Science Krassimir Valchev the opening of the Center is a success for the Vocational School, but it is also symbolic for the partnership between the institutions, vocational schools and the business.
The Vocational School for Transport and Energy “Henry Ford” is a leading vocational school in Bulgaria in the field of transport and energy, as well as a partner of the DOMINO Project since 2016. Currently, 47 students have dual education in automotive mechatronics, 18 – in electrical equipment for electric vehicles for public transport and 25 – in the Specialty “Gas facilities”.
Dual education is an opportunity to increase the interest in professional education, because “learning by working” is a successful tool to motivate the young people to acquire the skill needed for the labour market. Amendments in the Vocational Education and Training Act will smoothen the introduction of dual education in a vast number of schools.
The amendments are published for public consultations. Check them here (in Bulgarian).