BIA Vice-President Mariya Mincheva was among the panelists during the conference "The Green Path to Success - Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development". The forum was organized by the Modern Education Foundation (a member of BIA) and PGMET-Pleven, and was held on 7 July 2023 in Varna.
The European and global trends for the inclusion of green skills in vocational education and training (VET) were presented by Petya Evtimova, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Modern Education.
During the forum, a methodology was presented for the implementation of green skills in electrical engineering curricula, applicable also to training in other professions. The discussion was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Municipality of Varna, the Bulgarian Industrial Association, branch organizations and companies, as well as directors and teachers of vocational high schools from the regions of Varna, Dobrich, Burgas and Shumen, who shared their experience and knowledge on the topic about green skills and the need for the appropriate preparation of students in the VET system so that they can successfully position themselves in the labor market.
The Director of the Vocational School on Mechanoelectronics - Pleven, Eng. Tsvetelina Stoikova, presented the results of the ENTIRE project for the inclusion of green skills in the teaching of electrical engineering.
In her speech, Mariya Mincheva quoted part of the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee, of which she is a member, regarding what type of skills are needed for the future labor market. Green skills are defined as knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes that are necessary to live, develop and support a sustainable and resource efficient society. There are 4 main groups of skills that are perceived as important for green jobs: engineering and technical skills, science skills, operation management skills, monitoring skills. "Business has been suffering for years from the disconnect between what is taught in vocational high schools and what is sought in enterprises. What is a circular economy, how to produce sustainable products - these questions will become more and more relevant and children should receive these skills from an early age", said Mariya Mincheva.
Later, Mariya Mincheva met with the members of the HR club at the Industrial Association - Varna, with whom the latest changes in the field of labor legislation and legal migration were discussed. The participants in the meeting focused on the shortage of labor force for all sectors and all categories of work, as it was stated that at the root of the problem are demographic processes, but also the low quality of education.
