A vocational high school in Haskovo has won a project to set up a "Centre for Innovation and Future Skills" and has already started work on it. The project was presented today at a ceremony at the Centre for High Achievements.

It is funded under the "Education 2021-2027" programme. The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a partner.

The project covers cooperation with business and universities, new course content and cross-subject practice. It also adds summer academies, business incubators, leadership academies and other steps to help young people develop and find work.

Dinko Tenev, deputy mayor of Haskovo, congratulated the school team and the project partners. He told the students: "We are doing all this for you."

Guests included regional governor Todor Ivanov and his deputy Oleg Filev, Silvia Kasabova, head of the regional education inspectorate in Haskovo, and Vanya Hristova, director of the municipality's "European and National Programmes and Projects and Ecology" directorate. Representatives of universities and partner firms, heads and teachers from other schools, and students also attended.

Tenev said the municipality and the school's head, Ms Topalova, laid the groundwork for the modern multi-purpose building "from the future" a year and a half or two years ago. He said the building was made so that students can continue their education through the new project.

He also told them: "You are the future of Haskovo, of Bulgaria and of Europe." Tenev said they should study at this school because it will give them a strong start in the future.