The Agricultural University Inaugurated a Bulgarian-Chinese Talent Workshop

A joint Bulgarian-Chinese Talent Workshop ‘LuBan Workshop’ was launched on October 15 with a solemn ceremony held in the Aula of the Agricultural University. The opening was celebrated simultaneously in Bulgaria and China through a direct online connection. The ceremony was led by the Vice-Rector of the University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Yancheva.

The guests in Plovdiv and Tianjin watched the lifestreaming promotional video for the stages of construction of the Workshop, which started in November 2019 with the signing of an Agreement between the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Tianjin Agricultural University and the School of Economics and Trade, Tianjin.

“The LuBan Workshop forms a new bridge with a new focus on cooperation between Bulgaria and China in lifelong learning and vocational training. It is also a milestone in the history of educational cooperation between our countries. The LuBan Workshop is a clear evidence of education without borders, for more inclusive education. This cooperation is an opportunity for exchange of knowledge and experience for innovative technologies and the future of modern digital agriculture”, said the Rector of AU Prof. Dr. Hristina Yancheva in her welcoming speech.

In a special video address, the Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Prof. Dr. Hristo Bozukov congratulated the participants in the forum and said that this project provides modern technical and vocational training, encourages educational reforms and strengthens cooperation between vocational schools worldwide.

The Deputy Mayor for Finance and Economic Activities of Plovdiv Municipality Mr. Velichko Rodopski welcomed the initiative and wished it to spread from education to other spheres like economics and culture.

The guests were greeted by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Sofia HE Mr. Dong Xiaojun, who highly evaluated the cooperation between the three educational institutions and the representatives of Chinese business in the face of Tianjin Food Group, Bulgarian Branch, in their joint efforts for modern training, facing the latest challenges on a global scale.

The Chinese partners in LuBan Workshop from Tianjin also congratulated the participants in the forum through the direct online channel and expressed their unreserved support to the project development. 

The culmination of the ceremony was the signing of a new agreement between the four partners with the joining of Tianjin Food Group, Bulgarian Branch.

Symbolically, LuBan Workshop was inaugurated with the solemn unveiling of the Workshop logo by the Rector of the Agricultural University and the Ambassador of China to Bulgaria.

The new Center will train talented students from partner educational institutions – the Agricultural Universities in Plovdiv and Tianjin and the Chinese School of Economics and Trade.

The idea is to create joint training courses in two areas – smart agriculture, applying digital technologies, as well as online practices in the field of agricultural production, including online trade with agricultural and other goods. Ambitious students from both countries will take part in the programme.

LuBan Workshop is a joint Bulgarian-Chinese project, which aims at promoting the cooperation among universities and agribusiness between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The project is part of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative, encouraging international exchange and discovering and supporting talents. Modern lecturing halls and a laboratory for vocational and practical training have been equipped, curricula with innovative content have been developed and educational literature has been provided.

After the official ceremony, the Coordinator of LuBan Workshop Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Yancheva presented to the guests the lecturing halls and the laboratory, which were renovated and equipped for the purposes of the project.