Focus on CoVE leadership and innovation in Bulgaria at fourth EQAVET peer review

The Bulgarian VET Directorate of the Ministry of Education and Science, as EQAVET National Reference Point, hosted their online peer review on ‘CoVE leadership and innovation’ on 24-25 October 2024.

Eight EQAVET Network members from Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Hungary and Italy acted as peers. Two VET providers were also invited to share their experience as recently appointed Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs).

Bulgaria is currently undertaking a VET reform to:

• modernise VET content,
• ensure that VET responds to the labour market needs,
• optimise the validation of prior learning and skills and competence gained through non formal and informal learning, and
• optimise work-based learning.

28 CoVEs were appointed as part of the VET reform and serve as regional hubs for the development of quality assurance (QA) in the VET system.

CoVEs have three main functions to provide high quality, modern and innovative VET to students while meeting the dynamically changing requirements of the labour market.

These three methods of support can be categorised as learning, mobilities and, collaboration and partnerships.

The peer review allowed participants to discuss the functions of the CoVEs, their role in the QA process as well as measures to build their capacity to act as leaders and innovators at regional level.

Read the flash report summarising the main outcomes of the discussion.

Additionally, a separate report containing detailed feedback from the peer reviewers will be shared with the host country.