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“We build the future, we create opportunities”, the Construction Technology and Technical Vocational Training School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre celebrated its 60th anniversary with its jubilee conference, which was held as the closing programme of the institution’s Career Week. At the event, Mayor László Papp also presented a commemorative plaque to the school’s management.
The Debrecen Vocational Training Center launched its Career Week event series in 2023, the essence of which is to have a week in every school when company visits, interactive programmes, self-development and professional presentations await students already in vocational training, helping them navigate the labour market.
At the Construction Technology and Technical Vocational Training School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre students were also introduced to the world of self-marketing, financial awareness and supporting civil society organisations. At the press-publicised closing event of the institution’s theme week, corporate partners visited the students to help young people choose their careers with their presentations. But it wasn’t just the theme week that was the topic of conversation at the school, as the institution is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The closing event titled “We build the future, we create opportunities” is the anniversary conference of the 60th anniversary of the Construction Technology and Technical Vocational Training School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre.
The former “School Number 108” has been serving the construction industry since 1964, and currently offers education in four sectors: building engineering, construction, wood and furniture industry, and creative industry. The school took the name of the master builder Ferenc Povolny in 1994, when it celebrated its 30th anniversary. At the same time, vocational education for students with special educational needs was launched, in the spirit of creating opportunities. “Építech” is the only school in Debrecen that provides vocational training for students with learning disabilities. The Construction Technology and Technical Vocational Training School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre took its current name in the 2018/19 academic year.
At the opening of the conference, Director of Construction Technology and Technical Vocational Training School of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre, Zsolt Kovács said “6 decades is a long time, and for a school it represents an entire historical era. However, its goal has not changed to train prepared professionals for building engineering, the construction industry and the wood industry.” Zsolt Kovács gave a historical overview of the school’s past, development and expansion of its scope of activities. The Director spoke proudly about former students who studied here in the past, who have now become successful entrepreneurs and educators. He explained that during the education of students, practice and productive work in the workplace are of paramount importance, and then pointed out that the professions taught here still have a right to exist in today’s world, as professionals, including plumbers, gas fitters, and carpenters are still needed today. In closing, he asked his colleagues to look to the future with confidence.
As the opening thought of Mayor László Papp’s welcoming speech, he pointed out that some new generation video games offer limitless opportunities to fulfill the desire for creation and construction encoded in people, providing the opportunity to use human knowledge and creativity to create something beautiful, something new.
He said that as Mayor of Debrecen, he would like to reassure everyone that “Építech” is the right place for them. He explained that any big construction boom clearly goes hand in hand with economic development, “construction is the thermometer of the economy”. Debrecen has a distinctly promising opportunity, as the last decade has been one of explosive economic development dynamics. Strategically, urban development is currently in the spotlight, housing issues must be continuously answered, developments are expected to be implemented in institutional and prefabricated housing programmes, and a housing project with thousands of flats may arrive in the coming period. This will require experienced, qualified labour. Finally, the Mayor thanked the management of the institution for “building bridges” as caring school leaders in the spirit of equal opportunities.
Chancellor of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre, Zsolt Tirpák began his speech by saying 60 years is a defining moment in a person’s life and a good opportunity in the life of an institution to celebrate shared joys and remember the difficulties from which we can learn. “Építech” is an institution in the city of Debrecen that opens up to communities with humility and love while building. It builds in the physical sense of the word, when it teaches young people to build, and at the same time builds a future. “The importance of the construction industry is unquestionable,” Zsolt Tirpák pointed out.
According to the Chancellor, learning a profession is not a compromise, but a future. Adult education at the institution is also outstanding, the commitment of the instructors represents unquestionable values, and they can also support young people in need of catching up. The Chancellor referred to the institution as an intellectual workshop, from which successful adults leave school. He said that “Építech” is open and inclusive, helping the community beyond its means. At the end of his speech, he pointed out that the secret to success in Debrecen is collaboration and cooperation. He thanked the city government, the Debrecen Regional Education Centre, and the instructors and corporate partners of the institution.
Mayor László Papp also presented a commemorative plaque to the school management on the occasion of the anniversary. Following the opening remarks, the “Építech Builders” awards were presented, with which the school recognises the work of civil society organisations and corporate partners who promote the professional education taking place at the institution and participate in the life of the community as pillar members of the opportunity-creating mission.
Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu
