With the support of European Union funds, Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School has created a modern learning environment where future chefs, food technologists, restorers and woodworking specialists can develop their professional skills. The fully renovated building now houses food technology laboratories, a training restaurant, woodworking and restoration workshops, classrooms for theoretical studies and other infrastructure supporting a range of vocational education programmes. The second phase of the project was also completed this spring, equipping the laboratories and workshops with modern technologies and equipment that allow young people to acquire skills in demand on the labour market in an environment as close as possible to real working conditions.
Both students and teachers had been eagerly awaiting the construction and equipment of the new Technology Centre for several years. As Dace Šēna, a teacher at Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School, explains, the new laboratories and workshops allow students to learn their professions in an environment that is much closer to what they will encounter in the labour market. At the same time, the changes can be felt in the learning atmosphere itself – the spacious, bright rooms and modern environment inspire young people to learn and prepare for their future professions with greater confidence.
“We had been waiting for this centre for a very long time. Now we often joke that Europe has finally arrived here too. We have spacious, bright rooms and modern equipment that allows young people to learn their profession at a completely different level. It is also much easier for teachers to organise practical training, and we can see that young people really appreciate it,” says Dace Šēna.
Dace Šēna has worked at Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School since 2011. She teaches future chefs, pastry chefs and other students in the catering sector, covering bread making, dessert preparation, restaurant cooking and the fundamentals of hospitality. Before becoming a teacher, however, Dace spent many years working in the food industry as a food technologist and production manager. Later, she also shared her experience with adults through professional development courses. In her view, this practical experience helps young people not only learn a profession, but also understand how day-to-day work is organised in companies and what skills employers expect from young specialists.
Dace acknowledges that for today’s young people, it is not enough simply to show them a recipe or teach them a technological process. It is equally important to help them believe in themselves and in the profession they have chosen. Many students arrive at the school still unsure about what they want to do in the future, so one of the teacher’s tasks is to help them discover their strengths and inspire them not to be afraid of trying something new.
“We need to see the potential in young people and give them the opportunity to develop it. Very often, they do not yet know what they are capable of. We try to motivate them to take part in competitions, test their abilities and see how many opportunities their chosen profession can open up for them,” says Dace.
One of the most memorable examples Dace recalls is her former student Marta Kravale. At the beginning of her studies, Marta was also uncertain about the path she had chosen. Encouraged by her teacher, however, she took part in professional skills competitions both in Latvia and abroad. She went on to win first place in an international competition, later continued her studies at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, and now works in the field of food quality control.
Dace is convinced that vocational education provides a solid foundation for young people’s future development. Some graduates enter the labour market immediately, while others continue their studies at higher education institutions. What they all have in common, however, are the practical skills and understanding of their profession that they acquire during their studies.
Vocational education opens up a wide range of career paths. Significantly, Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School graduate Toms Trubins was also involved in the creation of the new Technology Centre – as the head of “Inbuv”, the construction company involved in implementing the project. His return to the school as an industry professional demonstrates how the knowledge and skills gained through vocational education can become a solid foundation for a successful career. The quality of the project itself is also reflected in the highest award it received in the “Latvian Construction Award 2024” competition, where the reconstruction of the Technology Centre took first place in the “Reconstruction” category.
“Vocational education does not close the door to further studies. On the contrary – young people often feel much more confident at university because they already have practical experience and an understanding of the industry. For those who choose to enter the labour market immediately, they already have a profession and skills that will remain valuable throughout their lives,” emphasises Dace Šēna.
At Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical School, students can train for professions in the automotive, woodworking, catering, food production, tourism and hospitality sectors. Young people come to study in Kuldīga not only from the local area, but also from Talsi, Tukums and other regions of Latvia, and in some years even from the other side of the country. Many choose to stay and work in Kuldīga after graduation, joining local businesses, while others continue their professional careers elsewhere in Latvia or abroad.
According to Dace, the programmes offered by the school naturally complement Kuldīga itself – a town where tourism, hospitality, catering and craftsmanship are an integral part of everyday life. This means that even during their studies, young people can explore the industry not only in the classroom or laboratory, but also through practical training with local businesses.
“A school like this is a perfect fit for Kuldīga. It is a town where tourism, hospitality and catering are part of everyday life, and our graduates are needed by local businesses. Many choose to stay here after graduation and build their careers in Kuldīga,” says Dace.
Story produced with the support of EU funds.
