Students of the center will gain hands-on experience with new equipment, which is usually used by employers.
As of today, an educational and practical center called “FOOD INNOVATIONS” has been operating on the basis of the Lviv Higher Vocational School of Food Technologies. The new NPC will enable the training of qualified specialists in the food industry in the professions of cook and confectioner.
The center consists of two separate premises. Here there is the necessary kitchen equipment, as close as possible to the conditions of work in a professional kitchen in public catering establishments. We are talking about a vacuum packaging machine, a device for preparing dishes using the sous-vide technique, a combi steamer, meat grinders, vegetable cutters, induction hobs and other equipment.
“Since 2007, we have had an educational and practical center for training bakers, but the equipment in it is not suitable for training confectioners or cooks. Thanks to the regional program for the development of education, we received co-financing for the construction of another educational center. We used these funds to purchase kitchen equipment. The professions that our students acquire require practical skills, so we are glad that we have updated the material and technical base of the school,” shared the acting teacher. Natalia Sklyarchuk of the Lviv Higher Vocational School of Food Technologies.
The reconstruction of the premises for the educational and practical center began in 2021. The total estimated cost of the project is 3.9 million hryvnias. The purchase of equipment and repair works were co-financed with the funds of the regional budget (1.5 million) and the special fund of the educational institution.
“Working professions were and remain in demand on the labor market. That is why vocational and technical education is actively developing in the Lviv region. The main emphasis is on updating the material and technical base of our institutions, because the quality of providing practical knowledge depends on this. Now we can consider the Lviv VPU of Food Technologies as a future support institution that can provide other institutions and institutions with healthy food”, – noted the deputy head of the Lviv OVA, Ivan Sobko.
As part of the opening, a master class on preparing snacks was held. For the first time, the students tried to work with new technologies and new equipment. By the way, 16 students can train here at the same time. In total, almost 500 children are currently studying at the Lviv VPU of Food Technologies.
In 2023, 40 million hryvnias were allocated from the regional budget for the creation of the NPC. Of them, 5.5 million are for vocational and technical institutes located in Lviv. In total, there are 43 educational and practical centers in Lviv region.