Recognizing the importance of assembling a capable team, Petya invited Nikolai, now one of our board members, to join her in leading the project. Together, they formed the core of the DOMINO project. As the initiative progressed, they invited Boriana and Lachezar to join them as national experts in dual education. This dedicated team worked diligently to develop new curricula, provide training for company mentors and vocational school (VET) teachers, and influence national policy to support dual education.

The success of the DOMINO project was a direct result of the team’s commitment and hard work. By the end of the project, nearly 1,600 students from 32 vocational schools in 19 cities were engaged in dual education. These students gained valuable practical experience in over 170 Bulgarian and foreign companies, across 12 different professional occupations. DOMINO set a new standard for vocational education in Bulgaria, inspired by Switzerland’s highly effective system, which is renowned for its low youth unemployment rates.

The impact of DOMINO was evident in the feedback from both schools and companies. A survey revealed that 61% of companies and 84% of schools rated their collaboration as “very good.” Furthermore, more than half of the participating companies expressed a willingness to allocate staff to develop curricula that better aligned with business needs, reflecting a strong commitment to the sustainability of dual education.

As the DOMINO project drew to a close, it became clear that its success raised an important question: who would continue the work that had begun? While the Bulgarian government committed to further funding the development of the dual education system, there was still a need for an organization that could preserve the expertise gained and continue to provide ongoing support to teachers, mentors, schools, and policymakers.

In response to this need, Petya, Nikolai, Boriana, and Lachezar came together with a shared vision: to establish a foundation dedicated to continuing the work of modernizing education in Bulgaria. Their goal was to ensure that the effective practices and methodologies developed during DOMINO would not only be maintained but also expanded to other areas of education.

This led to the creation of our foundation. From the beginning, our focus has been on supporting the VET system, with a particular emphasis on dual education. We are committed to building on the successes of DOMINO by transferring the principles of this practical, experience-based approach to other sectors of education.

Despite the achievements of DOMINO, challenges remain. The survey conducted at the end of the project highlighted ongoing issues, such as companies’ concerns about investing in students without guarantees of post-graduation retention and gaps between the theoretical knowledge taught in schools and the practical skills required in the workplace. Additionally, demographic challenges and the outdated perception of vocational schools continue to hinder the expansion of dual education.

Our foundation is dedicated to addressing these challenges. We are focused on strengthening the collaboration between businesses and educational institutions, both locally and nationally, to ensure that Bulgaria’s education system evolves to meet the demands of the modern labor market. By fostering these partnerships, we aim to create an educational environment that equips students with the skills they need to succeed.

The DOMINO project was a pivotal step forward, but our work is far from finished. Our foundation is committed to building on this foundation, ensuring that the benefits of dual education are integrated throughout Bulgaria’s educational system, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and capable workforce.