On 11 February, SIA "Bulduru tehnikums" held a ceremony to open the "Bulduru Arboristu centrs". The newly created unit has become the most ambitious vocational education and certification hub not only in Latvia but across the Baltic region, drawing in the Baltics' finest tree care specialists (arborists) as instructors. The event brought together a broad circle of the industry's strategic partners, including representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), as well as experts from the Latvian, Lithuanian and European Arboricultural Councils.
The creation of this centre as a strategic step for the industry's growth was particularly emphasised in the address by Armands Krauze, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia. He noted that the project is unique on a regional scale, as Bulduru tehnikums is currently able to offer the most comprehensive training cycle available. The centre will strengthen the training of local specialists, and it has already become an international examination venue where specialists from other countries can demonstrate their qualifications, thereby directly boosting the industry's competitiveness at European level.
A carefully considered training process and unique infrastructure are the main pillars of the centre's work. The "Bulduru Arboristu centrs" offers a further vocational education programme that admits up to 20 students per group, all of whom must already hold a secondary education qualification, while recertification for existing industry professionals is organised in accordance with the European Arboricultural Council.
The infrastructure ensures that training can continue uninterrupted whatever the weather: the indoor training hangar is fitted with a special climbing structure for developing skills during the cold season, while the dendrological park at Bulduru tehnikums and its ancient trees serve as an authentic base for practical training in the warm season.
With the cooperation memorandum signed during the event with the Lithuanian Association of Landscape and Planting Experts and the Lithuanian Arborist Academy, a purposeful expansion on an international scale has begun. In the near future, courses will be run in English, with the programme adapted specifically to the needs of Lithuanian arborists and to demand in neighbouring markets.
Looking to the centre's further growth, the vision for future development rests on the integration of technology and monitoring tools, signalling the centre's ambition to become a leader in innovation. As the centre's representatives put it: "We have to keep our finger on the pulse and stay abreast of quality in the industry and of the issues of the day. Technological development in tree care — for example, in-depth tree assessment or investigation using technical measuring instruments — is our next goal. This is critically important in order to ensure an economically sound, sustainable and science-based approach to managing green infrastructure in urban environments and natural resources."
In cooperation with the European Arboricultural Council, work is already beginning on the creation of a single European-level tree assessor certificate, alongside improvements to the building's energy efficiency and the learning environment.
The ceremony also showcased the significant collective support within the school. Its success was ensured by the entire Bulduru tehnikums community: students from the Cookery programme prepared the refreshments under the guidance of their teachers, Hospitality Services specialists saw to the guests' comfort, and Floristry students created a festive atmosphere with refined flower arrangements.