PATRIZIA Vocational Training Centre Bumthang: Empowering Youth for Bhutan’s Future

An exciting new vocational training centre is taking shape in Bumthang, set to empower Bhutanese youth with practical skills, entrepreneurship training, and modern co-working spaces that support sustainable livelihoods and contribute to Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Set in the cultural heart of Bumthang, the PATRIZIA Vocational Training Centre is an exciting new development that reflects Bhutan’s long-term commitment to meaningful education, inclusive growth, and community empowerment.

Rooted in the values of Gross National Happiness, the Centre responds to a very real and pressing need in rural Bhutan, where access to formal vocational training remains limited and young people often struggle to find viable pathways into employment. This initiative is the culmination of several years of careful research and planning, shaped by national priorities and community realities, and designed to create lasting, positive impact.

Years in the Making: From Concept to Commitment

Discussions around the Vocational Training Centre began in 2018 between RENEW and the PATRIZIA Foundation, driven by a shared concern over skills gaps and limited vocational opportunities for youth, particularly in rural areas. Progress was paused during the pandemic in 2019, but the vision was revived with renewed momentum in early 2023 when the Gyalyum Charitable Trust joined the initiative.

By October 2023, a comprehensive feasibility study confirmed the urgent need for a high-quality vocational training facility in Central Bhutan. Since then, the project has made significant strides, supported by early-stage funding and technical expertise from the PATRIZIA Foundation to ensure the Centre is practical, sustainable, and scalable.

Addressing a Critical Skills Gap in Rural Bhutan

Bhutan is a young nation with a growing demand for skilled labour. Yet many young people, especially in dzongkhags such as Bumthang, Trongsa, Zhemgang, and Lhuentse, lack access to formal vocational education. Each year, thousands of students leave school without the skills or opportunities needed to secure stable livelihoods, with Bumthang alone seeing more than 2,000 school dropouts annually.

This often leads to underemployment, outward migration, and unrealised national economic potential. The Vocational Training Centre Bumthang is designed to address these gaps directly, creating meaningful employment opportunities and supporting inclusive economic growth by bringing quality training closer to home.

Empowering Youth and Communities Through Skills

More than a training facility, the Centre is envisioned as a platform for empowerment. It aims to equip students not only with practical, job-ready skills but also with confidence, leadership abilities, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Training programmes are aligned with Bhutan’s economic and social priorities and include skills such as baking, weaving, floriculture, tailoring, felting, food processing, crafts, and product design.

These are complemented by entrepreneurship, information and communication technology, environmental education, and business fundamentals, preparing graduates for self-employment, community-based enterprises, or gainful employment.

A Strong Focus on Women and Inclusion

Inclusion sits at the core of the Centre’s mission. Special emphasis is placed on women, underprivileged youth, and marginalised groups, ensuring equitable access to education and opportunity. By providing structured training, accommodation, and a supportive learning environment, the Centre opens doors for young women to pursue self-determined futures. Cultural preservation is also woven into the curriculum, allowing Bhutanese handicrafts and traditional knowledge to thrive alongside modern skills, ensuring heritage remains economically relevant in a changing world.

An Exciting, Modern Learning Environment

What makes the PATRIZIA Vocational Training Centre particularly exciting is its forward-looking approach to learning. Beyond classrooms and workshops, the team is working towards creating modern facilities that include shared co-working spaces designed for collaboration and innovation. These spaces will allow trainees, entrepreneurs, and creatives to work side by side, exchange ideas, and learn from one another in a dynamic, open setting that encourages creativity and problem-solving.

A Regional Hub for Entrepreneurship and Collaboration

The Centre is also envisioned as a regional hub for entrepreneurship in Central Bhutan. Start-ups and independent entrepreneurs will be able to rent workspaces, connect with like-minded individuals, and tap into a growing ecosystem of makers, designers, and innovators.

By encouraging collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas, the Centre aims to nurture small businesses, spark new ventures, and support sustainable livelihoods across Bumthang and neighbouring dzongkhags. Strong partnerships with local industries will provide internships, hands-on experience, and clear pathways to employment after graduation.

Strong Foundations and National Alignment

Operating under the royal patronage of Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan, through RENEW, and in partnership with the PATRIZIA Foundation, the project stands on strong foundations of trust and shared purpose. It aligns closely with Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan, which identifies Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a national priority and aims to transform TVET into a globally competitive system that meets labour market demands.

The Centre directly supports this strategy by addressing skills gaps in underserved regions. The campus will include workshops, classrooms, dormitories, multipurpose rooms, and administrative buildings, all designed with sustainability and ecological construction methods in mind.

Measurable, Sustainable Impact

Once fully operational, the Vocational Training Centre Bumthang is expected to train over 1,000 youth annually, developing a skilled workforce ready to contribute to Bhutan’s economy and strengthen local communities. Impact will be measured through employment rates of graduates, the number of women trained, and the strength of local business partnerships that support entrepreneurship and skill retention in rural areas. The initiative directly supports three Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 4 on Quality Education
• SDG 5 on Gender Equality
• SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth

Supporting Bhutan’s Future Workforce

As Bhutan advances ambitious initiatives such as Gelephu Mindfulness City, the need for a skilled, confident workforce has never been greater. The PATRIZIA Vocational Training Centre Bumthang will play an important role in preparing young Bhutanese to contribute meaningfully to new industries, creative enterprises, and sustainable development efforts. In this way, the Centre becomes not just a place of learning, but a bridge between today’s youth and Bhutan’s next chapter of mindful, purpose-driven progress.

An Invitation to Partner in Transformation

The total funding requirement for the Vocational Training Centre Bumthang is €2,750,000, supported through a joint fundraising model between the Gyalyum Charitable Trust and the PATRIZIA Foundation. To date, €1.8 million, covering over 65% of the total funding, has already been raised. The project now seeks partners and supporters to help secure the remaining 35%. Funds will be allocated to infrastructure, programme development, and scholarships, ensuring access for the most underprivileged youth.

By supporting this initiative, you play a direct role in building Bhutan’s skilled workforce, reducing unemployment, and empowering women and young people to drive lasting economic and social development across the country.