The University of Maribor runs what is believed to be the first European university course focussing specifically on textile care. It started four years ago and the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport provides funding.
Professor Sonja Sostar Turk was keen to find practical experience for her students outside Slovenia and contacted the European Textile Services Association to gauge interest among members in taking students on work experience. She later gave a presentation to board members including Christeyns’ Charlie Betteridge who decided to take on two students at the recently created Bradford centre.
Betteridge reports that the girls fitted in well despite initial difficulties with the language. They were hard working willing and friendly and got on well with the rest of the staff.
He also said they obviously appreciated the valuable opportunity that Christeyns had given them to put their studies into practice. They will return to Slovenia on Christmas Eve and hope to graduate in Summer 2005,
