School of Centric turns 10: learning that keeps moving forward

In 2016, Centric Romania put a name, a logo and a motto on its continuous learning efforts and called it School of Centric.

Ten years later, it has grown into one of Centric Romania’s most meaningful learning and development initiatives: a place where colleagues share expertise, build new skills, mentor others and stay close to the changes shaping the tech industry.

What started as a structured way to support learning became much more than a training program. It became a learning ecosystem built around curiosity, practical knowledge, mentorship and people who choose to help others grow.

Over the past decade, School of Centric has supported:

3,000+ employees trained

200+ training sessions delivered

30,000+ learning hours

300+ certifications supported

10+ learning programs created

50+ conferences attended

1,000+ students trained and mentored

But the story of School of Centric is not only told through numbers. It is also told through the colleagues who created learning programs, delivered sessions, became mentors, supported certifications, worked with students and brought knowledge back into their teams.

“School of Centric lasted because of people, purpose, support and the fact that we never got comfortable. We kept questioning, adapting, experimenting and learning.”

Lavinia Hritcu, School of Centric Coordinator
Built by people who share what they know

One of the reasons School of Centric has stayed relevant for 10 years is that it has remained close to the people it was created for.

Learning at Centric Romania has never been only about attending a course. It has also been about learning from colleagues, asking better questions, trying new approaches and applying knowledge in real projects.

Internal trainers, mentors, technical leads and team leaders have all played an important role in shaping School of Centric. They helped make learning practical, relevant and connected to the real challenges people meet in their work.

Programs such as the Mentorship Program and Learning Ambassadors were created under the School of Centric umbrella to support this kind of learning: personal, collaborative and connected to everyday professional growth.

“For me, School of Centric is a playground for skillful colleagues, a place where sharing knowledge helps others take their ideas to the next level.”

Iulian Mitrea, QA Manager

More than professional skills

School of Centric has also created space for learning that goes beyond tools, technologies and certifications.

For Alexandru Popescu, UI/UX Coordinator, one of the moments that showed the value of the initiative was a non-violent communication course. It helped him reflect on how people express themselves, set healthy boundaries and make sure their intentions are truly understood.

“School of Centric isn’t only about professional skills. It’s about becoming a better human being at work and in life.”

His own journey also shows how School of Centric can support different stages of growth. Over the years, Alexandru went from learner to trainer and mentor, running UI/UX courses for colleagues across different roles, from developers and product owners to testers.

“School of Centric gave me the chance to grow from learner to trainer and mentor, and to give back what I learned.”

Alexandru Popescu, UI/UI Coordinator
A learning culture connected to real tech work

In technology, change is constant. Tools evolve, roles shift, teams grow and new skills become important faster than ever. For Centric Romania, School of Centric has been one way to keep learning close to that reality.

Through training sessions, certifications, conferences, mentoring and knowledge-sharing initiatives, colleagues have had the opportunity to deepen their expertise, explore new areas and bring fresh perspectives back into their teams.

This matters because learning is not separate from work. It influences how teams solve problems, how people grow into new roles and how expertise is shared across the organization.

It also helps create the kind of environment where people can see and seize opportunities: to learn from colleagues, contribute to stronger projects and build expertise that stays relevant.

Marking 10 years of School of Centric

To mark this 10-year milestone, Centric Romania opened a month of conversations about learning, growth, technology and the future of work.

The anniversary series brought colleagues together around topics such as growth mindset, AI, tech uncertainty, workforce transformation, leadership and the next 10 years of learning.

The conversations were not only about looking back. They were also about understanding what learning needs to become next: faster, more adaptive, more connected to real challenges, but still deeply human.

As Lavinia says:

“I hope we never automate the human conversation. The best learning still happens in the space between people.”

The next chapter

After 10 years and counting, School of Centric continues with the same belief at its core: learning works best when people build it together.

The next chapter will bring new technologies, new skills and new questions. Learning will become more personalized, more flexible and more connected to the moment people need it. But the foundation remains the same: colleagues who share their expertise, mentors who support others, teams that stay curious and a learning culture shaped by people.

School of Centric turned 10. And the journey continues with the people who make learning practical, relevant and alive.