Higher education reform

This reform aims to enhance the effectiveness of higher education across the country. For this purpose, Bulgaria introduced amendments to the Higher Education Act. These include:

• the introduction of fee exemptions for students who sign a traineeship agreement with an employer;
• new programmes targeting sectors with expected labour market shortages;
• an updated system of accreditation of higher education institutions and the introduction of the status of ‘Research University’.

Bulgaria also adopted a National Map of Higher Education, determining the profile and territorial structure of higher education by professional fields in accordance with socio-economic development and the needs of the labour market. It supports the formulation of recommendations to promote a more balanced distribution of the higher education offer across the territory. The map provides an analysis covering:

• the territorial distribution of higher education offer in the Republic of Bulgaria, including information on the national and regional socio-economic and labour market developments;
• the resources available in higher education institutions, including academic staff and students.

The adopted Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021-2030) formulates measures and actions, including their timeline, to address the objectives of the strategy. The objectives of the strategy  cover:

• the development of a mechanism for updating existing and developing new curricula;
• a revision of existing provisions regarding state controlled subsidised admission to public higher education institutions. Changes shall be made in accordance with national and regional developments of the labour market;
• research enhancement and promotion of higher educations by developing scientific networks; - the introduction of additional specialisations and programmes in higher educations with double diplomas;
• the establishment of training centres for life-long learning in higher education institutions.

The implementation of the reform has been completed.

Additional links:

• https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=146064
• https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=155241
• https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=160964