European and national context of LLL

2. INSTRUMENTS AND TOOLS, PRINCIPLES AND FRAMEWORKS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING IN BULGARIAeng. Kapka Manasieva, ph.dVarna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”

3. European and national context of LLL In terms of the common European tendencies, the main priorities of LLL in Bulgaria can be defined as: access to lifelong learning and expansion of education and training opportunities; opportunities for acquiring and improving key competencies; activating social partners for inclusion in the process of LLL; validation and certification of the results of non-formal and informal learning; high quality of education and training as well as access to information; qualitative services in terms of information, orientation, guidance and counselling; support for social inclusion; training of trainers.

4. The regulatory framework in the field of education, training and employment promotion inBulgaria includes elements of the LLL concept, presented in the already existing legislation National strategyfor lifelong learningfor the period 2008 – 2013,REPUBLIC OF BULGARIAadopted by protocol №42 of a meeting of the Council of Ministers on 30 october 2008; Vocational Education and Training Act(1999); NationalStrategy for Continuing Vocational Training 2005-2010; School and Pre-school Education Development National Programme2006-2015; Public Education Act; HigherEducation Act; Level of Education, General Education Minimum and Curriculum Act ; Labour Code; Employment Promotion Act; Skilled Crafts Act; National Employment Action Plan;UpdatedEmployment Strategy 2008-2015; National Strategy for Implementation of ICT in School Education 2005-2007; Strategy forNational Youth Policy; Strategy for Educational Integration of Children and Students from EthnicMinority Groups, etc.

5. The implementation of the Strategy for LLL on regional and local level will be supported by themeasures within the framework of : the Regional Plans for Economic Development, as well as by thosein the plans for municipal development, already designed for the period 2007-2013, in accordance withthe National Plan for Development and the National Plan for Regional Development for the respectiveperiod, the Integrated Programme for LLL and the three Operational Programmes – Human ResourcesDevelopment, - Competitiveness - and Regional Development.

6. The strategy vision By the year 2013 to achieve a significant growth of participation of the citizens in the Republic ofBulgaria in the process of lifelong learning, to provide them with free access to and suitable conditionsfor learning, so that they develop as individuals, responsible both to themselves and to society, whotake full advantage of the opportunities of contemporary knowledge.

7. Objective The objective of the Strategy is creating opportunities for the citizens of the Republic of Bulgariato expand their personal and professional knowledge, skills and aptitudes in order to improve both theirown wellfare and the competitiveness of the national economy by: • enhancing the adaptability of each individual to economic and social changes; • encouraging participation in all forms of LLL for further professional and personal development.

9. Higher educationDirections for future development: Adapting the learning content in order to focus it on the education needs of students in accordancewith the concept of measuring the learning outcomes of trainings in terms of degrees and professionalqualifications. Ensuring transparency and flexibility of the process of education and its goals. Orientation of the national education programmes to the demands of the labor market in order to achievecompetencies for work in competitive environment. while preserving optimal balance between fundamentalscientific knowledge, applied-scientific research, theoretical preparation and practical training. Developing the education programmes for the different education degrees, as well as the forms of updatingqualifications in such a way so that they become more interdisciplinary. Taking into account the needsof the market for specialists with non-traditional, specific knowledg, skills and competencies in morethan one professional area. Shaping competencies for working with new technologies in a competitiveenvironment. Implementing up-to-date module programmes in order to expand the scope of qualifications andencourage the free choice of students, post-graduate and Ph.D. students. Creating skills and attitudes for self-dependent planning of the continuing education and career progress.

10. Description of the VET System in Bulgaria Ministry for Education and Science - responsibility for the entireschool system and is the main policy-making body with budgetary responsibility and control for Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET). Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - issues a catalog of categorization of the occupations and the positions. - both responsible for adult education, which can be considered as Continuous Vocational Education and Training (CVET)

11. Vocational training in the context of LLL Vocational training in Bulgaria is taking place both within the system of formal education andtraining and through a number of forms of non-formal and informal learning. The initial vocational training and the continuing vocational education are associated withacquiring knowledge and skills on a part of a vocation, of a level of vocational qualification and of newqualifications.Vocational training is conducted by vocational schools, vocational secondary-schools,vocational colleges, higher schools, licensed centres for vocational training, employers’ and employees’organisations. According to data of the NSI from the year 2005, 179 vocational secondary schools and vocationalschools (38% of all) provide vocational training for adults, and 17 have licensed independent Centresfor Vocational Training. As of October 2007 the number of vocational training centres is 470. In Bulgaria, the Vocational Education and Training Act (1999) established National Agency for Vocational Education and Training (NAVET). In the present legislation the main laws are: the Vocational Education and Training Law(VETL) and the Higher Education Law (HEL).

12. THE STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE VET SYSTEM VET in Bulgaria is performed by institutions, functioning in the system of formaleducation and training and by institutions, providing informal training at the followinglevels: – higher education; – secondary education; – lower than the secondary education. The structure of theBulgarian VET system is complex and includes several different types ofschools. The typology and organization of the Bulgarian education system as a whole and vocationalschools in particular is shown in Figure 1.

13. Directions for future development: Commiting to the existing vocational education and training to the needs of the sectors/industries. Strengthening the partnership and cooperation between the education and training institutions, socialpartners, regional and local authorities. Ensuring monitoring and control of the quality and effectiveness of vocational education and training. Creating opportunities for validation and certification of vocational knowledge, skills andcompetencies, acquired through non-formal and informal learning, by the system of formal vocationaleducation and training. Ensuring free access to information about initiatives and learning resources, trainings, good practicesfrom projects, etc.

14. VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY “CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” Accredited by NEAA

15. VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY “CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” 1991 - founded by “Association Varna Free University” 1995 г. – given the statute of institution of higher education by the 37th National Assembly National Acreditation:2001 – Institutional accreditation with the highest grade - ‘Very good' for a period of 6 years2006 – Second Institutional accreditation with the highest grade - ‘Very good' for a period of 6 years

16. Recertified to the international standard ISO: • 2001 – ISO 9001:1994 • 2004 – ISO 9001:2000 • 2007 – ISO 9001:2000 • 2010 – ISO 9001:2008 2009 – Award of DS LABEL 2010 – Award of ECTS LABEL

17. VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY “CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” MISSION European model of private higher education Research and highly technological type of university With highly qualified and internationally convertible academic staff Oriented towards students and their professional suitability Flexible and adaptive to the dynamics of labour market and the needs of the society Competitive around the world and in the European educational space Responsible for the permanent implementation of the “total quality” philosophy

18. Strategic priorities of VFU for the period 2010-2012 Development of the academic profile of VFU, European standards in educational process and Lifelong Learning Development of the scientific and research capacity. Sustainability of the quality of the educational and research work and university management Technological development, implementation of electronic and video training. Introducing distance education Improvement of planning, organization and control over the educational process Conformity of VFU structure to the new realities and requirements of the Law on Higher Education

19. Strategic priorities of VFU for the period 2010-2012 World achievements of science and technologies Activeand dynamically changing order of business Contemporary information and communication technologies International transfer of educational technologies Free access to the global information resource Foreign language competence corresponding to the contemporary necessities

20. Training at VFU 900 lecturers and experts in over 50 areas of science Social, economic and legal sciences Natural sciences,Mathsand Computer Studies around 10 000 students VFU AREAS OF HIGHER EDUCATION Mr. Terry Davis- doctor honoris causa of VFU Technical sciences AmbassadorDimitris Kourkoulas – the first doctor honoris causa of VFU Arts Security and protection Academic Yuhnovski- doctor honoris causa of VFU

21. INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND ADMINISTRATION ACADEMIC PROFILEOF VFU “CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” FACULTIES DEPARTMENTS SPECIALITIES INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS INTERNATIONAL MARKETING ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND POLITICS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGMENT BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION COMPUTER STUDIES COMPUTER STUDIES LEGAL SCIENCES LAW FACULTY OF LAW PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY SECURITY AND PROTECTION NATIONAL SECURITY PROTECTION, CRIME PREVENTION AND PUBLIC ORDER PROTECTION ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM ARCHITECTURE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS,COURT-EXPERT ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS CHOREOGRAPHY, FASHION DESIGN, TEXTILE DESIGN, SPACE DESIGN, FINE ARTS ARTS

22. The education ofVFU ”Chernorizets Hrabar”,based onthe European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) • 2001-2002 210397-IC-1-2000-1-BG-ERASMUS-EPS-1 Experimental implementation of ECTS in the speciality “Computer Studies” • 2001-2004 20090642-CP-1-2001-1-GRUNDTVIG-G1 ECTS – LLL – European methodology for acknowledgment of previous education • 2007 Visit of ECTScoordinators from the European Commission • 2008 – 2009 Applying for ЕCTSand DS LABEL • 2009 Award of DS LABEL • 2010Award of ECTS LABEL

23. ISELL-LIEGE, BELGIUM ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS – ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF INTERNATIONAL AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, CZECH REPUBLIC ECOLE DES DIRIGEANTS ET CREATEURS D'ENTREPRISE, FRANCE INSTITUT D'ETUDES POLITIQUES DE GRENOBLE, FRANCE FACHHOCHSCHULE LAUSITZ, GERMANY UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MODENA E REGGIO EMILIA, ITALY UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI SIENA, ITALY UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO, ITALY INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, LATVIA KLAIPEDA BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE, LITHUANIA STANISLAW STASTIZ SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, POLAND POLISH OPEN UNIVERSITY- WARSAW, POLAND UNIVERSIDADE PORTUCALENSE – IDH, PORTUGAL UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA (UPC) TERRASSA, SPAIN ERASMUS MOBILITYPARTNER UNIVERSITIES

24. Belgium France Portugal Denmark Great Britain Germany Austria Spain South-East European Research Centre Thessaloniki, Greece Wrodaw Centre for Technologies Transfer Poland REGINNET Leeds Met ECTS; UPBEAT Benchmarking Project University of the Aegean Rhodes, Greece Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece PHARE-CBC University ofTrento Management Computer Technologies Roehampton Public Administration International Tourism PMK Building and designing consortium - Austria VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY University of Pitesti ECTS – LLL SOCRATES London Economics and Management University of Salford UPBEAT Benchmarking Project Cambridge European law Barcelona Entrepreneurship and management of the small and medium sized enterprises Strasbourg Risk prevention and managementunder crises and calamities conditions Oxford International Tourism Management Guildford Public Administration International contacts More than540 partners from50 countries Association of Private Higher Education Institutions Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN) European University Association Russia Poland Israel Italy USA Turkey Romania Greece

25. International Programmes FP7 INTERREG LLP: GRUNDTVIG COST LLP: ERASMUS Mobility LLP: JEAN-MONNET Microsoft DNAA LLP: ERASMUS Multilateral LLP: Leonardo da Vinci, Transfer of Innovation IBM – DB2

26. Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” VFU “Chernorizets Hrabar” – Partnershipsand participations European University Association Black Sea Universities NetworkBSUN Bulgarian-Russian Educational Consortium - Moscow Association of Private Higher Education Institutions Agreements with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Association “Cultureand Tourism of the Bulgarian North-East” Memorandum with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works Association “High Technology Incubator” Participation in the project “Electronic government” Over 100 academic networks

27. VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY “CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” Projects BLACK SEA ACADEMIC ASSOCIATION THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS – GUARANTEE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL APTITUDE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION GRADUATES AT VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY “CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” ACADEMY FOR LEADERS TOGETHER WITH GRID INTERNATIONAL, GERMANY BLACK SEA ACADEMIC NETWORKS under the patronage of the President of the Republic of BulgariaMr.Georgi Parvanov ACADEMICENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TOURISM EUROPEAN CLUSTER OF KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STREAMED EDUCATION

28. Branch organizations Business organizations Civil society Universities Institutions, Authorities Partners in projects

29. Presentation Center Publishing house Institute of Technology ELECTRONIC LIBRARY Data base server withE-books and manuals Digitallibrary-educational complex Electronic reading-room Electronic reading- room Specialized reading-room The “Maxima” hall Electronic reading- room Specialized rooms Court room Foreign language teaching lab

30. UniversityMedical - Psychological Complex • Office for physiological tests • Interactive hall for developing the communicative skills and video training • Office for psychological consultingand psychotherapy

31. Training Accounting Office Foreign Language Teaching and Certification Center The opening of the Euroqualification Center The conference room of the Euroqualification Center Student BusinessIncubator

32. Educational and Sportcomplex • Three study rooms with 483 student seats • Multifunctional sports hallwhere Basketball, Futsal, Table tennis, etc. competitions can take place • Gym • Free accessfor students 8 – 20 h. The educational and sport complex is fully air-conditioned, with a lift and is provided with all utilities for disabled people.

33. Russian Center University Media Center University Publishing House Radio “Academika” Student е-medi@ TV center

34. THE NEW PARADIGM OF VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY Transdisciplinarity in curriculum Commitment with business and labour market necessities Integration of research and training European model of private higher educationinstitutions “New skills for new jobs” Internationalization Mobility of ECTS credits

35. VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY“CHERNORIZETS HRABAR” Accredited by NEAA

36. http://www.vfu.bg Thanks for your attention!