Higher Education in Burgas: A Debate on European Standards

Burgas, Bulgaria - The city of Burgas has become the epicenter of significant events dedicated to the future of higher education. From September 10 to 12, the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) is organizing a series of key meetings and forums aimed at ensuring and improving the quality of academic education, as well as adapting to European standards and guidelines in this field. These events underscore the country"s aspiration for full integration into the European Higher Education Area.

Process of European Evaluation and International Cooperation

A key moment in the program is the visit on September 10, 2025, to Burgas Free University, where experts from the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) will conduct an evaluation of the NEAA itself. This procedure is of essential importance, as it assesses the compliance of the Bulgarian agency with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG). The successful completion of this evaluation is crucial for the international recognition of Bulgarian diplomas and for improving the mobility of students and faculty.

Scientific and Expert Debates: Implementation of Innovations

In parallel with the accreditation process, on September 11, 2025, the NEAA is initiating a scientific session titled "Data-driven Quality Management and Intelligent Systems for Academic Processes and Agile Decision-Making". This forum is part of the Sixteenth International Conference Flexible Query Answering Systems (FQAS 2025), which is being held from September 11 to 13 at Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov". The session, which will take place at Hotel Bulgaria, will gather academics and experts who will discuss how modern technologies and data analysis can improve academic processes and facilitate decision-making.

Immediately following the scientific session, with the support of the British Council, international guests will give presentations dedicated to the collection and use of data in the context of higher education accreditation. Of particular interest are the expected changes in the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). Within a special panel, representatives of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) will comment on the potential changes resulting from recommendations by the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. In addition, representatives of the English agency "Office for Students" (OfS) will share their valuable experience in using data for accreditation purposes. The presence of these international experts underscores the significance of the event and provides an opportunity for a direct exchange of best practices.

Roundtable for the Future of the Bulgarian Quality System

The program will conclude on September 12, 2025, with a roundtable to be held in the "Burgas" Auditorium of the College of Tourism at Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov_q_. This meeting is dedicated to the development of the Bulgarian system for quality assurance in higher education. During the debate, an in-depth analysis prepared by the NEAA regarding the current methodology for the accreditation of professional fields will be presented. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss proposals for improving the system, which is of key importance for increasing the competitiveness of Bulgarian universities.

All these events attracted significant interest. High-ranking officials and experts from various fields are expected to participate, including members of the NEAA Accreditation Council, the Mayor of Burgas Dimitar Nikolov, representatives of local authorities, members of the academic community from across the country, business representatives, foreign guests, and other interested parties. The organizers expressed hope that the discussions held will provide a boost for further reforms and will contribute to establishing Bulgaria as a significant factor in European higher education.