Higher Education in Burgas: A Debate on the Future and Accreditation

Experts Discuss the Future of Higher Education in Burgas

BURGAS – The National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) and representatives of the academic community gathered at the College of Tourism at Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" for an important debate on the future of higher education in Bulgaria. The forum, held as a round table, was dedicated to significant changes in the methodology and indicators for quality assurance in universities. The event, which attracted the attention of experts and lecturers, was organized in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue, aimed at improving the standards of academic institutions in the country.

The main idea for the round table came from the rector of Burgas University, Prof. Dr. Sotir Sotirov. In her opening speech, the chair of the NEAA, Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova, congratulated Prof. Sotirov on his recent election to the post, emphasizing his initiative. Prof. Stefanova highlighted the agency's ambitious goal to improve the accreditation system for higher education institutions, basing it on more precise quantitative and qualitative indicators. To this end, a working group of experts has already been formed, which has carried out an in-depth mathematical analysis of the collected data, providing a solid basis for future changes.

The analysis, although based on data from the previous year, "clearly outlines the problems we need to solve", said Prof. Stefanova.

She emphasized that the study revealed both weaknesses and potential opportunities for improvement in the existing system. Currently, the NEAA's accreditation indicators include over 60 quantitative and more than 30 qualitative ones, with most of the necessary information being provided directly by the higher education institutions themselves, while additional data is obtained from the National Center for Information and Documentation at the Ministry of Education and Science (MES).

The NEAA highlighted the need for more precise definitions of indicators and the use of verified data from different systems to ensure the objectivity of evaluations. Prof. Albena Chavdarova, chair of the working group, pointed out that the analysis provided "a valuable basis for proposals for new indicators". She emphasized that one of the main goals of the upcoming changes is to streamline the accreditation procedures. This will facilitate the work not only of the expert groups and the universities themselves but also of the permanent commissions and the Accreditation Council, thereby achieving greater efficiency and transparency in the process. The agency noted that the indicators have already been aligned with the new European requirements, but the challenge related to the correctness of the data remains key.

To put the discussion into perspective, Prof. Stefanova drew a parallel with the process in the UK, where building a stable quality system took over 30 years. At the end of this year, the NEAA will celebrate its 30th anniversary.

"We still have a long way to go to reach the desired level, and the only way is to work in partnership with the higher education institutions", she concluded, emphasizing the importance of the joint efforts of all stakeholders to achieve sustainable progress in Bulgarian higher education.