site.btaEducation Minister to Academy of Economics, University of Veliko Tarnovo: Higher Education Should Develop More Skills for Future Jobs

Meeting with the Academic Councils of the Academy of Economics of Svishtov and the University of Veliko Tarnovo, Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev said institutions of higher learning should engage in strategic discussions about their future, revise their curricula to place them on a broader foundation, and develop more skills in young people, who will change several careers in the years ahead. The discussions are part of local meetings with higher education institutions that the Minister initiated after taking office, the Education Ministry said on Friday.

Addressing Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of Veliko Tarnovo University, and the Academic Council, Valchev emphasized their key role in training teachers capable of inculcating knowledge, skills and values. The humanities will be of exceptional importance in the future and Bulgaria will rely on educational institutions with traditions in this area, he said.

"To stay visible and competitive in the increasingly global higher education market, Bulgarian universities must join networks and alliances, share resources, and even establish joint departments," the Minister said. He emphasized the need to motivate doctoral students and young faculty to stay in academia and sustain strong traditions. "We have a good higher education, but we must prepare for the future," he said in conclusion.

Addressing the Academic Council of the Academy of Economics of Svishtov (on the Danube), Valchev said quality is the top asset of higher education institutions. He urged faculty to be more demanding of students and assign them more tasks and projects, and emphasized the need for engineering professionals. The Education Ministry is preparing changes to increase admissions based on matriculation exam grades in mathematics, chemistry and physics for economics and technical programmes. The Rector, Assoc. Prof. Marin Marinov, thanked the Minister for holding the discussion, and the Council members shared their views on the Academy's development. "You have traditions and highly qualified faculty. If you think strategically, you will be much more competitive in the quality higher education market," said Valchev.

While in Svishtov, the Education Minister visited the fully renovated and energy-efficient building of the Dimitar Blagoev Secondary School. Mayor Gencho Genchev showed him round the upgraded facilities. Classrooms are currently being equipped and furnished through an Education Ministry project worth over BGN 4 million, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan. School Principal Tsvetanka Kirova showed the new sports ground, built with BGN 200,000 under a national programme of the Ministry.

Valchev also visited a kindergarten which is slated for modernization.