BIA STANDPOINT ON DETERMINATION OF THE NUMBER OF ADMITTED STUDENTS AND PHD STUDENTS IN THE STATE HIGHER SCHOOLS AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025

BIA has expressed to the Minister of Education and Science its opinion in connection with the elaboration of a draft decision of the Council of Ministers to approve the number of admitted students and PhD students in the state higher education institutions and scientific organizations of the Republic of Bulgaria for the academic year 2024/2025.

It is necessary to improve the forecasting process and therefore plan the necessary skills for the labor market in view of the expected development of the economy, digital and green transition. In this process, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Employment Agency, the Ministry of Economy and Industry should also be engaged in order for the education system at all levels and labor market institutions to work in unison and in favor of economic growth and competitiveness of Bulgarian enterprises.

We use the opportunity to emphasize that in parallel with the provision of the necessary specialties that provide the skills needed on the labor market, work should be systematically done to improve the quality of education, as long as it has an immediate impact on labor productivity. One of the tools in this direction is through a more effective process of coordination of the curricula and programs of higher education institutions with the nationally representative employers' organizations, their regional structures and the branch chambers that are members of them.

Also, in the process of programmatic and institutional accreditation of higher education institutions, the level of acquired competences and skills in the training process aimed at meeting the real needs of the labor market should be taken into account.