The Association Organizations of Bulgarian Employers (AOBE) and the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation (NAEA) have signed an agreement on cooperation and improving connectivity between higher education and business. The document lays the foundation for a long-term and sustainable partnership between the academic community and the real economy, with a focus on improving the quality of higher education and providing staff that meet the needs of the labor market.
The agreement provides for business representatives to participate in the accreditation and external evaluation processes, the inclusion of experts from the AOBE in the councils of the NAEA, as well as the creation of mechanisms for real feedback from employers to higher education institutions.
According to the representatives of the AOBE, quality higher education is not an end in itself, but a key to economic competitiveness and innovation. Nationally recognized employer organizations emphasized their long-term interest in the reform of higher education. AOBR expressed concern about the structural deficits in the sector - overproduction of personnel in specialties with low realization of graduates, as well as a lack of practically applicable knowledge and skills. According to data from the Rating System, over 39% of higher education graduates work in positions that do not require such.
"I believe that together with the employer organizations we will ensure that Bulgarian higher education meets the expectations of business and society, as it should be. Education should truly be the engine of all innovations in the economy and I hope that with our joint efforts this will become a fact more quickly. I am sure that with today's signing we are initiating many positive changes in the coming years," said the Chairperson of the NAEA, Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova.
During the meeting, the need for urgent reforms was discussed - limiting admission to specialties with low staff turnover, incentives for training in technical and engineering sciences, introducing accreditation criteria tailored to the needs of the economy, and more opportunities for dual training. According to the representatives of the AOBE, the university should not be just a place to get a diploma, but a real environment for preparing for professional success.
21.05.2025
