Bulgaria in the South-East European Higher Education and Research Area (България в образователното и изследователското пространство на Югоизточна Европа) - in Bulgarian

The book presents the results of a study of the regional higher education and research area in twelve South-East European countries, aimed to determine the place of Bulgaria therein. The study was carried out in the period 2014-2016 within the framework of the research programme of the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The investigation is based on quantitative and qualitative assessments of the innovation potential, of the status and development of the spheres of higher education and science, and of the regional cooperation in the two spheres in the Balkan region countries using information for selected indicators presented in global reports for the development of the innovation processes, competitiveness, human capital, ICT, quality of higher education and research activities, and others. As a result of the study assessments are made of: European and regional policies for development of higher education, science and cooperation in the investigated spheres in the region; development of regional cooperation in higher education and research for building a higher education and research area in the studied region; status and alterations in higher education and science in the region’s countries as a whole and by separate areas – finance, staff, results from the activities of the systems; place of Bulgaria in the regional higher education and research area. Strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the development of higher education and science in Bulgaria are derived and systematised. On this basis more important directions for overcoming the existing weaknesses in higher education and research in Bulgaria are identified with a view to occupying a better position in the region. Recommendations for further development of higher education and science in Bulgaria, for building the regional education and research area with the purpose of their integration into the European one, as well as for extending regional cooperation in South-East Europe and improving Bulgaria’s role in them are made. The book is intended for competent bodies laying down Bulgarian policy in the region and policies in the spheres of higher education and science – Education and Science Committee at the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and agencies, regional cooperation institutions, governing bodies of higher education and research institutions, non-governmental organisations, as well as for scientists, lecturers and other actors that may be concerned.