In the future we will increasingly speak of the so-called media literacy, said the Rector of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar".

       The problem of career development and qualification is the most important part of the higher education reform. The quality of education depends also on qualification, said in an interview for Bulgaria On Air Prof. Galya Gercheva, D.Sc., Rector of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar". The reason for the interview is the upcoming on 5 October conference on Education and Media organized by Bulgaria On Air Media Group and Bloomberg TV.     According to Prof. Gercheva, in the future, we will increasingly speak of the so-called media literacy in connection with the dissemination of information and in terms of the possibility of its filtering.

    Prof. Gercheva also said:

    What additional knowledge is needed most often for your newly hired employees according to the specifics of the industry in which you work? Different categories of employees are occupied in the higher education system and in particular at the universities. First of all, these are the lecturers who in order  to be appointed at the high school have to meet the requirements of the Higher Education Act and the Act for the Development of the Academic Staff. Above all, they are required to be highly competent in the scientific field in which they work. The additional requirements are related to the development of psychological and pedagogical skills for teaching. Skills in the use of audio-visual equipment, foreign language ​​and digital competence are also required.

    Varna Free University has also employees who handle the administrative and educational, research and artistic activities. Additional requirements for their competence arising from the conditions, in which they work - interaction with the lecturers, students and institutions outside the university, determine the need for availability of communicative culture and knowledge of the software products used in their activities.

    Do youprovide your newly appointed employees with further training?  How often does it happen? Does this apply to everyone or to every second new employee?

The academic management of Varna Free University is committed to organizing forms of further training for lecturers and staff to be effective in their professional activities. Usually these are intentionally planned forms for development of the professional competencies that contribute to the work of faculty and staff, adequate to the needs of modern times.

    This is one of the main requirements in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code for the Recruitment of Researchers, on the basis of which the Human Resources Logo is awarded (HR Excellence in Research Logo). Varna Free University is the only Bulgarian University awarded by the European Commission with this logo.     Another way for further qualification is the participation in mobility programs that are possible due to the work of the University under the European program "Erasmus +".

    The university organizes seminars and work with the new software products in the field of accounting, library activities, e-service, training in foreign languages. Conditions for participation in national and international conferences and other scientific forums are created.     In the development and implementation of the master classes, which the university carries out each year, the lecturers have the opportunity to work and share best practices with colleagues from around the world.

    The problem of career development and further training is the most important part of the higher education reform. The qualification depends on the quality of the educational process. More than 300 lecturers participated in the 18-month project entitled Creation and testing of a system for career development of the lecturers at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", funded by Development of Human ResourcesOperational Program.

    Another project related to the development of electronic forms and distance learning is also part of our program to enhance the qualification and competencies of the lecturers. The management of Varna Free University agrees that with the technical and technological development, distant e-learning is a form of the future in the training of students. As a result of the project entitled Development of electronic forms and distance learning at Varna Free University, modern standards for distance learning platforms have been introduced; the platforms of distant  and e-learning have been updated and videoconferencing system between lecturers and students have been introduced. Part of the project activities is the development of electronic textbooks and the creation of a digital repository for electronic learning resources. The project enabled the form of distance learning at the university to be accredited. We are the only Bulgarian university that offers accredited distance learning in Informatics and Computer Science.

    Doyounoticeanydesireamongyouremployeestolearnanythingnewwhichtheycanuseintheirwork?The main partner in the professional activities of the lecturers and the employees of the university are the students. These are young people over 18 - the age at which they exhibit extreme curiosity, initiative, aspiration for development. This fact provokes us as lectures constantly to be in sync with the events and dynamics of time.     The younger or the more experienced employees have more often and more desire to learn new things? The need for improvement and the interest in the new could not be placed in accordance with age and experience. Rather, they are related to the attitude of the person to develop in accordance with their abilities and competencies and they are adequate to the social situation.

    How the media can help in the education of young people and society? The modern world is a world of the media. It has a crucial role in the functioning of society, in the building of various attitudes, in the affirmation of values. On the other hand, in today's conditions of rapid development of the digital environment, media can be an important resource in the self-training of students. In this sense they are one of the important partners in the education of young people.     Not surprisingly, in Europe it is increasingly talked about media literacy. This is connected both with the educational role and the responsibility of the media and the ability of audience to filter the presented information, making media literacy into a part of public competence.

    Does the media have any place in education?     The media and universities have a broad field of interaction in promoting higher education as a value of paramount importance in terms of the economy and society based on knowledge. They are the ones which will support the formation of attitudes for the assessment of knowledge and skills as human capital and a necessary resource for self-fulfillment and dignified quality of life. Together, the media and universities can restore the confidence in the Bulgarian education both on part of the young people in our country, and young people from other countries.     The media is able to support the generating new policies and approaches to improve the quality and efficiency of higher education. The forthcoming conference entitled Education and Media is one of the best examples in this direction, because what we are about to present to wide audience is connected with new educational technologies, based on an integrated product of the Bulgaria on Air Media Group, Bloomberg and Varna Free University.

* Prof. Galya Gercheva, D.Sc. is Rector of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar". She has a Master's degree in psychology at St. Petersburg State University, doctor of psychological sciences, professor of psychology. She has specialized in Finland, Britain and Russia. Member of the Society of Psychology and the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria. Working in the field of cognitive, educational psychology and the psychology of interpersonal communication. She is the author of numerous monographs, textbooks on psychology, scientific papers and papers from participations in national and international conferences.