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VICE PRESIDENT OF VFU "CHERNORIZETS HRABAR" TOOK PART IN THE DISCUSSIONS ON AMENDING THE BILL TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION
12 December 2019
The Vice President of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" took part in the discussions on amending the bill to the higher education held in the Committee in Science and Education at the National Assembly.
Yani Yanev declared the opinion of the academic community of Varna Free University - the bill offers good solutions, but there are problematic issues that need to be carefully analyzed between the first and second reading of the bill. Regarding the development of the national map of higher education, Yani Yanev said that it is important that the basic criteria, requirements, principles and policies of its development to be laid down in the law. This will ensure stability that is not influenced by political influences.
The Vice President of Varna Free University suggested that the basic principles and criteria for accreditation of universities should also be laid down in the Law on Higher Education.
Yani Yanev, who was the only representative of the private universities during the discussion, disagreed with the proposed legal provision that the opening of territorial units for training and colleges organized by private higher education institutions abroad would be decided by the Council of Ministers. He called for a new approach and another solution, as the risk of opening a new educational structure is entirely on the private higher education institutions, which does not concern the state control. In this case, accreditation is mandatory because quality criteria are essential, commented Yanev.
"I dare say that in all public spheres, the field of higher education remains the only unreformed, since public funds go only to public higher education institutions. If models of real competition between public higher education institutions and between public and private universities are created, the issue with the quality will be solved much more easily than with the administration of the process of quality" said Yani Yanev. He added that restricting the scholarship programs of universities only to Bulgarians abroad narrows the attraction of high quality students from the world to study in our country. This issue could be resolved as part of the funds paid by Bulgaria as a member of the European Union be provided in the form of scholarships for persons of non-Bulgarian ethnic origin. Currently, our country is required to pay 0.6% of GDP for donations to countries identified as EU policies. "If part of these funds, within the framework of our national policy, is aimed at establishing scholarships for foreigners to study in Bulgarian higher education institutions, this huge resource will co-finance the higher education system," added Yanev.
The Bill for amending the Higher Education Act provides for the creation of a national higher education map as a tool to define the profile and territorial structure, to find the cross section between the public interest and the provision of higher education. The map will show how many universities and professional fields are there in each region. A temporary moratorium is also offered to open new fields and higher education institutions until the map is made. It must be ready a year after the adoption of the changes to the act. The purpose of the card is to stop the expansion of the admission to universities. The motives for the changes in the act state that a national map is being made to encourage higher education institutions to focus their efforts on training specialists with the required quality and meeting the needs of the labor market.
The Council of Ministers will also adopt national programs for higher education, one of the first ones being pedagogical. The relationships between schools and universities will be stimulated. They will be able to make agreements and coordinate training plans, with the participation of university teachers.
The higher education development system in Bulgaria comprises 51 higher education institutions, of which 37 are public and 14 are private. Currently, there are 203,602 undergraduate and 5,928 PhD students in full-time and part-time mode of training at higher education institutions.
The bill was adopted at first reading by the Parliament at the end of November 2019.