Project Beneficiary:
Ministry of Education and Science
 
Total Budget:
187,247,591 BGN (funds from ESF+ and national co-financing)
 
Partners:
44 higher education institutions in Bulgaria
 
Budget for the implementation of Activity 1 for Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”:
3,017,600 BGN (funds from ESF+ and national co-financing)
 
Implementation Period:
17.12.2024 – 17.12.2029 (60 months)

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT:
Achieving dynamic alignment between the demand and supply on the labor market of specialists with higher education.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:

• Improving students’ practical skills in line with labor market needs;
• Promoting the introduction of dual education in higher education;
• Strengthening the links between higher education institutions and employers and enhancing the effectiveness of partnerships between them.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

1. Conducting additional student internships based on an assessment of students’ career orientation;
2. Creating conditions for the introduction of dual education in higher education; organizing student trainings for acquiring entrepreneurial skills, as well as events with the participation of students, lecturers, and representatives from different professional fields for developing business ideas, models, and plans; organizing trainings for lecturers to improve their skills in working on European projects and networks and in teaching entrepreneurship and financial literacy; organizing trainings for career consultants and quality assurance experts in higher education institutions for the implementation of a system for tracking graduates, for applying mechanisms for validation of prior learning outcomes, and for applying quality environment indicators.

 
Activity 1 “Conducting additional student internships based on an assessment of students’ career orientation” at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”
 
1,640 students from Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” have the opportunity to participate in Activity 1 “Conducting additional student internships based on an assessment of students’ career orientation.”
https://www.vfu.bg/news/varna-free-university-began-its-participation-in-the-project-student-practices-from-higher-education-to-employment
 
What does the project offer?
An extremely valuable opportunity for work and training in a real working environment lasting 240 (astronomical) hours, under the guidance of a mentor from the employer organization and the supervision of an academic mentor from Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar.”
Upon successful completion and reporting of the internship, each student receives from the higher education institution a scholarship of 1,080 BGN and a certificate in an official template.
 
Who is eligible to apply for participation in the project?

• Any student enrolled in full-time, distance, or part-time education and registered in the Register of Active and Interrupted Students and Doctoral Candidates, maintained by the Ministry of Education and Science.
• Each student may apply only for postings within the professional field in which they are currently studying.
• Each student is entitled to participate in practical training under the project once during their studies for each educational qualification degree.

How to apply for participation in the project?
The implementation of the project will contribute to direct dialogue between education and business, between theory and practice, and will provide feedback from business to higher education institutions regarding the relevance of curricula and programs to the needs of the labor market.
Students and employers wishing to participate in Activity 1 “Conducting additional student internships based on an assessment of students’ career orientation” must register on the electronic platform at: https://edujobs.mon.bg/
 
More information can be obtained by each student from the functional expert designated for the respective department or professional field.