1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Apostolov South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad EEU Annual Conference, June 22-23, 2012, Maastricht

2. Bulgarian Higher education and research system and structure National Assembly – Committee for Education, Science, Children, Youths ans Sports Ministry of Education, Youth and Science National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Rectors’ Conference Universities and Colleges (52+51) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences National Science Fund Around 20 000 teaching and research staff in HES

3. Education, Employment and Social Inclusion Unemployment rates in Bulgaria according to different education levels: 4,5 % with higher education 8,5 % with high education 22,7% with secondary education Source: European Commission, The European Higher Education Area in 2012 % unemployed aged betwenn 24-30г. according to the education level

4. Nubers of students in the HE system and 2020 targets The percentage of HE graduates aged 30- 34 г. in 2010 е: Bulgaria - 27,7 % ЕС27 - 33,6%. Bulgarian 2020 target - 36% Students enrolled in 2009-2010 accorrding to the different levels are: Professional Bachelor (short cycle) – 28 947 Bachelor and Master – 254 289 PhD – 3 850 Source: Eurostat, 05.2012 Current % and 2020 targets

5. Enrolled and graduated rates The difference between enrolled and graduated with Bachelor degree in 2009 is 20.8%. The difference between enrolled and graduated with Master degree is 3,2%. For the period 2003/2004 - 2008/2009 in Bulgaria there is an encrease with 20% of those who enroll in HEIs. If this trend continues the 2020 target (36%) could be achieved Source: European Commission, The European Higher Education Area in 2012 Rate of enrollment between 2003/2004 - 2008/2009

6. Student mobility in the ЕС-27 Student mobility from and to Bulgaria in 2009 is 23 of 1000 Financial reasons remain the key obstacle for raising the rate of mobility Източник: Eurostat, 05.2012 Брой лица в програми за мобилност в ЕС (1000)

7. Graduates in Natural Sciences and Mathematics % of youngsters aged between 20-29 studied and graduated in the fields of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (2009): Bulgaria – 10,1 of 1000 ЕС-27 – 14,2 of1000 Source: Eurostat, 05.2012 Кадри с подготовка в областта на математическите и точните науки

8. The Universities as research centers and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) 3.3% (or 134 of the total 4064) Bulgarian patents for the period 1994 – 2007 were registered by the universities; for the same period BAS had the share -3,3% (according to the Bulgarian Patent Bulletin) 45.98% of all 22 170 research articles for the period 1999-2008 were published by the universities and 54,02% - by BAS

9. Funding Higher education Higher education funding in 2009 is 0,86% of GDP (0,19% of them allocated to supplementary measures and 0,02% for R&D At the same time the public expenditures for a full-time student are very high compared to the Purchasing power index in Bulgaria – 43,7% Sources: European Commission, The European Higher Education Area in 2012 Public expenditures for HE - % GDP Sources: European Commission, The European Higher Education Area in 2012 Annual public expenditures of HEIs for their students as % fo the GDP per capita

10. Higher education sector and Lifelong Learning There is no an effective system for LLL in Bulgaria: Only 12,6 % of people above 30 years old in Bulgaria study in HEIs or research organizations; Only 1,3% of the population participate in some form of LLL compared to the EU average of 9,3% There is no a system in Bulgaria for recognition of prior, informal and non formal learning outside of the educational institutions. Only 31% of the private companies in Bulgaria (2008) offer any kinds of qualification courses for their empoyees. Source: EC, The European Higher Education Area in 2012 % of the companies, which offer any kinds of qualification training to their employees

11. Education profile of the Bulgarian workforce 12,4% with secondary or lower education 60,5% with high education 27,1% with higher education

12. Research in Bulgaria and ЕС-27 Total expenditures for R&D as % GDP (Eurostat 2010): Bulgaria: 0,6% ЕС-27: 2,00% Expenditures of the private sector for R&D as % of GDP (2010): Bulgaria: 0,3% ЕС-27: 1,23% Share of the private and public expenditures for R&D (2010): In Bulgaria - 30:70 In the OECD countries - 70:30 % of the total public expences for R&D adopted by the universities (2009) Bulgaria - 14% ЕС-27 - 23,7%

13. Major policy changes Recent: National Roadmap for Research Infrastructure was developed and aproved by the Council of Ministers in 2010 New Law on the Promotion of Academic/Research Staff enacted in 2010 Launch of a National Ranking System in 2010 Approvement of the National Qualification Framework in 2012 Development of the National Research Strategy 2009 – 2019 Expected: New Higher Education Act New Law for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences