Higher education and science in Bulgaria (Висшето образование и науката в България) - in Bulgarian

The book “Higher education and science in Bulgaria (economic, social and gender dimensions)” presents the results of a monographic study, done in the period 2012-2013 within the framework of the scientific and research programme of the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. It treats the vital question of the development of higher education and science in Bulgaria under the conditions of Eurointegration and the building of a knowledge economy, accompanied by a number of hardships, caused by the difficult socio-economic situation in the country and the influence of the world economic crisis upon the Bulgarian economy, including upon the status of the academic sphere. Under these circumstances, the determination of the problematic areas and the creation of a suitable climate for the development of higher education and science and for their successful integration into the European and global areas of higher education and research are of great importance for the future of the country and its economy. As a result of the complex interdisciplinary study of economic, social and gender aspects of the two academic spheres, the position of Bulgaria in the European Higher Education and Research Area and on the European map of gender equality in the academic community is defined. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of the status of higher education and science in the beginning of the 21st century, with an accent on the period after the beginning of the economic crisis in the country, are done, including: financial ensurance, availability of strategy and policy, legislative framework and institutional structure, social status of researchers and lecturers, conditions for academic career and presence of balanced representativeness of men and women, etc. Main problems and important factors which cause them are identified. Directions for future development and improvement of the two spheres are outlined. The results of an inquiry of the opinion of lecturers, researchers and students at higher schools and at institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, carried out by the authors at the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 are of special interest, and so is their comparison with the results of the previous such inquiry, effected by the authors in 2007/2008. It allows to assess the changes that have taken place in higher education and science after the accession of Bulgaria into the EU. The book is addressed to the competent state authorities, incl. the Education and Science Committee at the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Education and Science, other interested ministries and administrations, the governing bodies of higher schools, NGOs, researchers, lecturers, students and everyone interested in the status and the future of higher education and science in Bulgaria.