Key research and stakeholders for AI-driven adult education in Bulgaria.
1. Research, Reports, and Surveys
Title: Integration of AI Training in the Field of Higher Education in the Republic of Bulgaria: An Overview
- Organisation: MDPI (Published in Sustainability journal)
- Year of publication: 2024
- Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/10/1063
- Short summary: This study evaluates AI-dedicated courses across 28 Bulgarian Higher Education Institutions. It reveals that while AI integration is growing, it is heavily concentrated in computer science fields, highlighting a need for broader, interdisciplinary AI literacy across other professional sectors to meet labor market shifts.
- Relevance for ReSTART: Provides a scientific basis for identifying where curriculum gaps exist and supports the case for developing AI-focused training modules for adults who may have studied in non-technical fields.
Title: AI Won’t Replace University Graduates, but Practical Skills Remain a Problem
- Organisation: OSIS.BG (Open Society Institute – Sofia)
- Year of publication: 2026
- Link: https://osis.bg/?p=6013&lang=en
- Short summary: This report explores employer attitudes toward AI and graduate employability. It finds that employers value practical, human-centric skills over pure technical mastery and identify workers with lower levels of formal education as the most vulnerable to displacement by AI.
- Relevance for ReSTART: Validates the ReSTART focus on “unemployed adults” and “practical skills,” emphasizing that AI training should focus on complementing human skills (problem-solving, creativity) rather than just technical coding.
2. Relevant Organisations
| Organisation Name | Website | Main Field of Activity | Contact Person / Email |
|---|---|---|---|
| INSAIT (Institute for Computer Science, AI and Tech) | insait.ai | World-class AI research, LLM development (BgGPT), and policy advice. | info@insait.ai |
| Ministry of Education and Science | mon.bg | Policy-making for lifelong learning, VET reform, and digital education standards. | press@mon.bg |
| Employment Agency (Bulgaria) | az.government.bg | National labor market policies, unemployment programs, and digital retraining initiatives. | info@az.government.bg |
| Higher School of Transport “Todor Kableshkov” | vtu.bg | Partner HEI; specialized in transport, logistics, and emerging digital/AI training. | rector@vtu.bg |
| Sofia Tech Park | sofiatech.bg | Innovation hub, home to the European AI Factory/Supercomputer projects. | office@sofiatech.bg |
Why This Matters for ReSTART
These resources and organisations show that:
- Policy Alignment: The Ministry and Employment Agency are actively working on the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan, which directly funds the digital upskilling of adults.
- Scientific Credibility: Collaborating with or citing research from institutions like INSAIT ensures ReSTART stays at the forefront of AI technological trends (e.g., LLMs in the local language).
- Sustainability: Engaging with these stakeholders now will facilitate the future endorsement of ReSTART recommendations by national authorities.