【经合组织】英文中期评估及教育规划启示_63页_2mb

Summary of the Modernisation of Higher Education Institutions Procedure in Bulgaria

Core Content

This report evaluates the "Modernisation of Higher Education Institutions" procedure in Bulgaria, which ran from 21 August 2020 to 31 December 2023. The procedure was co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the national budget, and implemented under the Operational Programme "Science and Education for Smart Growth" 2014-2020 (OPSESG). The primary aim is to draw lessons from this completed activity to inform the design and implementation of future higher education initiatives under the Programme "Education" (2021-2027) and beyond.

The procedure focused on advancing digitalisation, promoting competency-based education, enhancing internationalisation, encouraging collaboration in curriculum development, and supporting the professional development of academic staff. It funded 17 projects and aimed to align with the national Strategy for the Development of Higher Education in Bulgaria 2021-2030.

Main Findings

Relevance

• The Modernisation procedure aligned with key objectives of the national strategy and European initiatives.
• It supported the development of competency profiles, digital skills, and interdisciplinary links in higher education.
• It aimed to strengthen university-business cooperation and expand digital learning resources.

Coherence

• The Managing Authority followed European and national procedural guidelines, ensuring transparency and fairness.
• However, there was limited input from higher education experts, which may have led to some incoherence between policy and implementation.
• The procedure could have benefited from more expert consultation to address challenges and opportunities.

Effectiveness and Efficiency

• The procedure used quantitative indicators and mathematical models to evaluate proposals, which reduced partiality but weakened the connection to quality goals.
• Some planned activities, such as mobility, were implemented below expectations due to legal and budget constraints.
• The pandemic further limited the ability to carry out face-to-face collaboration and mobility.
• Monitoring data focused on activity levels rather than broader outcomes, making it difficult to assess long-term impacts.

Sustainability and EU Added Value

• The sustainability of some activities remains uncertain due to legal, funding, and motivation constraints.
• 95 new joint programmes were developed, but their long-term viability is unclear.
• EU funding played a key role in enabling the scale of implementation for certain initiatives, such as competency-based and joint degree programmes.

Promising Practices

• Public Participation and Feedback: Opportunities for public input were provided, with detailed feedback given to all commenters.
• Professional Development for Academic Staff: Enhanced language and digital skills for academics were promoted, supporting their roles as teachers and researchers.
• Digital Infrastructure Investments: Support for technologies like cloud computing and specialised software expanded HEIs' capacity for digital teaching and research.
• Inter-Institutional Collaboration: The procedure encouraged collaboration between HEIs in curriculum development, sharing expertise and resources.
• Competency-Based Curriculum Design: A shift towards competency-focused teaching and learning was supported, which was attractive to students, instructors, and employers.

Lessons and Recommendations

General Recommendations

• Identify Focus and Scope: Clearly define the activity's objectives and scope to reduce administrative burden.
• Engage Experts and Stakeholders: Incorporate more expert input during planning and design to improve coherence and implementation.
• Improve Consultation: Expand the depth and breadth of consultation to ensure better alignment with stakeholder needs.
• Reduce Scope: Narrow the range of tasks to enhance focus and systemic impact.
• Design with Evaluation in Mind: Plan for the collection and analysis of outcome data to support future evaluations.

Specific Recommendations for PE Activities

• The "Access to Higher Education" procedure may benefit from a competitive selection process.
• The upcoming "Strengthening the Competence Approach in Higher Education" activity may be more suitable for a direct award process due to its complexity.
• Both activities should incorporate the lessons learned from the Modernisation procedure.

Key Definitions

• Programme: An Operational Programme (OP) outlines how a member state will use European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) resources during a specific programming period.
• Programming Period: Typically seven years, aligning with the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF).
• Procedure: A grant-making process that includes project application, selection, financial management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Project: A discrete unit of work under a procedure, with specific objectives and time-bound implementation.
• Beneficiary: An entity that receives funding to implement a project or activity under a procedure.

Conclusion

The Modernisation procedure in Bulgaria made progress in several areas, including digital transformation and collaboration in curriculum development. However, challenges arose due to the broad scope of priorities and administrative complexity. The report highlights the importance of learning from this experience to improve future higher education programming in the country.