Measures are needed for the social inclusion of refugees and students with disabilities in higher education
An international conference in Sofia discussed key topics related to the development of reliable indicators for assessing the environment for students with disabilities and refugees, as well as the creation of an inclusive academic environment.
The Acting Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Galin Tsokov, stressed the importance of social inclusion in higher education. He noted that significant steps have already been taken in this direction. An example of this is that 25 out of a total of 33 state higher education institutions will accept 400 foreign citizens or stateless persons with temporary protection in a full-time form of study.
Prof. Eliza Stefanova, Chairwoman of the National Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Bulgaria, called for activity and constructiveness in finding solutions to the challenges facing higher education. According to her, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, higher education institutions and non-governmental organizations should work together to propose changes to the Higher Education Act.
Other topics discussed included the possibilities for changes in the regulatory framework related to the use of the Credit Accumulation and Transfer System, as well as the introduction of validation and microcrediting mechanisms within higher education.
The event is organized within the framework of the START project Social Inclusion, Tolerance, Acceptance and Realization for All Students, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation of Bulgaria, the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS) and the Bulgarian Council for Refugees and Migrants. The project is funded by the Erasmus + program of the European Union.