Varna Free University offers the innovative project "Digital Education for Economic Growth and Social Inclusion" for the training of personnel for the future of business.
The project "Digital Education for Economic Growth and Social Inclusion" was presented at a press conference today at Varna Radio Art Hall by the President of Varna Free University Prof. D.Sc. Anna Nedyalkova.
Photo: Polina Pertova, Cherno More Informaton Agency
It covers a series of innovative programmes in the fields of entrepreneurship, circular economy, digital technology, digital marketing and cyber security.
The project focuses on expanding Varna Free University partner network and attracting the business into the educational process.
Establishing a shared space for digital education, research and technology transfer; developing working relationships between universities, the business, NGOs and state structures to implement the digital education plan; creating added value and human capital for the realization of digital transformation; multiplication of the effect of the use of resources for digital transformation are among the main objectives of the project.
Priority areas for educational, scientific and consulting activities are entrepreneurship; artificial intelligence; cyber security; blockchain; Big Data; digital education for industry, management and the social sphere, as well as security and protection of the population from disasters, accidents and catastrophes.
The project was successfully presented within three of the most prestigious events in the field of economy and technology - the Plovdiv Economic Forum 2018, one of the most influential and large events in the field of innovation, technology and the future - Webit and the summit between the government heads of China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (16+1). As a result we have already received the first applications for training, internships and the participation of experts in the training.
The project is open to partner companies and institutions to become part of the shared Science and Education Space - Alliance 4.0.
It aims at setting up joint training, research and consulting teams, involving experts from the business as trainers and mentors in university programmes, partnership to offer more opportunities for internships and student practices, sharing joint laboratories, joint investments in infrastructure, holding summer schools and short-term courses, as well as encouraging and supporting start-up businesses. The project is to create step-by-step:
- A network for the exchange of good practices, training and research among partners; data exchange
- Institute for Digital Education of Teachers and University Lecturers
- Joint educational programmes, teaching teams, mobility, recognition of diplomas
- Center for Shared Education of Children and Adults
• Laboratory for Digital Security Technologies and Forensic Expertise
• Digital environment for education of disadvantaged people
The first results of the project are the innovative Master degree programmes:
Master's degree programme in Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Foundation "Bulgarian Center for Entrepreneurship" and the Foundation "InterCulture" of the American financial consultant and investment manager Larry Beil. Mentors and entrepreneurs from the Silicon Valley are included in the programme as lecturers. The training in the programme starts in October and is entirely in English. 31 scholarships for the first master students were provided for the 2018/19 academic year.
Master's degree programme in Circular Economy - the only one of its kind in Bulgaria. The programme is realized with the support of George Kremlis, a Head of Unit Directorate General Environment of the European Commission, in the field of Circular Economy and the Ministry of Environment and Waters. The programme started in October 2018 with key lecturers from Europe and China. The training provides for internships in companies and cities in the 16 +1 format with good practices and innovative solutions as well as opportunities for sponsoring student research and development.
In the picture from left to right: Prof. D.Sc. Anna Nedyalkova, President of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", George Kremlis, Honorary Head of DG Environment of the EC and Dr. Anelia Parzhanova, Director of Smolyan Branch of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar” during the Plovdiv Economic Forum 2018.
The master's degree programmes in Cyber Security and Data Science, developed as a result of the partnership of Varna Free University with Coventry University, Ben Gurion and Webit Foundation.
The master's degree programmes in Intelligent Security Systems and DigitalBuilding implemented in partnership with Politehnica di Milano, Italy, Ningbo Dahongying University, China and the Technical University of Delft, Netherlands. The programmes offer business oriented training in partnership with scientific and business organizations from Great Britain, Poland, Italy and Hungary; knowledge and skills to make business analyses, software solutions and software in case of cyber attacks, accidents and disasters.
VFU attracts the business into the educational process with a new project - video: