1. Improving the access to higher education in rural regions: Bulgarian experience and good practices
Ekaterina Arabska
University of agribusiness and rural development – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
UNIVERSITY OF AGRIBUSINESS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION
contemporary challenges of globalization
dynamic social and economic environment
requirements and problems in education provision
target groups and their reach
access to quality education and training
higher education & lifelong learning
scientific research, consulting and guidance
link to real life and practice
UARD EXPERIENCE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
overcoming territorial remoteness
lower financial resources needed
save time to work and care of family
inclusive, sustainable and intelligent growth
strategic and policy framework in Bulgaria
targets set and encouragement activities
assuring easier higher education access in rural regions
UARD GOOD PRACTICES
a broad network of training centers all over the country close to the target groups
e-learning and distance learning
lifelong learning
projects work
quality assurance procedures
accreditation procedures
Participation of academic staff in UARD projects
Part of students assessments
Topicality of the learning contents
Provision of lectures
Seminars and exercises
Rational use of time
Examples of practice
Answers from the teacher
Encouragement of independent work
Connections to the teacher and consultations
Recommended sources
Application of ICT
Rules of examination
Objectivity in evaluation
Practical application of knowledge
Academic publishing house
Percentage of books for 2 periods
Abstract: In the conditions of contemporary challenges of globalization and the dynamic social and economic environment universities face a number of requirements and problems in education provision. Target groups differ as never before and higher education institutions need new approaches to reach them and to fulfill their mission of education of high quality and link to practice. In the context of the goal of inclusive, sustainable and intelligent growth the paper makes analyses of the strategic and policy framework in Bulgaria concerning targets set and encouragement activities for assuring easier higher education access in rural regions as an example of disadvantageous areas regarding socio-economic development and standard of living. Bearing in mind that it is very difficult for people from those region to afford education offered by universities situated in regional centers not because the territorial remoteness but because of the lack of financial resources, as well as time to get off the job for visiting university lectures and exams, a solution is presented through the example of University of agribusiness and rural development. It has grown a broad network of training centers all over the country close to its target groups and developed new forms of e-learning and distance learning, as well as paying a special focus on lifelong learning inclusion in some areas of interest for agribusiness and rural development. Practices presented are in compliance with the mission statement and the vision of the university – subject to further development and improvement, and the recommendations provided could be useful and supporting research and educational activities in the field of easier access to education of high quality in accordance to the needs of target groups, economy and society.
Key words: higher education, access, rural region, lifelong learning