1. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA Correspondence between the Socrates programme objectives and the Bulgarian policy in the field of education : European education area Quality of education Respecting national traditions and achievements Preservation of linguistic and cultural diversity Provision of equal opportunities and access to educational resources

2. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA Socrates programme in Bulgaria: Since 1 of April 1999 Decision of the European Parliament and the Council of Accession Contract between the European Commission and the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science – Preparatory measures

3. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA PREPARATORY MEASURES - Creation of conditions for programme implementation Establishing the structure necessary for programme administration - Socrates National Agency Dissemination of information among the target public Informational events Network of programme promoters – Regional Educational Inspectorates

4. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA BULGARIAN SOCRATES NATIONAL AGENCY: Administrative unit in the Ministry of Education and Science for three years Unit within the Human Resource Development Centre since 2002

5. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA 8 HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE: Socrates National Agency Leonardo da Vinci National Agency National Resource Center for Vocational Guidance National Observatory for Vocational Educational Training and Labour Market Regional offices

6. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA BULGARIAN SOCRATES NATIONAL AGENCY: Decentralised actions: Comenius Erasmus Grundtvig Arion Centralised actions

7. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL AGENCY – Project cycle management: Publishing of the Calls for proposals Distribution of programme documents Consulting and assistance Establishment of selection procedures Contracting Financial control and audit

8. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL AGENCY – Horizontal support activities: Dissemination of information Consulting Project results distribution Monitoring and assessment Communication with the EC and national authorities Contacts with the media, institutions in the field of education, etc.

9. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA ACHIEVEMENTS: Positive image of the programme in Bulgaria Management in conformity with the rules provided by the European Commission Improved cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and other educational institutions Steady increase of the number of applications received /30% annually/ and number of students and teachers undertaking Erasmus mobility Enhancing projects quality Experience in the field of European co-operation

10. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA PROBLEMS: Financial resources not corresponding to the increasing demand Lack of complementary national and institutional financial support Insufficient publicity of projects work and support for the institutions participating in the programme on the part of educational authorities

11. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA PERSPECTIVES: Preparation for the new generation of programmes Participation in the eLearning and Erasmus Mundus Community programmes Ensuring additional financial resources Further improvement of programme management

12. SOCRATES PROGRAMME BULGARIA THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, Margarita Dzhoganova Head of Socrates Unit Human Resource Development Centre Bulgaria Tel.: 00359 2 915 50 45 E-mail: margarita@hrdc.bgmargarita@hrdc.bg Internet: www.socrates.hrdc.bgwww.socrates.hrdc.bg