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Inspiration

Are you an individual, an organisation, a policymaker, or a training provider?
Are you looking for inspiration for boosting digital transformation?
We are here to support you in defining your path to digital transformation by providing inspirational information on good practices, resources, and research from across the country and Europe.

Let’s find out more!

MEDIA LITERACY – THE NORDIC RECIPE FOR A RESILIENT SOCIETY

By EVENTSNo Comments
MEDIA LITERACY - THE NORDIC RECIPE FOR A RESILIENT SOCIETY

20.03.2025

In an era of disinformation and digital noise, media literacy is a key tool that empowers people to make informed choices, develop critical thinking, and uphold democratic values. This event brings together experts, policymakers, educators, and youth leaders to explore the best practices in media literacy from Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
Event Highlights:
  • Panel Discussions – Institutional strategies, challenges related to disinformation, and youth engagement in combating fake news.
  • Best Practices from the Nordic Countries – Learn from leading experts how media literacy is successfully implemented in schools and society.
  • Lunch & Networking – Connect with policymakers, educators, and experts.
  • Interactive Training Sessions – Practical methods for integrating media literacy education into schools and communities.
Featured Speakers:

🔹 Mathias Nimgård – Consultant at the Digital Center for Child and Youth Welfare, Denmark
🔹 Jessikka Aro – Investigative journalist and author of *Putin’s Trolls*, Finland
🔹 Lauri Palsa – Chair of the Finnish Society on Media Education
🔹 Lena Oden – Director of Kunskapsskolan School, Enköping, Sweden
🔹 Experts from Norway and Bulgaria
🔹 Youth representatives from Bulgaria

 

You can find the Agenda HERE.
Register here to attend: https://bit.ly/4h4jxd4
Join us for a day of in-depth discussions and hands-on training!
*The event is organized by Digital National Alliance in partnership with the Embassies of Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in Bulgaria. The forum is executed with the support of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Media literacy

Date

27.03.2025

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Toplocentrala, Sofia

Risk-Aware Fintech Product Development

By EVENTSNo Comments
Risk-Aware Fintech Product Development

20.05.2024 |

Come join us for an exciting event focused on fintech product development with a keen eye on managing risks.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event will provide valuable insights and strategies to navigate the ever-evolving fintech landscape. Mark your calendars and don’t miss out!

Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

22.05.2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

ul. “William Gladstone” 8 Sofia

Interest Rate Hacking Webinar

By EVENTSNo Comments
Interest Rate Hacking Webinar

20.05.2024 |

Are high interest rates keeping you from buying a home? What if you can take an entire point off current rates!?

Well, you can. Thanks to a new mortgage company, chat mtg, you can buy pass the lending middlemen and get a huge discount on your interest rate. You have the opportunity to look under the hood of chat mtg, get pre-approved, and secure a mortgage before anyone else.

Join us and chat mtg founder, Adam Kalamchi to learn what the big lenders don’t want you to know.

We are actively helping people hack the housing system in The Bay.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

12.06.2024

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

DIGITALK CONFERENCE+AI

By EVENTSNo Comments
DIGITALK CONFERENCE+AI

05.04.2024 |

ABOUT

Significant innovations and the exponential adoption of breakthrough technology will keep deeply transforming how we live and do business at all levels. We are witnessing a tectonic shift that changes everything and forever.
Digitalk 2024 will guide you throughout the complex matrix of the future, showcasing on its stage people and technologies that are shaping our tomorrow.

  • 1 DAY FULL OF VALUABLE CONTENT
  • 40+ SPEAKERS
  • 800+ ATTENDEES
  • UNLIMITED ON DEMAND RESOURCES

KEY TOPICS

  • The age of AI: commercialisation and impact across industries
  • How can humans and machines work together
  • New technology ecosystems, big data and cloud platforms
  • Redefining imagination and creativity within tech
  • Sustainable and clean technologies, future-proof startups
  • Perspectives ahead of VC market in 2024
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

14.05.2024

Access 

Paid event

Format

In-person event

Location

Sofia Event Center, Hladilnika, Mall Paradise, floor 3, 1407

AI Industrial Summit 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
AI Industrial Summit 2024

01.04.2024 |

About this event:

AI Industrial Summit 2024 is a community event that will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024, for the seventh time in Bulgaria.

After the successful IoT Bulgaria Summit 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, we decided to do our best and organize the Fifth edition of the conference in 2022, extending the content also with AI and changing the name to AI and IoT Bulgaria Summit.

The conference is now called AI Industrial Summit because the focus is mostly on industrial automation.

It is a one-day in-person event focused on Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Internet of Things.

The conference will be hosted at the Laboratory Complex@ Sofia Tech Park. Stay in touch with the latest news.

Our team is working on the preliminary schedule.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

14.09.2024

Access 

To be announced

Format

In-person event

Location

Laboratory Complex @ Sofia Tech Park, Sofia Tech Park, 111B, Tsarigradsko Shousse Blvd, 1784 Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria

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Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

start-end date (if available)

Access 

Free event

Paid event (fee)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

(address)

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Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

start-end date (if available)

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Free event

Paid event (fee)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

(address)

SERP Conf. International 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
SERP Conf. International 2024

01.04.2024 |

About this event:

More than 700 guests from 4 continents are expected to gather for SERP Conf. 2024. The conference, which is now international, is one of the most recognizable events for the SEO community.

“The event is two days now. The great interest motivates us to increase the capacity of the hall by more than 50% and the tickets offered – we expect more than 700 people in Hall 3 of the NDK. The place we have chosen to be the home of SERP Conf. International 2024 – the National Palace of Culture – symbolizes growth, development, and great goals. We believe it is time for the next step”, commented Nikola Minkov, CEO and founder of SerpactSERP Conf. and SERP Acad., and CEO and co-founder of Trackian.

During the two days of the conference, visitors will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and benefit from the personal experience of top speakers from leading companies such as Google, Ahrefs, Digital Olympus, Growth Skills, and more.

Gary Illyes: He is one of the most recognizable names associated with Google in recent months. According to his job description, he is a Google Webmaster Trends Analyst, but according to his posts on social, he is also House Elf and Chief of Sunshine and Happiness at Google. He is one of the world’s most influential SEO experts and a frequent keynote speaker at conferences such as SMX and Pubcon. We are incredibly pleased to welcome him to SERP Conf. 2024

Dixon Jones: He is a true SEO veteran – working on the front lines since 1999 and currently the CEO of InLinks, an SEO tool built around subjects and semantic search. His project InLinks won the “Search Technology of the Year” award and is developing as a leading technology for entity SEO. Dixon has been a speaker at many conferences and universities, including Pubcon, Brighton SEO, SES, and SMX.

Patrick Stokes: Patrick Stokes is a product consultant, technical SEO, and Ahrefs ambassador, organizer of the Raleigh SEO Meetup, the most successful SEO meetup in the US, as well as the “Beer and SEO” meetup. He is a leading SEO author of Web Almanac 2021 and SEO reviewer for 2022. He is also a top speaker at conferences such as SMX, Pubcon, Ungagged, TechSEO Boost, and more, and he chairs the Raleigh SEO conference.

Alexandra Tachalova: CEO and Founder of Digital Olympus Alexandra is one of the most recognizable names in the SEO industry. After successfully leading Semrush’s marketing department for EMEA for several years, she started her own company. Now, she aims to help businesses boost their organic traffic through effective link-building strategies. Digital Olympus collaborates with Seract on various projects.

The event will be entirely in English, and the organizers promise that each guest will leave with new competencies that can be immediately applied in their practice – on topics such as SEO, SEM, content marketing, social network management, e-commerce, and AI. The second day of the conference is expected to be in partnership with Xplora Digital Marketing Agency.

“One of the reasons I am a speaker on April 18 and 19 in Sofia is that I understand the importance and significance of the conference for the development of the SEO ecosystem, and therefore of the online business as a whole,” shares Lavall Chichester, founder and CEO of Growth Skills and speaker at SERP Conf. 2024. “I am glad to be able to share my first-hand experience of working with international companies such as Apple, Seamless AI, MoneyLion, Western Union, etc., in search engine optimization, digital marketing, branding, and entrepreneurship.”

And this year, behind the conference stand SU “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Bulgarian E-commerce Association, BIA, and Ecommerce Europe, as well as local partners from various countries, including Poland, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc.

“For the fourth year in a row, the Bulgarian E-commerce Association (BEA) is a partner of SERP Conf. – the benchmark event for SEO, e-commerce, and digital marketing: conference, exhibition, and networking with elite professionals from around the world. The conference is an opportunity for online businesses and entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level, as well as an opportunity to build international partnerships. The support of SERP Conf. 2024 by Ecommerce Europe and the industrial e-commerce partners in Europe is a sign of the high added value of the event for the industry, which realizes 975 billion euros in 2023, constituting 4.68% of the GDP of the Old World”, says Janet Naidenova, Chairman of BEA.

SERP Conf. 2023 was held in October 2023 with speakers from 3 continents and guests from 25 countries, including Japan, Israel, Canada, Georgia, China, Scotland, etc. According to the organizers, 31% of the visitors were from top management or held other managerial positions at various companies. Because tickets were sold out well before the deadline, additional seats were released – 109.5% of those announced initially were sold.

Hurry and reserve your ticket for SERP Conf.2024 here: https://serpconf.com/product/serp-conf-2024/

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

18-19 April 2024

Access 

Paid event

Format

In-person event

Location

National Palace of Culture (NDK), Hall 3, 1463 Sofia

DataCon Sofia 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
DataCon Sofia 2024

01.04.2024 |

About:
Are you ready to shape your own future? 🤩
Dive into the world of Big Data & Artificial Intelligence on an epic journey – DataCon Sofia 2024!

❌ Don’t miss the chance to learn from the best! ❌𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
👉 Master self-service BI and unleash the power of Machine Learning
👉 Navigate AI ethics and explore the latest data regulations
👉 Learn from industry leaders like Ab Initio, Snowflake and Schwarz IT

𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:

1️⃣ 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏: 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝
👉 Self-service BI & data-driven decision making
👉 Transforming raw data into business impact with AI
👉Data Strategy & Data Governance panel discussion led by Paul Winsor (Snowflake)

2️⃣ 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞
👉 Advancing AI: New ML & Gen AI capabilities in Snowflake
👉 How information became the center of the universe (with Davey Proctor, Ab Initio)
👉 AI Ethics & AI Regulations panel discussion led by Dr. Andreas Becks (Ab Initio)

💥 Unmissable!

🎫 Visit https://planet.schwarz/en/datacon2024 for more information, speaker details, and to sign up for a Test Drive with our partners!

#DataScience #AI #MachineLearning #BigData #Sofia #Conference #Event #DataCon

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

10-11 April 2024

Access 

Paid event

Format

In-person event

Location

Planet Schwarz Tech Theater, 51 “Cherni Vrah” bvd; HLADILNIKA Industrial Zone,Sofia, Bulgaria

Introduction to AI & Solutions with Azure OpenAI Server

By EVENTSNo Comments
Introduction to AI & Solutions with Azure OpenAI Server

26.03.2024 |

Join us for an exclusive online training – “Introduction to AI & Solutions with Azure OpenAI Service”.

We have prepared a comprehensive free training designed to introduce you to the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), leveraging the powerful Azure OpenAI Service.

The course is suitable for professionals, students, and anyone eager to explore the possibilities AI and Azure OpenAI Service can bring to various industries. Whether you’re looking to upskill, transition into an AI-focused role, or simply satisfy your curiosity about AI, this fundamentals training is tailored for you.
Delivered in Bulgarian and completely free of charge you can now benefit from the expertise of our skillful instructors.

💻 Agenda
9:30 – 9:45 – Opening
Kickstart your AI journey with a warm welcome and an overview of the learning path that awaits you in this training session.
9:45 – 10:45 – Introduction to AI
Benefits & limitations of LLMs, mitigation of biases and AI hallucination, adherence to ethical AI principles and crafting precise prompts.
10:45 – 11:00 – Break
11:00 – 11:45 – Fundamentals of AzureAI
Introduction to Azure OpenAI Services, applying prompt engineering and how to use your data inn Azure OpenAI + Demo
11:45 – 12:00 – Q&A
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

28.03.2024

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

TO BE FILLED: Here should be the title of the event in capital letters. The same title goes in the section above "ADD TITLE"

dd.mm.2023

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Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

start-end date (if available)

Access 

Free event

Paid event (fee)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

(address)

TO BE FILLED: Here should be the title of the event in capital letters. The same title goes in the section above "ADD TITLE"

dd.mm.2023

TO BE FILLED: A brief summary is placed here, followed by the full text about the event.

Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

start-end date (if available)

Access 

Free event

Paid event (fee)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

(address)

European regulation of AI

By EVENTSNo Comments
European regulation of AI

13.03.2024 |

Digital democracy: artificial intelligence and fundamental rights

 

The event will take place on March 26, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the House of Europe in Sofia. The discussion is organized by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law. Special guests will be Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament. The discussion will be led by journalists Dorotea Dachkova and Silvia Velikova.

The goal of the event is to discuss the various aspects related to the adoption and implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act, the next steps for European institutions and member states, potential measures, and best practices that could provide greater assurances at the local level. Special attention will be given to the European elections and the risks associated with the use of new artificial intelligence technologies for the right to expression and information during elections.

To participate in the event, please register by 12:00 PM on March 25, 2024, by filling out the form HERE.

PROGRAM

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

AI

Date

26/03/2024 |

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

House of Europe, Sofia

Global AI BootCamp Bulgaria 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
Global AI BootCamp Bulgaria 2024

12.03.2024 |

Global AI Bootcamp Bulgaria 2024 This will be a half-day hybrid event on Microsoft AI technologies.

The Global AI Bootcamp is a free one-day event organized by local communities all over the world that are passionate about Artificial Intelligence on the Microsoft stack.

 

The event takes place on the 1st-31st of March on venues all over the world centrally organized by our HQ in the Netherlands and supported by Microsoft. The event is the perfect balance between quality content, awesome lectures, getting your hands dirty and learn & share with other community members.

Dive in and learn how to implement intelligence into your solutions with the Microsoft AI platform, including pre-trained AI services like Cognitive Services and Bot Framework, as well as deep learning tools like Azure Machine Learning, Visual Studio Code Tools for AI, and Cognitive Toolkit.

During this AI Bootcamp you will get inspired through sessions and get your hands dirty during the workshops. By the end of the day you will be able to infuse AI into your applications.

In Bulgaria Global AI Bootcamp 2024 will be held in person on 30 of March.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

AI

Digital Skills

Date

30/03/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Financial Summit: Investment, Technology, Innovation

By EVENTSNo Comments
Financial Summit: Investment, Technology, Innovation

12.03.2024 |

THE EVENT

Financial services industry is navigating challenging times. Macroeconomic uncertainty, ongoing geopolitical tensions, greater regulatory pressure and evolving consumer expectations are changing the landscape of the entire sector.

The exponential adoption of generative AI, transition to the cloud, open finance and increased fraud and cyber risks, are catalyzing the creation of new products and strategies that could set the stage for a new era.

Financial Summit is a logical step forward following the evolving market and will continue the tradition of FinTech Forum to provide insightful content and quality networking within the financial industry.

CONTENT STREAMS

  • Banking
  • FinTech
  • Insurtech
  • Cutting edge technologies and AI
  • Capital Markets, PE, VC, Factoring
  • Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain, Digital currencies, Tokenization
  • Investment Trends

PRELIMINARY TOPICS

  • The Financial Industry within the Geopolitical Dynamics and Macroeconomic Perspectives
  • What’s next for the banking sector amid global uncertainty, technological revolution and fundamental challenges
  • Bulgaria’s Investment landscape: New Instruments and opportunities supporting companies’ growth and fostering innovation
  • Cutting edge technologies and AI shaping the future of financial services
  • Sustainable Finance
  • Consumer expectations and customer experience
  • Capital Markets prospects and alternative ways of finance
  • CyberSecurity аnd Fraud Detection
  • Digital and Cryptocurrencies

You can find the AGENDA and Speakers HERE.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Fintech

AI

Cybersecurity

Digital Skills

Date

26/03/2024

Access 

Paid event

Format

In-person event

Location

Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia

jPrime 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
jPrime 2024

12.03.2024 |

jPrime is a conference with talks on Java, various languages on the JVM, mobile, web and best practices.

It’s run by the Bulgarian Java User Group and backed by the biggest companies in the country.

jPrime features a combination of great international speakers along with the best presenters from Bulgaria and the Balkans. It is divided in two tracks and provides great opportunities for learning, hacking, networking and fun.

You can find the AGENDA and Speakers HERE.

Register NOW!

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Digital Skills

Date

28/05/2024 – 29/05/2024

Access 

Paid event (100lv)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

Hack TUES X

By EVENTSNo Comments
Hack TUES X

05.03.2024 |

The tenth anniversary edition of the student hackathon Hack TUES, organized by the students of the capital’s Technological School “Electronic Systems” (TUES) at the Technical University – Sofia, will be held from March 13 to 16, 2024.

Hack TUES is a competition where teams have less than three days to create an original software or hardware project on a topic given by the organizers, using any technology.

The hackathon is the only educational practice in Bulgaria included among the innovative and promising practices by UNESCO for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The 2023 edition of the event saw participation from over 280 participants in more than 60 teams. This year, the anniversary event will offer participation opportunities to graduates from all TUES classes.

Regulations

PROGRAM

Register now!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Software Engineering

Digital Skills

Date

13 – 16/03/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

Why Are UGC & Content Creators Key to Success in 2024?

By EVENTSNo Comments
Why Are UGC & Content Creators Key to Success in 2024?

01.03.2024|

[WEBINAR] Why Are UGC & Content Creators Key to Success in 2024

Join us for an exciting online event where we’ll delve into the future of the creator economy.

Dive into the transformative power of User-Generated Content (UGC) and gain valuable insights from industry experts. Whether you’re a marketer, business owner, or content creator yourself, this webinar is a must-attend!

We will showcase successful and failed influencer collaborations, explore how UGC is reshaping brand-creator relationships and discuss strategies for integrating creators into your advertising to boost sales.

This online event will be hosted by two industry experts with +15 years of experience:

Paul Boulet / CEO at Click Analytic

  • Expert in influencer marketing and former speaker at The University of Neuchâtel.
  • Managed global influencer programs for DTC brands.
  • Recently developed an AI tool for automating creator relations at Click Analytic.

Jess Jasper / Head of Partnerships at The Growth Foundation

  • Leading the way at one of the UK’s top DTC agencies
  • Managed hundreds of influencer campaigns for top brands like GymShark & Bulk.
  • Boosted growth for many multimillion-dollar brands.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and learn how to leverage UGCs to boost your brand’s success. Reserve your spot now!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Marketing Strategies

Automation

Cybersecurity

Date

07.03.2024

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

By EVENTSNo Comments
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

01.03.2024|

Learn the history of AI and how to harness its power in your daily life and business. See AI at work firsthand in this free workshop!

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence:

Join us for an exciting online event that will demystify the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just curious about AI, this event is perfect for you! Our expert speakers will break down complex concepts into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for everyone to understand.

Why Attend?

  • Learn the Basics: Get a comprehensive introduction to AI and understand its real-world applications.
  • Discover Cutting-Edge Technologies: Explore the latest advancements in AI and how they are shaping various industries.
  • Engage with Experts: Interact with industry professionals and gain insights into the future of AI.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for AI.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of AI. Register now and get ready to expand your knowledge!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Digital skills

Date

07.03.2024

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

HELLO SPACE | BULGARIA CALLING 4.0

By EVENTSNo Comments
HELLO SPACE | BULGARIA CALLING 4.0

01.03.2024 |

The fourth edition of the youth science festival “HELLO SPACE, Bulgaria Calling” returns on June 25 in Sofia Tech Park under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. 

The festival maintains its focus on space exploration and STEAM fields and continues to be an inspiring educational event for children of all ages, their parents and teachers.

This year, HELLO SPACE will once again be filled with a variety of activities to spark imaginations and dreams of exploring the universe and beyond. We have prepared a myriad of amazing activities for young and old, including a live chat with a NASA astronaut, fascinating science workshops, interactive exhibitions, thought-provoking lectures and engaging demonstrations.

This year’s edition will also focus more on the A in STEAM, namely ARTS, with the programme featuring a host of artistic activities including virtual reality and image generation workshops through artificial intelligence, painting, exhibitions and much more. All this to open the eyes of Bulgaria’s children to art and aesthetics, which play a vital role in every field, including space science.

As we prepare for our fourth edition, we are aiming for an even more remarkable event that will bring together educators, industry professionals, scientific experts and most of all – the future generation of innovators, astronauts, Nobel laureates and dreamers!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Digital skills

Date

25.06.2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

John Atanasoff Forum, Sofia Tech Park

#22 Cyber Security Talks Bulgaria – Quantum Night

By EVENTSNo Comments
#22 Cyber Security Talks Bulgaria – Quantum Night

07.02.2024 |

Quantum computers are a technology we’ve been hearing about for years. The claims about the danger they pose to the modern cryptographic algorithms that currently support cyberspace are enough to chill the blood of any information security specialist. But do we know what quantum computing is and why it poses such a danger? When will the quantum era arrive, and will it bring the end of cryptography as we know it?

These are some of the questions that will be discussed at the next Cyber Security Talks Bulgaria – Quantum Night on February 13th.

Event schedule:

  • 18:30 – 19:00 – Registration Doors open at 18:30.
  • 19:00 – 19:05 – Opening
  • 19:05 – 19:15 – Keynote by Antivirus BG
  • 19:15 – 19:45 – What is quantum computing and why is it dangerous? Ivan Angelov – Software Developer and Quantum Computing Practitioner
  • 19:45 – 20:20 – Post-quantum cryptography and cybersecurity Eng. Yanko Spasov – IT and Information Security Consultant at “Antivirus BG” Ltd. Eng. Alexander Atanasov – General Manager, Lead Consultant at HEIC
  • 20:20 – 20:30 – Closing of the official part
  • 20:30 – 22:00 – Networking

Admission is free, but pre-registration is required.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Cybersecurity

Date

13/02/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

 

Polygraphia Office Center, бул. „Цариградско шосе“ 47, зала „JOHANNESBURG“, София

OECD FORUM | SKILLS MATTER FOR BULGARIA

By EVENTSNo Comments
OECD FORUM | SKILLS MATTER FOR BULGARIA

02.02.2024 |

Join us on February 20th, 2024, and watch live the pivotal “OECD FORUM” that marks a significant stride towards Bulgaria’s integration into the OECD – a testament to our nation’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and global collaboration.

As Bulgaria stands on the threshold of OECD accession, we are proud to present this groundbreaking event orchestrated in strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the OECD.

Why to watch?

 

  • Unparalleled Insight: Gain direct access to insights from ministers, senior OECD officials, esteemed business leaders, NGOs, and academic luminaries.
  • Future-Forward Discussions: Dive deep into the essential skills for the future, scrutinized against the backdrop of global megatrends such as demographic shifts, digital transformation, globalization, and climate change.
  • Strategic Collaboration: Witness the synergy between the Digital National Alliance, Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, and various ministries and sectors, all converging to sculpt a unified approach to skill development.

 

OBJECTIVES

  • Identifying Skills Needs: To recognize current and future skills demands in Bulgaria, particularly in the context of global megatrends.
  • Strengthening Partnerships: To foster collaboration among government, businesses, educational institutions, and NGOs for cohesive skills development.

 

OUTCOMES

  • Increased Awareness on Bulgaria’s Skills Challenges and Opportunities: Enhanced understanding among the public, policymakers, and stakeholders about the critical role of skills in addressing demographic changes, digitalization, globalisation, and climate change. This awareness will emphasise the importance of adapting to technological advancements and evolving labour market demands, promoting a collective commitment to upskill and reskill the Bulgarian workforce.
  • Strengthened partnerships between various stakeholders for ongoing collaboration beyond the event.
Working language of the conference: BG/EN
In Collaboration With: Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Labor and Social Politics, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Innovation and Growth, and the Business Community.
Watch live HERE.
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Digital Skills

Date

20/02/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

AI MEETUP SOFIA

By EVENTSNo Comments
AI MEETUP SOFIA

26.01.2024 |

Join us and explore the world of artificial intelligence, and its cutting-edge practical applications, and marvel at the astonishing projects that are shaping our future.
Presentations by:
  • Nikolay Babulkov, CTO at Eilla AI
  • Vladimir Petkov – CEO at Identrix, CDO at Updata One
  • Theodor Panayotov, CEO at Ethermind

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness the AI revolution in action. It’s time to embark on a thrilling journey into the future and discover the endless possibilities that lie within the realm of artificial intelligence.

Reserve your spot today:
https://app.mindstone.com/…/mindstone_sofia_ai_meetup…

 

Why should you attend?

  • Join a multinational community and learn from the best AI companies and leaders globally
  • Get up close and personal with the AI projects that are redefining the boundaries of technology and human potential.
  • Learn from the brightest minds in the field and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving AI landscape.
  • Unleash your curiosity, fuel your creativity, and expand your network as you connect with fellow AI aficionados and pioneers.
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

AI

Digital Skills

Date

01/02/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

The Venue, Sofia Tech Park

Innovation Explorer 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
Innovation Explorer 2024

25.01.2024 |

For the tenth consecutive year, the annual international forum Innovation Explorer will be held in Sofiа!

 

The event is scheduled for 22nd February 2024 in John Atanasoff Hall of Sofia Tech Park. A futuristic walk through the history of Bulgarian entrepreneurship to the highest achievements in modern Bulgarian science and technology awaits you. Tickets with early registration price and reserved seats are now on sale at www.innovationexplorer.bg.

 

The organizers have planned a number of innovations in the conduct of the event itself. This year’s forum will be in a marathon event format – from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Three stages are planned in the same hall: the stage of the past (left), the stage of the present (front) and the stage of the future (right), and the audience chairs will automatically turn to each stage when there is a speaker on it.
Find more about the speakers and AGENDA here.
Among the most important topics in the 2024 programme, the one on the development of artificial intelligence will take its place and for the first time in Bulgaria we will see DeepMind, Antrophic and OpenAI on the same stage. The panel discussions will also present the topics of innovative public policies, innovative institutions, industries and professions of the future, etc.
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Digital Skills

Date

22/02/2024

Access 

Paid event (200lv)

Format

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

ACADEMY FOR INNOVATION 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
ACADEMY FOR INNOVATION 2024

25.01.2024 |

The 11th edition of the Innovation Academy is coming up!

 

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The largest public-private educational partnership in the country between organizations from the private, academic, public, and NGO sectors will once again award the most innovative youth projects. The project is dedicated to the development of entrepreneurial skills in students and financing their first business ideas. In 2024, it will be carried out for the eleventh consecutive year in the form of a hackathon, where Bulgarian students will shape their first business projects and develop prototypes of their ideas.

Goal

The main goal of the Innovation Academy is to become an extended center for shared knowledge among universities in Bulgaria, following the model of the innovation centers of the Ivy League universities.

Historically, the project started in 2014 in partnership with one university in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, and by 2024, it is already being conducted on a national scale, in partnership with over 15 universities and training centers and 50 partners.

The project is realized with the support of the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria.

Structure

The project is divided into 3 main modules – 1/ mentorship, 2/ lectures, 3/ presentation of ideas.

The event is free for students from all over the country, but pre-registration HERE is required.

Additional information can be found on the official website of the Innovation Academy.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Software Engineering

Digital Skills

Date

31/05/2024 – 01/06/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Hotel “Hilton”, Sofia

Career Show | Spring 2024

By EVENTSNo Comments
Career Show | Spring 2024

25.01.2024 |

New year, new job!

 

Career Show is back with the first event of the year that will open hundreds of new opportunities for a more successful career! ✨

Career Show – Spring will be held entirely online on March 28 and 29!
Book these two days because they could be the start of exciting new ventures!

What to expect:

  • The leading career expo entirely online
  • Opportunity to join in from anywhere in the world
  • 15-minute video meetings with top employers
  • A program of interesting topics from expert speakers
  • All in one platform, one click away

Learn more and register:
🔎 More about the event: https://careershow.bg/spring
💻 Quick and completely free registration: https://careershow.bg/register

Details

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Software engineering

Digital Skills

Date

28-29/03/2024

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

National Conference “Digital Skills for the Digital Decade”

By EVENTSNo Comments
National Conference "Digital Skills for the Digital Decade"

20.11.2023 |

On December 7, 2023, at the 2020 Event Space, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy organized the National Conference on “Digital Skills for the Digital Decade” during the European Year of Skills. The main goal of the forum is to provoke discussion among national and European institutions, employers and industry organizations, unions, the academic community, and youth organizations on the topic of digital transformation.

The focus of the conference is on individuals – their ability to adapt to changes in the labor market and the necessity of training to acquire or upgrade digital skills needed for professional realization.

You can find the AGENDA HERE

The conference is free to attend!

Reasons to attend:

  • To learn about labor market trends.
  • To discover opportunities for free training.
  • To participate in the discussion on digital transformation
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Digital skills

SGJ: HACKATHON 2023

By EVENTSNo Comments
SGJ: HACKATHON 2023

20.11.2023 |

Join Sofia Game Jam 2023 for a weekend filled with creativity and fun, where students, game developers, and enthusiasts gather to create awesome games.

The hackathon is the annual 48-hour game jam aimed at bringing together people passionate about game development – from students to industry veterans, independent companies, gamers, and other enthusiasts – to create games, enhance their skills, and strengthen friendships.

At SGJ: HACKATHON 2023, you will be able to:

  • Create – Work in teams to design, develop, test, and create new games around a central theme that will be revealed at the beginning of the event.
  • Experiment – Explore new technological tools, try different roles in development, and test your skills.
  • Connect – Engage with the game developer community, build friendships, and get opportunities to learn from people with similar interests.

Additional information and tickets can be found at www.sofiagamejam.com.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

AI

Software engineering

Digital skills

Date

01.12.2023 – 03.12.2023

Access 

Paid event (50lv)

Format

In-person event

Location

Barter Community Hub | Sofia

Design WeekEnd 2023

By EVENTSNo Comments
Design WeekEnd 2023

19.11.2023 |

From November 24th to 26th, Plovdiv will transform into a center of creativity and design, hosting the three-day brand design competition – Design WeekEnd 2023. The event, which brings together students and young people interested in design, promises to be a real design challenge.

Design WeekEnd is a stunning competition that allows young designers to create a brand identity in just 26 hours. This event invites talented youth from across the country to prove their skills and creativity in web design, graphic design, or multimedia creativity.

Who is Design WeekEnd For?

Whether you are a student aged 16 or older or a student passionate about design, photography, video processing, print communications, or social networks, Design WeekEnd offers a platform where you can showcase your talents.

Program

The event begins with inspiring presentations and new knowledge on Friday, where participants will learn about the challenges ahead. The biggest challenge follows – teamwork and deadlines, which are limited to Saturday and Sunday.

The Competition

Design WeekEnd challenges participants to create a brand identity from scratch. In teams of five, participants have exactly 26 hours (or perhaps a little less) to create a unique brand. The tasks are diverse, including creating brands for products and services like mineral water, pet food, creative materials shop, extreme experiences, and musical instruments. But the challenge doesn’t end there – each team receives two random words they must incorporate into their brand. These words are random and unexpected, such as “plantation,” “drill,” “wave,” “chainsaw,” “beetroot,” and “horn.”

Mentors

Keep in mind that the competition involves challenges, but there are also mentors who are professionals and experts in design. They are available to participants throughout the process, eager to share their experience and knowledge, helping them create an incredible brand.

Registration

If you want to participate in this unique event and test your design skills, register on the official website of Design WeekEnd and follow their Instagram page @designweekend.co.

Don’t miss the opportunity to express your creativity and compete against the best young designers in the country at Design WeekEnd 2023 in Plovdiv!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Date

24.11.2023 – 26.11.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

TU Sofia, Plovdiv

IBM TechXchange Bulgaria

By EVENTSNo Comments
IBM TechXchange Bulgaria

17.11.2023 |

TechXchange is a cutting-edge, three-day gathering of technology innovators and enthusiasts.

 

Join the event for an insightful exploration of the latest advancements in technology where you’ll:

Gain insights from industry experts, deepening your understanding of Data and AI, Automation, Security, Sustainability, Cloud, Infrastructure and Quantum

Participate in hands-on workshops to refine your skills and learn practical tips.

Network with fellow technical professionals, fostering valuable connections.

Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in IBM Software and Hardware Products

Find more about the opening key notes speakers and the agenda HERE

REGISTER

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Software engineering

Digital skills

Date

21.11.2023 – 23.11.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan
5 Sveta Nedelya Square
Sofia

SPINOFF BULGARIA | CONNECTING INNOVATION, DEEP TECH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS

By EVENTSNo Comments
SPINOFF BULGARIA | CONNECTING INNOVATION, DEEP TECH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS

18.09.2023 |

If you are a company looking to expand your network, connect with key international partners and collaborate more closely with universities and science, the second edition of the international conference Spinoff Bulgaria, which will be held on 28-29.09.2023 in Sofia is for you!

This year’s edition will focus on the Horizon Europe programme, as well as key figures in the ICT field, including Marina Zanchi- Director of the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), Angelo Marino, Head of HaDEA Department A – Health and Food, Katleen Engelbosch, Head of HaDEA Department B – Digital, Industry and Space.

The initiative was created by the Biotechnology and Health Cluster Bulgaria // Cluster Artificial Intelligence Bulgaria // Venrize // in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, HaDEA, Horizon Europe, Invest Sofia, and with the support of the Fund of Funds, Technical University of Sofia, Premium Coworking Space, CyberCLUB.

The event is free, but registration is required.

To register, click HERE. Live seating will be limited, but the entire event will be streamed online.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital skills

AI

Date

28-29.09.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

Premium Coworker Spaces, Rakovska 108 street

CAREER SHOW 2023 – Plovdiv

By EVENTSNo Comments
CAREER SHOW 2023
Plovdiv

23.08.2023

The leading career expo is now also in Plovdiv!

Career Show annually brings together the country’s leading employers to meet thousands of qualified professionals looking for a new and better job.

Meet live with leading employers from Plovdiv!

Come to International Fair Plovdiv, Bulgaria Hall, on October 10 and find out what companies offer to people with your knowledge and skills!

  • Make personal contact with the most relevant employers at the moment;
  • Find out what conditions are offered to people with your profile.

Find dozens of new and better job opportunities!

Participation in the event is free, but registration is mandatory!
To join the event, you need to register at www.careershow.bg.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Date

October 10 2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

CAREER SHOW 2023 – Varna

By EVENTSNo Comments
Career Show 2023
Varna

23.08.2023

The leading career expo is now in Varna!

Career Show annually brings together the country’s leading employers to meet thousands of qualified professionals looking for a new and better job.

Meet live with leading employers from Varna!

Come to the Graffiti Gallery on October 27 and find out what companies offer people with your knowledge and skills!

  • Make personal contact with the most relevant employers at the moment;
  • Find out what conditions are offered to people with your profile.

Find dozens of new and better job opportunities!

Participation in the event is free, but registration is mandatory!
To join the event, you need to register at www.careershow.bg

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Date

October 27 2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

CAREER SHOW 2023 – Sofia

By EVENTSNo Comments
CAREER SHOW 2023
Sofia

23.08.2023

Career Show – the leading career expo in Bulgaria that brings together qualified professionals and key employers in an innovative experience.

The event provides a unique opportunity to meet both live and online with over 200 top companies from Bulgaria and various points in Europe. During Career Show 2023, participants will have the opportunity to learn about fresh ideas, innovative technologies, and up-to-date career development opportunities.

The leading career expo for skilled professionals is a gateway to new opportunities that expand career horizons and knowledge in business and innovation.

200+ employers
4000+ candidates
40+ accompanying activities

Meet live with leading companies from Bulgaria and the world!

Come to Arena Sofia (Armeec) on 5 October and find out what companies offer to people with your knowledge and skills!

  • Make personal contact with the most relevant employers at the moment;
  • Find out what conditions are offered to people with your profile;
  • Listen to live career development lectures from leading experts;
  • Have fun with our program, demonstrations, and activities.

Can’t make it to the live event? Don’t worry, the second day of the event – 6 October – is online!

  • 15 min. video meetings with employers from 60+ different business sectors;
  • Opportunity to meet online wherever you are in the world;
  • Detailed filters to find the right employer;
  • Opportunity to be proactive and remembered;
  • The event is absolutely free, but registration is required!;

To participate in the event, you must register at www.careershow.bg.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Date

5-6 October 2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Day 1: In-person event

Day 2: Online event

CAREER DAYS – IT, COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTSOURCING

By EVENTSNo Comments
CAREER DAYS - IT, COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTSOURCING

15.08.2023 |

The short career path is through IT Career Days. Attend the forum live or online and meet leading companies. Career development opportunities in IT, telecommunications and business process outsourcing (BPO).

Venue:

  • Sofia – 14 October 2023 – Hotel Marinella, 10 am to 6 pm
  • Virtual Day – 17 October 2023 – Online on the Brazen Technologies platform, 11 am to 5 pm
  • Gabrovo – 19 October 2023 – Technical University, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Plovdiv – 21 October 2023 – Plovdiv Fair, Congress Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Varna – 21 October 2023 – Graffit Hotel-Gallery, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

When you want to share it with an employer, you let them scan your unique QR code. The completed data automatically goes to the company. You have a record of when and with whom you exchanged contact and can easily continue the communication. Reasons why you should visit Career Days 2023:

  • To find a new job in the sector;
  • To find out about career opportunities in the sectors represented – the most stable and most progressive companies;
  • To gain professional contacts and experience in conducting job interviews;
  • To understand the knowledge and skills that are in demand for career development in the sectors;
  • To learn about the selection and application conditions and procedures of the companies represented;
  • To explore different opportunities in the job market;
  • To get up close and personal with the people who select the company’s new employees;
  • To plan job changes and relocation;
  • To receive career advice and counselling;
  • To participate in interesting and professional discussions
Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Digital skills

Date

  • Sofia – 14.10.2023
  • Virtual – 17.10.2023
  • Gabrovo – 19.10.2023
  • Plovdiv – 21.10.2023
  • Varna – 21.10.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

  • Sofia – Hotel Marinella
  • Gabrovo – Technical University
  • Plovdiv – Plovdiv Fair, Congress Center
  • Varna – Graffit Hotel-Gallery

CYBERSECURITY FORUM 2023

By EVENTS, Без категорияNo Comments
CYBERSECURITY FORUM 2023

14.08.2023 |

In the context of ever-changing and evolving information technology, digital assets and data are gradually becoming more and more important to every business, and securing them should be among the top priorities of executives.

Cybersecurity has become a central issue as technologies and digital transformation  keep playing a bigger role in everyone’s lives and businesses. 

The acceleration of familiar and emerging trends in cyber attacks means that each organisation should be ready to face an ever-changing environment where risk is inherent. In today’s cyber climate, no fish is too small for an attacker to try to hook.

The forthcoming edition of the Cyber Security and Data Protection Forum, organized by Capital, will present the recent trends in the sector. It will give practical knowledge on how to identify, analyze, evaluate, prioritize and respond to potential risks.

The speakers and the participants will consist of leaders from the cyber industry, governmental decision-makers, technology experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and advisors who will exchange deep experience and best practices within the conference.

Topics will include the Bulgarian government’s approach, how to increase efficiency and effectiveness, attacks on cloud services, cyber insurance and much more.

The event will be a hybrid – on-site at Sofia Tech Park and online, with several keynote lectures and panel discussions and fireside chats. The forum will take place on 16 November 2023.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

16.11.2023

Access 

Paid event (from 36 lv for livestream to 174 lv in-person)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

INNOWAVE SUMMIT – THE TECH AND THE SEA

By EVENTSNo Comments
INNOWAVE SUMMIT - THE TECH AND THE SEA

11.08.2023 |

Innowave Summit will be held for the 7th time in Varna, on 17 and 18 November at the Palace of Culture and Sports. Some of the biggest names in Marketing, Online Commerce, Artificial Intelligence, Business Development and Innovation will share their practical experience and valuable advice in front of over 5000 visitors.

On the stage of one of the most successful technology conferences in the Southeast, will be names like Andrew-Weld Moore – Director of Sales at Meta / Facebook, Carlos Cantu – Chief Marketing Officer at Freepik, Dex Barton – Director of Marketing and Communications at DeepMind, a Google company, Matthew Cross – Advisor to Robert Kiosaki and Tony Robbins and many more!

There will be 7 EXPO zones with over 120 stands from some of the biggest technology companies in Europe and the world. Part of the event will be the awarding by the organizers of the most innovative media, organizations and companies in different sectors and areas of business such as Marketing, Online Commerce, Startups, Artificial Intelligence, Technology and more.

If you purchase your ticket in advance, 65% of the price will be saved.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Digital skills

Date

17-18.11.2023

Access 

Paid event (from 59€ to 299€)

Format

In-person event

Location

Palace of Sport and Culture – Varna

IT TOUR- VARNACONF 2023 EDITION

By EVENTSNo Comments
IT TOUR- VARNACONF 2023 EDITION

01.08.2023 |

VarnaConf is a conference that is part of the IT tour, conferences traveling around Bulgaria. They are organized by a group of enthusiasts. The event will be held on August 19 at the Varna Festival and Congress Center.

The program is interesting and has a wide variety of topics and experienced speakers.

Among the topics discussed will be JavaScript, DevOps Pipelines, Flutter, Svelte and the popular ChatGPT. Speakers will be programmers with 10 years of experience, developers and software engineers.

You can see the full programme here.

Details

Website

www.varnaconf.com

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Software engineering

Digital skills

Date

19.08.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

ISTACON 2023 – PASSION AND CONNECTIVITY IN IT

By EVENTSNo Comments
ISTACON 2023 - PASSION AND CONNECTIVITY IN IT

20.07.2023 |

The ISTA conference, established in 2011 by IT professionals, has become a tradition and is one of the largest and most progressive in the region. Over the years it has brought together speakers and professionals to share their experiences and expertise in technology and innovation. Organized by leading IT companies in the country such as – Experian, Musala Soft, Infragistics, SAP & VMware – ISTA combines the capabilities of these organizations to bring creativity and share knowledge

The event is hybrid – the event can be followed both online and in-person, i.e. There are also 2 stages on which different lectures run. Thus it is extremely accessible to anyone who is interested, and quite extensive in terms of topics. The lecturers are a number of Bulgarian and foreign specialists in various fields. 

  • Dona Sarkar – Director of Technology Microsoft 
  • Radu Georgescu – Chairman of the Advisory Board SeedBlink 
  • Jason Beres – Sr. VP of Developer Tools Infragistics 
  • Momchil Kyurkchiev – Co-Founder Leanplum 
  • Victor Botev – CTO & Co-Founder Iris AI 
  • Aleksandrina Todorova – QA Lead LimeChain
  • Stanislav Toshev – Engineering Director Merkle 
  • Stefani Nikolova – Software Engineering Manager Progress 
  • Taras Pedchenko – DevOps Engineering Lead Intellias 
  • Elena Tosheva – Member of Technical Staff VMware 
  • Victoria Victorova – Co-Founder & CEO MindFit Bulgaria 
  • Antonia Atanasova – Front-End Team Lead Devexperts 
  • And many more. 
Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Software engineering

Web development

Date

12.10.2023

Access 

Paid event (60 lv online, 258 lv hybrid)

Format

In-person event

Online event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

QA: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED – TESTING WITHOUT LIMITS

By EVENTSNo Comments
QA: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED - TESTING WITHOUT LIMITS

17.7.2023 |

QA: Challenge Accepted is a respected international one-day conference designed for enthusiasts, professionals and managers in the world of software testing and quality assurance (QA). Organized by the Bulgarian QA community, the event will return for the 9th time to Sofia Tech Park on October 1, 2023. Attendees can look forward to a variety of sessions covering relevant topics for QA professionals of all levels.

The conference offers valuable insights and practical knowledge. In addition, attendees will have the chance to gain insights into the latest trends in software testing, including the integration of artificial intelligence into the software development lifecycle.

The event also emphasizes the importance of ethical values in the quality assurance industry and explores the impact of moral values on society and the software testing profession.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to network with colleagues, learn from industry leaders, and gain an understanding of the latest developments in software testing and quality assurance. With a combination of informative keynotes, engaging panels, and opportunities to share knowledge, the Accepted Challenge Conference is a must-attend event for anyone with a passion for software quality and testing. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career in quality assurance, this conference provides a platform to broaden your horizons and update you on industry trends.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Software engineering

Web development

Date

1.10.2023

Access 

Free event (online)

Paid event (192 lv)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

DEVREACH CONFERENCE 2023

By EVENTSNo Comments
DEVREACH CONFERENCE 2023

16.07.2023 |

 

DevReach developer conference returns to Bulgaria this autumn

 

DevReach, the developer conference for Central and Eastern Europe, will return to Bulgaria for its 13th edition. The event will take place on 25-26 October 2023 at the Sofia Event Center and promises to be an exciting meeting with 25 distinguished speakers from global giants such as Cisco, Microsoft, Progress, VMware and more.

The conference will serve as a platform for developers to share best practices and get informed about the latest trends in application development. Attendees can expect enlightening sessions covering topics such as .NET, JavaScript, Artificial Intelligence and Design.

DevReach 2023 will feature distinguished guest speakers, including Scott Hunter, vice president of program management for Azure at Microsoft, and Richard Campbell, the renowned host of .NET Rocks and RunAs Radio. A diverse lineup of technology leaders and experts will be in attendance, including developer advocates from VMware, Microsoft and Progress, as well as other prominent industry professionals.

Progress will livestream the event from a dedicated DevReach studio, offering real-time coding sessions and speaker interviews. Attendees can choose to join the audience in the studio or engage online via Progress’ Twitch channel. Registration for DevReach 2023 is now open.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

Software engineering

AI

Mobile apps

Digital skills

 

Date

October 25th – 26th 2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

Sofia Event Center

OPEN FEST 2023 – DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF OPEN SOURCE AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

By EVENTSNo Comments
OPEN FEST 2023 - DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF OPEN SOURCE AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING

07.07.2023 |

 

OpenFest, the largest conference in Bulgaria dedicated to free culture, open source software and knowledge sharing, will take place in Sofia Tech Park on November 4th and 5th. The event brings together enthusiasts, creators and supporters of free art and software. It aims to promote projects using open source software, encourage the exchange of ideas and provide a platform for free art. At the same time, the organizers also provide a platform for free art.

The festival, organized by the Open Projects Foundation, has been successfully held annually since its inception in 2003, winning the support of the Bulgarian free/open source community and various partners.

For more information:
https://www.openfest.org/2023/bg/
https://openprojectsfoundation.org/
https://cfp.openfest.org/

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Software engineering

Digital skills

Date

November 4th – 5th 2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park

InfoSec SEE 2023 CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE

By EVENTSNo Comments
InfoSec SEE 2023 CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE

20.04.2023 |

The largest and most emblematic cybersecurity conference in the Balkans, InfoSec SEE, will be held for the 15th consecutive time in Bulgaria. The organizers from COMPUTER 2000 Bulgaria have prepared a comprehensive and diverse two-day program.

The speakers participating are highly qualified and recognized experts in the field of cybersecurity on a global scale. Traditionally, hundreds of participants from different countries are expected to attend. This year, the forum will take place at KINGS VALLEY MEDICAL & SPA HOTEL on May 16th and 17th. The main theme of this year’s edition of the forum is “New Horizons In Cybersecurity”.

The InfoSec 2023 SEE conference is traditionally supported by the Ministry of e-Government. It will be opened by Ms. Hanna Kamenetsky, Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of the United States in the Republic of Bulgaria. Following the significant success of the format over the past fourteen years, the organizers from COMPUTER 2000 Bulgaria promise impeccable organization, a diverse program, a wide range of speakers, plenty of entertainment, interactive presentations, and surprises for all participants and guests at the upcoming edition of the forum.

Traditionally, InfoSec SEE is the gathering place for prominent and influential figures in the industry, as well as leaders in the field, both from Bulgaria and leading global companies providing cybersecurity and information technology services, including Mandiant (now part of Google Cloud), Trellix, OpenText Cybersecurity, N-able, Netwrix, Radware, Fortra, BeyondTrust, Bitdefender, and others. Practical examples are highly valued by the audience and are among the most highly rated elements of the conference, according to annual surveys conducted by the organizers of the event. Some of the presentations will focus on showcasing best practices in delivering cybersecurity services from leading Bulgarian IT companies such as Digitall, CNSys, Nebosystems, Mnemonica, Kontrax, Lirex, Atos Bulgaria, CyberOne, and SoCyber. InfoSec SEE 2023 will be held in a hybrid format: in-person and with online streaming. The hybrid format allows guests to participate in the conference in the most convenient way for them.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

Cybersecurity

Date

16.05 – 17.05.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Hybrid

Location

KINGS VALLEY MEDICAL & SPA HOTEL

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Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Date

start-end date (if available)

Access 

Free event

Paid event (fee)

Format

Online event

In-person event

Location

(address)

CAREER SHOW TECH 2023

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, EVENTS, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
CAREER SHOW TECH 2023

10.05.2023 |

Career Show Tech 2023 is a specialized online event for career and development in IT! The event is completely free and will take place on 18 and 19 May entirely online.

At Career Show Tech 2023, over 100 employers with open positions for IT professionals are waiting for you to speak directly about the positions that may interest you. You’ll meet representatives from the world’s top companies such as Youtube, Binance, Dyson, KBC Global Services, Accenture, Dynamo Software, Luxoft and many more.

Speakers at the seminar program will be founders of a number of technology companies and senior engineers who will talk about:

  • Artificial intelligence and the future of technology professions
  • Is it worth pursuing a career in cloud technology?
  • Is it possible to work entirely in Web3?
  • How do you create Android apps without being a programmer?

For additional information and to register visit www.careershow.bg.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Blockchain

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Date

18.05.2023 – 19.05.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

SCALE UP DAYS 2023

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, EVENTS, For all, For ICT professionals, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
SCALE UP DAYS 2023

25.04.2023 |

Invitation to all technology companies, manufacturing and agri-businesses, digital innovation hubs and all stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem in Bulgaria to participate in Scale UP Days 2023

Scale UP Days 2023 will take place over three days (25 – 27 April) at the Sofia Tech Park Lab Complex.

This year the organizers – ICT Cluster, Sofia Tech Park, DigiTech 4.0 and Mechatronics and Automation Cluster are planning a different format of the event.

Robotics Day, Digital Twins Day, a presentation and visit to Sofia Tech Park’s labs and supercomputer, demonstrations of specific innovation projects in the field of Digital Twins, robotics and artificial intelligence, opportunities for digital innovation hubs and small and medium-sized enterprises are just some of the topics on the agenda this year.

Participants will be able to exchange contacts and ideas at a B2B cocktail on 25 April.

Companies that are developing innovative technologies in the fields of digital twins, robotics and artificial intelligence will have the amazing opportunity to showcase them at their booth at Scale UP Days 2023.

The event is an exceptional opportunity to get information about funding opportunities and support for innovative projects in the coming year.

The Scale UP Days 2023 agenda this year includes a conference, exhibition and demonstrations:

  • 25 April – Opportunities for SMEs and Digital Innovation Hubs
  • 26 April – Digital Twins
  • 27 April – Robotics Day

Find the full event programme here

The event is organised by ICT Cluster, in partnership with DigiTech 4.0, Sofia Tech Park and Mechatronics and Automation Cluster and is implemented with the financial support of the European Commission within the BOWI, DIH World, DIH2 and agROBOfood projects.

Participation in Scale UP Days 2023 is free, but registration is mandatory!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Robotics

Software engineering

Mobile apps

Digital skills

Date

25.04.2023 – 27.04.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Sofia Tech Park – Labs

EXPLORE U.S. TECH WEBINAR

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, EVENTS, For all, For ICT professionals, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
EXPLORE U.S. TECH WEBINAR

01.04.2023 |

AmCham Bulgaria together with the Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria and BASSCOM organize a webinar focusing on the opportunities for technological companies to grow on the American market. This event is designed for those companies that aim to invest in scaleup in America.

About the webinar

Industry seasoned speakers and startup mentors from the United States will share what resources are available to Bulgarian SME software and services startups for their plans to grow in the United States. Bulgarian and European tech developers are increasingly facing the imperative to grow beyond their continent due to various limitation at home – either caused by limited market size or obsolete regulation. One third of the USD 5 trillion global information technology (IT) market is in the United States, making it the largest tech market in the world.
 

The Webinar will tackle issues like what it takes to enter the US market with an existing software product or service, how to raise the capital needed to invest in US scaling, is such available to non-American entities, how to become and investor or a start-up in the United States, and where could one find support and “soft-landing” for their overseas growth initiative in America. Within the U.S. tech market itself, almost half of spending is in the tech services and software industries, so finding partnership opportunities as B2B supplier to the American tech sector will also be addressed – yet another form of market entry scaleup in the United States.

You can find the agenda and register here.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Cybersecurity

Software engineering

IoT

Mobile apps

Web development

VR&ML

Date

04.04.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

ROBOTICS DAYS ’23

By Audience, EVENTS, For all, For children, In education, Robotics, TechnologyNo Comments
ROBOTICS DAYS '23

10.04.2023 |

The biggest robotics competition is back!

Robotics Days is a traditional initiative of the Robotics Club at the Technical University of Sofia, held every year to encourage and motivate the development of robotics and innovation in technology. The initiative includes workshops and competitions that are oriented towards students, pupils and people interested in technical fields.

This year’s competition will accept projects in the categories:

  • Monitoring on line
  • Mini Sumo
  • 3D Maze
  • LEGO Line Tracing
  • Hardware Projects
  • Software projects

To participate, you must register online at https://bit.ly/robo-days-23

The registration deadline is 17 April 2023.

To register as an event visitor – https://bit.ly/robo-days-guests

The competition will be filled with lots of prizes, workshops, tombola and many other surprises, don’t hesitate to sign up for Robotics Days ’23 to enjoy this unique event.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Robotics

Date

28.04.2023 – 29.04.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

12th educational block of Technical University – Sofia

SOFTUNI’S AI SUMMIT 2023

By AI & ML, Audience, EVENTS, For all, For ICT professionals, TechnologyNo Comments
SOFTUNI'S AI SUMMIT 2023

21.04.2023 |

Watch SoftUni’s AI Summit 2023 online conference for free on April 29 and April 30, 2023 from 10:00am to 5:00pm with a diverse lineup of AI experts.

Programme – 29.04.2023.

  • 10:00 – 10:30 – Introduction, Yordan Darakchiev
  • 10:45 – 11:45 – Going Far with Open-Source Tools in NLP, Krum Arnaudov
  • 12:00 – 13:00 – ChatGPT and how to become lazier, Alexander Atanasov
  • 13:30 – 14:30 – Data is the most important hyperparameter, Lyuben Syarov
  • 14:45 – 15:45 Classification models for Bulgarian language (analysis of ratings and attitudes in reviews), Atanas Atanasov
  • 16:00 – 17:00 – Unlocking Hidden Potentials: Object Affordances and How AI Detects Them, Denis Zahariev

Programme – 30.04.2023.

  • 10:00 – 10:30 – Introduction, Yordan Darakchiev
  • 10:45 – 11:45 – From data to product (through the magnifying glass of MLOps), Mihail Bakhchevanov
  • 12:00 – 13:00 – Transducers and natural language modelling, Ivan Stefanov
  • 13:30 – 14:30 – Super-resolution via neural networks, Viktor Belchev
  • 14:45 – 15:45 – Stable Diffusion: Painting the Picture with Text, Yordan Darakchiev
  • 16:00 – 17:00 – A Bird’s Eye View of Reinforcement Learning/Reinforcement learning, Hristo Buyukliev

For more information and registration click here.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

AI

Date

29.04.2023-30.04.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

Online event

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND PROGRAMMING FESTIVAL

By Audience, Basic digital skills, EVENTS, For children, TechnologyNo Comments
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND PROGRAMMING FESTIVAL

20.04.2023 |

Participate in the first edition of the School Telerik Academy Digital Technology and Programming Festival.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

  • An exhibition of 100+ digital projects developed by students studying in the academy’s schools
  • Inspiring stories from interesting personalities
  • Meeting our alumni and faculty from across the country
  • Games, prizes and other surprises

PROGRAM:

10:00 – 10:20 – Opening

10:20 – 13:00 – Project Exhibition

13:30 – 15:00 – Inspiring stories

15:00 – 16:00 – Closing Ceremony

The event is free of charge and pre-registration is required. Register here.

The festival is organized by School Telerik Academy, with the support of Sofia Tech Park, America for Bulgaria Foundation, Lidl and aims to inspire and reward the efforts of all digital creators from their schools.

Детайли

Уебсайт

Таргет аудитория

Дигитални умения в образованието 

Дигитални умения за деца

Дигитална технология/ категория

Дигитални умения

Дата

29.04.2023

Достъп до събитието

Безплатно събитие

Формат на събитието

Присъствено събитие

Локация на събитието

John Atanassov Innovation Forum

RAILS GIRLS SOFIA 15

By Audience, Basic digital skills, EVENTS, For all, For the workforce, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
RAILS GIRLS SOFIA 15

20.04.2023 |

Rails Girls Sofia for the fifteenth time!

Rails Girls is a free two-day workshop aimed at ladies with zero or minimal experience in programming and technology.

The main goal is to show that programming is a fun, interesting, exciting and very useful skill that can be used in many different ways. You will have the opportunity to create your first web application, in an enjoyable atmosphere and under the guidance of experienced instructors. More about the event ↓

The event requires (free) registration in advance.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Web development

Mobile apps

Date

12.05.2023-13.05.2023г.

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

2020 Event Space

Sofia

CYBER KICK OFF PARTY 2023

By AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Cybersecurity, EVENTS, For ICT professionals, Robotics, TechnologyNo Comments
CYBER KICK OFF PARTY 2023

06.01.2023 |

 On January 10, the Cyber Kick OFF Party 2023 will bring together for the first time in Bulgaria more than 250 experts, companies, and enthusiasts in the fields of cybersecurity, drones, robots, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other emerging technological sectors.

The event aims to present the local cybersecurity ecosystem in its entirety, create an environment for community channels that helps to accumulate and realize expertise in multidisciplinary projects. Anyone who wants to develop their skills and knowledge in the field of information security or simply wants to meet like-minded people from the ecosystem can express their desire to participate. The forum will be attended by recognized experts in the field of cybersecurity from various sectors.

The event will begin with a presentation of the CyberClub’s 2023 Strategy, as well as its members, and will later continue with a networking cocktail and various demonstrations of achievements by different companies in the field of cybersecurity. The Cyber Kick OFF Party will take place at Inter Expo Center Sofia on January 10 from 7 pm. Admission is free after pre-registration here.

The event is organized by: CyberClub, ISACA, Cybersecurity Talks Bulgaria (CSTB), Inter Expo Center.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Cybersecurity

Artificial Intelligence

Virtual Reality

Robotics

Date

10.01.2023

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

Inter Expo Center Sofia

TECHNOVATION 2023

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
TECHNOVATION 2023

03.05.2023 |

ELEVATE. INTEGRATE. ACCELERATE.

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Following the success of the first edition of Technovation, Manager magazine is preparing the second edition in 2023. This year’s Technovation event will discuss how the sector is developing in Bulgaria and around the world, as well as what investors are looking for and how to enter foreign markets. What kind of relationship will we develop with artificial intelligence? What does the next generation of technology have in store for us? How will the fintech scene evolve? What are some successful examples of creating new business opportunities through innovation?

In 4 discussion panels, leading executives and experts with recognized authority will discuss how technology is improving the business environment.

Audience: C-level reps/decision makers from tech companies as well as other sectors – retail, trade, heavy and light industry, transportation, healthcare; entrepreneurs; investors; consumers with a passion for technology.

Distribution: The event is being recorded and videos from the individual panels will be posted a few days after the event on manager.bg, Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

This year’s tech event will look at:

  • How the sector is developing in Bulgaria and around the world, as well as what investors are looking for and how to enter foreign markets?
  • What relationships will we develop with artificial intelligence?
  • What does the next generation of technology have in store for us?
  • How will the fintech scene evolve?
  • What are some successful examples of creating new business opportunities through innovation?

 

PROGRAMME:

  • Panel One: Investments in tech: staying ahead
  • Panel Two: AI era: Hello, I am here
  • Panel Three: Fintech 2023: What’s coming?
  • Panel Four: Flying in the clouds

Details of the topics, panelists and a registration form for free attendance in the room can be found here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Web Development

Big Data

Telecommunications

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

5G

THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

03.05.2023 |

Over 400 teachers, principals and education experts took part in this year’s edition of the educational event “Best Practices in Focus” on 29 and 30 April in Sofia.

Art Therapy Studio to improve students’ emotional competencies; project-based learning to celebrate the holidays of different ethnicities in school and develop tolerance among students; a student portfolio in biology to develop scientific literacy, short-term memory and motivation; and a comprehensive school strategy for environmental education and developing awareness of global challenges related to climate change. These are the educational practices that were rated highest in this year’s Best Practices in Focus competition. For the second year in a row, the competition collects, describes and promotes good examples of the work of teachers in Bulgaria.

The awards were presented on 29 April in Sofia during the largest educational event of the same name, which brought together more than 400 teachers, principals and educational experts to exchange experiences, inspiration, practical workshops and search for new approaches to engage students in the 21st century.

The organizers of the competition and the final event “Good Practices in Focus” are the Foundation “Together in class” and the educational website prepodavame.bg.

The winning practices are reviewed and evaluated by an expert jury of over 40 people. In the selection criteria, they look for practices that are effective, sustainable and improve the well-being of children, promote youth participation and support students’ academic progress.

“We often talk about what is not happening in Bulgarian classrooms, what needs to be changed and fixed. This gives the wrong impression that meaningful and inspiring things are not happening. With Good Practices in Focus, we want to show just how much resource and potential there is in the country’s schools. We have received many good examples that we believe will be useful for teachers in other schools – to find inspiration, to find like-minded people and to look for new opportunities to be even more helpful to their pupils.”

In addition to jury awards, audience awards and additional special awards were presented to some of the partners in the event.

In the program of the event, in addition to the awarding of the best practices, teachers from all over the country had the opportunity to participate in an important discussion on how we provide quality education to all students with the participation of Anelia Andreeva from the National Inspectorate of Education, representatives of the World Bank and education experts. [recording of the discussion coming soon]

After the discussion, the forum participants drew on the experience of Dr. Rima Shore, head of the Bank Street College of Education in New York. She inspired the attendees with a lecture on “Empowering Teachers”, which focused on the power and impact of teacher empowerment [lecture recording coming soon]. She also led two hands-on workshops on strategies for improving student well-being and progress and adapting best practices from elsewhere. The workshops were highly appreciated by teachers and helped many of them to imagine how they could innovate more in their teaching practice.

In addition to the international guest, the teachers at the forum learned experientially through practical workshops prepared by teachers from Sofia, Varna, Staza Zagora, Knezha, S. Bohot, S. Rumyantsevo.

The first day of the event also introduced teachers to over 30 educational organizations and initiatives during a special educational exhibition.

More about the event and a full list of the award winners can be found here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION “DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION” OPENS

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION "DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION" OPENS

03.05.2023 |

Traditionally, the campaign and the award ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science

From today, 3 May 2023, the registration for the Digital Innovators in Education Teacher Competition 2023, organised by BAIT for the fourth consecutive year, will open.

The aim of the competition is to reward and encourage best practices in the use of digital content, the connection of schools with business and the preparation for the establishment of STEM centers. The competition is looking for teachers – digital innovators, teaching from 1st to 12th grade.

All teachers, including assistant teachers, teaching students from 1st to 12th grade in all subjects included in the curricula of the Ministry of Education can participate. Any teacher may apply or be nominated* in one or more categories. (*Nominations also require completion of all fields on the application form, as well as supporting evidence.)

Registration in the competition is done by submitting an Application Form.

Deadline for registration: 26.05.2023 by 17:00.

Links to posts, testimonials, comments from students and parents on Facebook, LinkedIn, learning platforms, received via email, test scores, videos, links to materials and videos will be accepted.

The competition will determine award winners in the following 4 categories:

1.Technological Innovation:

  • Application of ICT in the overall learning process – tests, homework, visualization and examples;
  • Additional technological innovations – simulation environments, automation, generation of unique tests with the same degree of difficulty (scoring and individualization), authorship check;
  • Use of special technological tools in extracurricular activities – 3D printers, computer aided design systems /CAD systems/, virtual reality, etc.;
  • Contribution to the learning of the material (comparison of test results with previous years).

2. Quality learning content:

  • Interactive presentation of content: engaging students in the delivery and preparation of the lesson;
  • Learning through fun with a platform based on games and building different worlds that encourages creativity, collaboration and problem solving /games, quizzes and other forms with a competitive element/;
  • Feedback from parents , students and guest speakers;
  • Multiple use by other teachers and/or schools.

3. Practical orientation of information technology teaching:

  • Teacher participation in the Business Teaches NP (by updating knowledge and introducing examples from practice to enhance the practical focus of teaching and/or using practitioners as teaching assistants, guest lecturers). Using practical examples and knowledge of new technologies acquired during training in companies in the teaching process;
  • Other forms of collaboration with business to make classroom learning more practical;
  • Extracurricular forms of cooperation with business – internships, workshops and visits to companies.

4. Contribute to a quality STEM center:

  • Preparing for the use of the STEM center in the learning process;
  • Preparation of attractive and interactive content for after-school activities/clubs;
  • Preparing teachers to successfully use the technology tools in the STEM center;
  • Programs to generate interest in STEM;
  • STEM Skills Formation Programs.

The jury, which includes the members of the Management and Supervisory Boards of BAIT, will award the best applications from 1st to 3rd place in each of the four categories.

The winners will be awarded at an official ceremony at TechnoMagicLand on 27.06.2023.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Telecommunications

Web Development

Big Data

Mobile apps

Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

WORDPRESS. MAT THAT THREW THE INTERNET INTO JAZZ

By 5G & WiFi, Audience, Basic digital skills, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, Media literacy, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
WORDPRESS. MAT THAT THREW THE INTERNET INTO JAZZ

12.05.2023 |

The story of WordPress is curious and exciting, it is one of those rare series of events that show how beautiful life online can be and what amazing possibilities it creates.

Today, different programming languages, platforms, and libraries are multiplying faster than ever, which is why it’s especially impressive that more than 1/3 of the sites on the Internet today are based… on the same technology. And it’s jazz-related.

WordPress came along at the right time to become the venture that allowed anyone to make their well-designed website easily and without digging deep. The story is particularly interesting, Matt Mullenweg created the platform willy-nilly, insisting on its independence and general accessibility while at the same time… managing to amass a serious fortune. And to remain one of the most positive characters in the times of ubiquitous internet.

Jazzzz

WordPress came along just in time at the moment when the web suddenly became accessible and websites were ready to offer a variety of content. The open source platform has rallied a huge community around it. Thanks to it, today it’s easier than ever to have a well-designed website without being a programmer, designer, or having any experience.

It’s very hard to realize what 1/3 of today’s internet means. Different sources give differing figures, but it is approximately 450 million web pages! With not only the number, but the ratio not stopping growing in recent years, WordPress is adding 2% to its “share” of the web per year, and some say it has even passed the 40% mark!

Today, the project’s main database houses 423,759 lines of code, and because the programmers work on a volunteer basis, 112 years of hours of work have been put into the project so far.

And it all started completely by accident, from the curiosity of a kid.

It’s 2003, and 19-year-old Matt Mullenweg is a freshman at the University of Houston. He decided to start a blog and chose the b2/cafelog platform. He wants to show his classmates the pictures he took on a trip to Washington. The blog was called Photomatt.net, and later became simply Ma.tt.

At that time only 2000 sites were made using b2/cafelog. The platform is far from perfect, Matt needs minor improvements so he can upload his photos. So he’s trying to get in touch with the people who created the project… And today, all of us who use WordPress are very lucky that he’s hitting rock bottom.

The creator of the platform is gone, and Matt decides to seek advice in one of the popular programming forums. “My blog’s software dilemma,” the youngster christens the topic, and explains, “The platform login software I use hasn’t been updated in months, and the main developer has disappeared. I can’t find him anywhere, but I hope he’s at least okay.”

Days pass, only one comment appears below. One Mike Little writes: “If you’re serious about the idea of making a successor to b2, I’d be interested in getting involved.”

Summertime

And then, things just happen. Slowly but surely, their project began to gain a following to become what WordPress is today – the platform that gives everyone the chance to be featured in the online world.

Symbolic or not, the project was officially created on April Fool’s Day, the date becoming WordPress’ birthday.

People don’t stop preferring WordPress until today because in its basic form, you don’t need to know how to code. The system is simple, intuitive, and time-tested. And if you do a little programming, you can develop your project without limits. Of course, there are no perfect solutions, WordPress is not always the best choice. But it’s definitely a myth that it’s only suitable for more modest projects, and today it’s used by BBC America, Bloomberg Professional, TechCrunch and The New Yorker.

But we mentioned jazz… What does it have to do with a platform for websites? It’s a stylish decision by the developers, which WP fans are well aware of, to name each new version of the platform after a favourite jazz artist. The first official version, from January 2004, is named after Miles Davis, and the latest, from November 2022, is named after pianist Mikhail Alperin – Misha. With the release of each new version, the creators of WordPress also release a short playlist of their favorite performances of the selected jazzman.

“Technology is most useful when it brings people together,” says Matt Mullenweg.

But how did he and his followers walk the long road to success? How did he manage to become a successful entrepreneur despite becoming popular with open source? What are the WordPress creator’s views on the future of the web and the big questions of today? Read on the Digital Stories website.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Web development

Software engineering

Digital skills

WOMEN WHO SHONE IN THE TECH WORLD

By 5G & WiFi, Audience, Big data, Computing, For all, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
WOMEN WHO SHONE IN THE TECH WORLD

02.05.2023 |

Their stories are interesting and inspiring

Some think women don’t understand technology. However, this is far from the case and the proof is in the fact that there are many women professionals who have proven their worth in a wide variety of professions. We present to you a few of the most stunning ladies who have left their name in the history of programming:

Countess Ada Lovelace

Have you heard of her? She’s the daughter of the great poet George Byron. And shocking as it may be, she was the world’s first computer programmer. She was born in London in 1815. As a little girl, Ada loved to curl up in some secluded corner with a pen and a notebook. Her mother feared that her daughter had inherited her father’s literary talent and would carry on his work. Ada, however, was not interested in poetry at all-she was obsessed with the idea of the airplane she was designing.

When she was 17, Ada met mathematician Charles Babbage, who is known as the inventor of the first computer. The girl translated Babbage’s work, Elements of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Interestingly, the translation itself was accompanied by her personal explanations of 52 pages, writes iskamdaznam.

Among other things, she describes the algorithm for calculating Bernoulli’s numbers in order for the computer to understand them. Her calculation sequence can safely be considered the first computer program. Many of the girl’s ideas became the basis for the development of modern programming. In her notes, things like “work cell”, “subroutine”, “loop” are mentioned for the first time in the world.

Grace Hopper

As a child, she was famous for her proverbial curiosity. She remained so. Little Grace dismantled seven alarm clocks – quite puzzling her mother with these actions. Because of her father’s illness, she didn’t want to be another American wife who would be nothing more than a housewife. A decent dowry, however, was not as important as a good education. Therefore, the father chose the latter, which determined his daughter’s fate. The talented Grace Hopper quickly earned her doctorate at Yale. When World War II began, the girl went to serve in the Navy. In 1943, she was transferred to the Artillery Computer Bureau at Harvard University. She was among the first programmers of the Mark I computer. Grace Hopper created the COBOL programming language, which is still current. She first used the term “bug” in her bug report.

Marisa Mayer

Mayer breaks all existing stereotypes about female intelligence by becoming CEO of Yahoo! She was born into a family of an engineer and an artist in 1975 in Wisconsin, USA. After graduating with an MBA from Stanford, she began working at Google, where she became the first female software engineer. Later she worked from one department to another, doing web design, dealing with management, marketing, staff training. As a result, the indefatigable blonde found herself president of the IT product development department.

Marissa Mayer found herself in a difficult situation when she was offered the CEO position at Yahoo because she was pregnant. It is well known that this is not a prerequisite for career development. However, Marissa impressed the board of directors. The company’s management did not doubt for a moment that she was the one to lead Yahoo out of the crisis. After she left Yahoo in 2017, together with her colleague Munoz Torres, she founded Lumi Labs, which is a technology business incubator. The new company is based in Palo Alto, California, and its operations are focused on artificial intelligence and consumer media. She owes her career primarily to her character, which is an incredible “explosive mixture” of pedantry and workaholism.

Read more here.

Details

Website

www.businessnovinite.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Digital skills

Web development

Software engineering

FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

By Audience, Basic digital skills, Digital marketing, For children, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

02.05.2023 |

Time to consider differentiated remuneration to retain good teachers in priority subjects

The frameworks set out by the Ministry of Education are the stumbling block in the modern training of young talent. The inability to have the power to implement a newer and genuinely useful approach to training processes. Freedom must be given. The head teacher should be able to assign classes to people from the business who within 4-5 hours can come and teach. This will certainly motivate the students, give them another perspective, and motivate the teachers, which in turn will raise the level and lead to better quality education in the state.

Around this opinion united teachers from the Professional High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems – city. Varna and Professional School of Computer Science and Mathematical Analysis “Prof. Minko Balkanski – town of Stara Zagora at the next meeting-discussion organized by BASCOM with IT schools in Bulgaria. At the meetings some of the most successful technology schools present and exchange best practices from their training models in order to study their experience and multiply it in other cities of the country. The moderator of the meeting was Ivan Rusev – part of the BASCOM working group that deals with education issues.

Both schools in Varna and Stara Zagora were established less than three years ago and are already an established centre of attraction for young people from their respective regions. Eng. Vyara Dukova, Director of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Varna, said that the curriculum is key for any high school. “The main thing we rely on is that in the elective classes children study mathematics. We believe that no engineer or programmer would be successful if they don’t have a good level of math knowledge. The idea of student learning is to achieve lasting knowledge in something, not to go over material that students cannot understand and master. It’s important for us to build a foundation that the business or university will then build on.”

Eng. Dukova is adamant that today’s children are very different in their perceptions and we should find an approach and language to them. “We have tried to build a model where university professors enter the classes at high school level. This was not a successful practice because the university lecturer imparts a knowledge while the student should be taught. Much more examples and work with children at the high school level is needed,” she says.

Kamelia Krumova, Director of PGKNMA “prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora

The issue of personnel is another big topic that was discussed in the meeting.

“It is very difficult to find teachers who meet the requirements and at the same time to be able to retain them. Often they come to us for a period of time, we put resources into their education and before long the IT industry swallows them up. Teaching is not just a job, it’s a cause and it’s not for everyone,” said Kamelia Krumova, director of Prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora. Kamelia Krumova added that we have many applications for teachers from people from other sectors, such as banking, who once acquired teaching qualifications and decided to try their hand as teachers years later. There is a need to find a mechanism to support these people, for example to update their knowledge and assess it, because in general there is a mistrust and among these candidates there may be many valuable educators with unrealised potential. As an advice to future technology schools in other cities, Ms. Krumova stressed that it is absolutely important to be able to rely on a core of great teachers in the first place, as well as on the strong support of the local government – the formula for success of the school in the city of Krumova. The main reason for the success of Stara Zagora’s school.

Dobroslav Dimitrov raised the topic of how long it takes teachers to prepare their materials and what a big effort it is. “I myself am the co-founder of a coder training academy, which I have been developing for 10 years and I know how labor-intensive the process is. I can boldly say that since two months we are much more productive thanks to the AI-based tools we implemented. It’s a colossal transition that can solve in a large percentage the problems with content creation or a complete course. Artificial intelligence could help teachers, for example, to come up with specific assignments or coursework for each student in a way that is interesting and personalised to their level of knowledge and understanding. Using these tools, good materials can be prepared and the overall teaching process can be improved. This frees up creative resources that could be directed towards students. The application of artificial intelligence makes sure that the new juniors are at the level of midlevel and this is already happening,” said Dobroslav Dimitrov.

The participants in the discussion were in consensus that at least twice a year IT school principals, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and business, need to meet to exchange information and share cases that can find their solution through such discussions. They re-emphasized the importance of having a regular government and a Minister of Education as soon as possible to address all the issues raised.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AT IT

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For children, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AT IT

28.04.2023 |

Are you currently considering your career path after graduation? Have you thought about the dynamic and constantly evolving field of IT? Look no further! Join this upcoming event to learn about the exciting opportunities available as a programmer or designer. Take the first step towards your dream career and discover the opportunities that await you!

When?

04 May at 19:00

Where?

We are waiting for you at the boulevard. “Blvd. “Cherni Vrah” 51, floor 2″ (The entrance is on the back side of the building, from Boris Nikolov – Mokata Str.)

What is the event?

The event will take the form of a discussion, with a short presentation. The best teachers from IT STEP ACADEMY ( in the field of “Programming” and “Design”) will participate in it. You will have the opportunity to get to know their stories and get inspiration from their experience.

The event will be held in two parts (in two different rooms), and you will be able to choose where you want to attend and which is the most curious and useful for you.

Confirm your attendance by registering here.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for kids

Digital technology

Digital skills

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Telecommunications

BESCO: IT’S TIME TO ENCOURAGE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT OUTSIDE SOFIA

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
BESCO: IT'S TIME TO ENCOURAGE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT OUTSIDE SOFIA

26.04.2023 |

Svetozar Georgiev, Chairman of the Board of BESCO – Bulgarian Entrepreneurs Association, Dobromir Ivanov, Executive Director of BESCO, in “Business Start”

The Investment Promotion Act in Bulgaria is not adequate to what our neighbouring countries are doing. Neighbouring countries are doing better than us because the way they define the classes of investors and the way state aid is given – what the state actually supports to make deals happen – are fundamentally different. We now have draft laws in place that should change the situation. We propose amendments to the law to focus on medium- and high-tech companies that are outside Sofia and, as a consequence, to change the way in which the relevant classes of investors are defined. This was commented by Svetozar Georgiev, Chairman of the Board of BESCO – Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association, and Dobromir Ivanov, Executive Director of BESCO, in the TV show “Business Start” with host Hristo Nikolov.

Sofia is now considered a more developed region and especially when it comes to high-tech businesses, there is even cannibalism between companies in the capital and it is very important to develop the regions outside Sofia, the participants explain.

“In Sofia, the competition for staff is so great that at the moment of the arrival of a technology giant to extract more engineers to work for it, it is not clear whether this would help the ecosystem in the city at all…When a competition is too intense and we have a closed market, as in Sofia, we already become uncompetitive at the regional level because the cost of labor becomes too high.”

According to the interlocutors, it is very important to change the size of the budget with which we attract investors. At the moment, the budget of our Investment Agency is about BGN 9 million. By comparison, Serbia entered into a deal with 300 million euros a few weeks ago.

“Accordingly, we do not meet the basic requirements when an investor looks at the region to be able to be competitive with what other countries around us are offering.”

According to the interlocutors, urgent changes are needed in the education system and a key priority in the field is the creation of a standard for the quality of teachers’ work.

“Educational institutions, schools and universities need to be clear about what kind of product they produce in the end…At the moment the system is extremely formal, there are no quality criteria and we are lagging spectacularly behind Europe and the rest of the world.”

Commenting on the results of the parliamentary elections, the interlocutors stressed that the expectations of the business and the people are related to having a regular government that does its job. The state has been in a caretaker mode for two years, the caretaker government is not a body that can legitimise the important issues and the long-term commitments that need to be made and we need to get out of this mode.

Society is fragmented, but this is not just a Bulgarian phenomenon. Only – as in business, we cannot wait for all factors and conjuncture to line up perfectly to start doing work, it cannot be done, we have to work with what we have. Our plea to politicians is to stop trying for an ideal scenario as it will not happen. During this time, key aspects of Bulgaria’s way forward are actually questionable or to be postponed, or even neglected – like our membership in the euro area, in Schengen, the Recovery and Sustainability Plan is delayed too much, and to this we can add many institutions with expired mandates.

“We are a parliamentary republic, it has to be governed that way and the political parties that are in parliament – in whatever configuration they are – have to work”, the interlocutors point out.

The whole conversation can be seen in the video here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital skills

POLICY IN THE BAR – HUMAN CLOUD

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
POLICY IN THE BAR - HUMAN CLOUD

26.04.2023 |

Policy in the Bar is a BESCO networking event that brings together people from the entrepreneurial ecosystem in an informal setting over a beer. These include a variety of business owners, investors, policy makers and journalists. The meetings are in a friendly atmosphere and are aimed at networking and discussing ideas that can improve Bulgaria’s economic model.

GigsRemote will also be at the event to share more human cloud services of the future. GigsRemote is an innovative platform connecting freelancers from Eastern Europe with businesses in need of high quality talent to deliver their projects. The company acts as an impresario for freelancers, finding the best projects according to their experience and desire for professional growth. GigsRemote enables companies to implement their dual IT project implementation strategy, leveraging a core of key personnel within the company and hiring specialized external specialists.

The model is optimized for all involved, presenting the company with a cost- and time-effective alternative to the traditional model of recruiting through staffing agencies or hiring employees.

Come and meet us so that together we can build the future of Bulgaria!

More about the event here.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

RAILS GIRLS SOFIA 15

By Audience, Basic digital skills, EVENTS, For all, For the workforce, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
RAILS GIRLS SOFIA 15

20.04.2023 |

Rails Girls Sofia for the fifteenth time!

Rails Girls is a free two-day workshop aimed at ladies with zero or minimal experience in programming and technology.

The main goal is to show that programming is a fun, interesting, exciting and very useful skill that can be used in many different ways. You will have the opportunity to create your first web application, in an enjoyable atmosphere and under the guidance of experienced instructors. More about the event ↓

The event requires (free) registration in advance.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Web development

Mobile apps

Date

12.05.2023-13.05.2023г.

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

2020 Event Space

Sofia

SPINOFF BULGARIA

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Bulgaria, Computing, Country providing the good practice, Cybersecurity, For ICT professionals, For public administration, Funding of the good practice, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Good practices, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, National good practice initiative, Private, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
SPINOFF BULGARIA

25.06.2024

About Spinoff Bulgaria

 

Spinoff Bulgaria is the largest initiative dedicated to technology transfer, science-based  innovation and spinoff investments in Bulgaria and the region. The two-days format includes a wide range of  keynotes, panel discussions, workshops and roundtables and offers opportunities for networking,  matchmaking and the exchange of best practices.

The target group are scientists, universities and TTOs as well as investors, representatives of national  ministries and European organizations, experts, students, innovators and representatives of  corporations and business.

In addition to the exchange of insights and know-how and awareness-raising for topics related to technology  transfer, the declared goal of the spinoff initiative is to launch and initiate international cooperation projects  and spinoff foundations. By 2030, we aim to have helped 100 spinoff companies get founded, gain  investments and grow commercially.

The initiative supports the development of a sustainable spinoff ecosystem in Bulgaria, SEE and Europe by connecting national stakeholder with international partners. By presenting best practices, insights and collaboration opportunities, the initiative stimulates interest in the creation of spinoffs, promote the culture of technology transfer and bring together European organisations, companies, academia and investors.

Leading Technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Microelectronics, and Circular Economy Showcased at the Third Edition of Spinoff Conference 2024

 

The international conference Spinoff Conference was held for the third consecutive year on June 20 and 21, 2024, at Sofia Tech Park, John Atanasoff Forum, once again providing a platform for exchanging ideas, know-how, and raising awareness on topics related to technology transfer.

The primary goal set by the organisers— Health and Life Sciences Cluster, Artificial Intelligence Cluster Bulgaria, Venrize – spinoff factory, ISTEB—is to create a favourable environment for the growth and realization of 100 spinoff companies by 2030. These companies aim to provide high-value-added products and services crucial for the modernization and innovation of the Bulgarian economy. The initiative is supported by numerous ministries, municipalities, professional associations, and universities.

At the conference’s opening, Kristina Eskenazi, one of the main organizers, shared that over the past three years, more than 40 spinoff companies have been presented and awarded on the prestigious stage. “Bulgaria has immense capacity in cutting-edge technologies, and over the next two days, we have the opportunity to showcase them to you,” she stated.

Awards and Recognitions

One of the most anticipated events of the conference was the awarding of “Spinoff of the Year.” This prestigious award was given to companies that have successfully implemented innovative technologies and achieved significant market success. Six companies were awarded the Spinoff of the Year 2024: Momfident, VAReyes, Senesys. Biо, Simenso Ltd, MedTechLab, and Neuromorphica.

You can find additional information about the agenda and previous editions HERE.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

AI CLUSTER BULGARIA

Start date

20.06.2024

End date

21.06.2024

BULGARIA: Para Robotics Incubator

By AI & ML, Audience, Bulgaria, For children, In education, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, National good practice initiative, Private, Robotics, TechnologyNo Comments
BULGARIA: Para Robotics Incubator

15.03.2024 |

The Professional Association for Robotics and Automation (PARA) is recruiting participants for the third consecutive time for its educational program, PARA Robotics Incubator.

PARA Robotics Incubator is an incubator for robotics aimed at students and young professionals. The initiative selects projects from young people and helps them develop these projects to the “prototype” level.

Participants in the program will receive mentorship guidance, hardware, and access to specialized equipment in laboratories. The main goal of the program is for participants to create a working prototype based on a pre-designed project, thereby fostering entrepreneurship.

To enroll in the program, participants must be at least 14 years old and possess basic programming skills. Over the course of the six-month program, each participant is expected to complete their prototype. The projects encouraged should be focused on the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation.

In the third season of the incubator, projects sought are those aimed at: drones, industrial solutions, machine vision and artificial intelligence, agriculture, technical solutions for sustainable living, and the Internet of Things.

The five selected projects from across Bulgaria will have the opportunity to receive:

– Hardware
– Access to a prototyping space
– Mentorship assistance
– An interactive educational program
– A chance to win a prize of 5000 leva

Desired skills for participants in the program:

– Motivated to develop in the field of technical sciences
– Have their own technical project or idea
– Open to receiving feedback
– Technical knowledge above the average level
– Want to develop their project into a working prototype

Program Modules
What will you learn?

Module 1: Design Thinking
Concepts for developing new products, applications, and innovations within teams

Module 2: Sales and Marketing
Models for reaching the end customer through commercial and advertising tools

Module 3: Collaboration
How people and robots can work together, an overview of methods for coordination, collaboration, and assigning tasks to robots

Module 4: Machine Vision and Machine Orientation
An overview of models and methods for detecting, tracking, and recognizing objects, as well as applying these models to solve problems in real-world environments

 

For the remaining modules, read HERE.

 

And here is some more information about the main stages of the program:

  • The selection of teams will take place on April 6th this year during the special event Demo Day at The Venue in Sofia Tech Park. All teams will present their ideas there, and the jury will choose 5 projects to participate in the program.
  • The educational program will start on April 7th and will run until September 26, 2024. It will include active work with lectures, participation in mentorship sessions, visits to laboratories, and various activities for project development.
  • On September 26th, during the annual Robotics Strategy Forum, the final demonstration of the developments will take place. On that day, the winners of the third edition of the incubator will be announced and awarded.

More information about the program can be found on the official website of the PARA Robotics Incubator.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Robotics

Level

Intermediate

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

PARA- Professional Association of Robotics and Automation

Start date

02.04.2024

End date

26.09.2024

The best AI tools for education

By AI & ML, Basic digital skills, Bulgaria, Bulgarian, Country providing the educational resource, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Educational resources, Language оf the educational resource, Other educational resources, Technology, Type of the educational resourceNo Comments
The best AI tools for education

05.02.2024 |

Most of the discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) tools are often focused on business, but there is immense potential for AI to dramatically improve our educational systems. This is one of the most effective tools that teachers can have at their disposal, often relieving them of administrative burdens. These technologies will not replace teachers but rather allow them to allocate more time to student learning.

AI is rapidly growing in the education sector and is becoming a global billion-dollar market. This rapid growth is due to its ability to transform many aspects of teaching and learning processes. AI can create engaging virtual learning environments, generate “intelligent content,” alleviate language barriers, bridge gaps between learning and teaching, create specialized plans for each student, and much more.

Many innovative companies are creating AI tools to achieve these results. Let’s look at some of the best AI tools for education:

  1. Gradescope

What is Gradescope?

Gradescope’s AI tool allows students to evaluate each other while providing feedback simultaneously, which often consumes a lot of time without AI technology. Gradescope relies on a combination of machine learning (ML) and AI for easier grading, saving time and energy.

By outsourcing these tasks to external evaluators, teachers can focus on more important tasks. Gradescope can be used by teachers to grade paper exams and online assignments, as well as to prepare projects in one place.

Here are some key features of Gradescope:

  • AI-assisted and manually grouped questions
  • Time extensions specific to students
  • Grading with AI assistance
  • Improved efficiency and fairness
2.Fetchy

Fetchy is a generative AI-based platform created specifically for teachers. It empowers teachers to unleash their full teaching potential by simplifying and streamlining the myriad tasks they face, including creating engaging lessons, generating newsletters, crafting professional emails, and more. By harnessing the power of AI, Fetchy enables teachers to enhance their teaching methods, optimize time management, and make confident and informed decisions.

Fetchy specializes in personalizing generated language to meet teachers’ requirements without requiring them to formulate complex prompts. When using Fetchy’s personalized solutions, teachers can expect tailored results that align with their specific educational needs.

  • Generate lesson plans
  • Review history from multiple perspectives
  • Find mathematical or scientific experiments
  1. Nuance

Located in Burlington, Massachusetts, Nuance provides speech recognition software that can be used by both students and teachers. The company’s Dragon Speech Recognition product can transcribe up to 160 words per minute, aiding students who have difficulty writing or typing. The tool also supports verbal commands for document navigation, which is essential for students with accessibility needs.

Dragon offers many more features, including the ability to dictate lesson plans, curriculum, worksheets, reading lists, and more at speeds three times faster than typing, all while achieving 99% accuracy.

Here are some key features of Nuance’s Dragon:

  • Accessibility features supporting verbal commands
  • Voice assessment of students’ work
  • Dictate work in class with 99% accuracy

You can find the top 10 AI tools for education here.

Details

Website

www.unite.ai/bg

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial intelligence

Digital Skills

Level

Middle

Type of the educational resource

Other educational materials

Language of the educational resource

Bulgarian

Country providing the educational resource

Bulgaria

REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

17.05.2023 |

Registration for Java2Days 2023 is officially open! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the most anticipated Java event of the year, which will take place from 27 to 29 June in the beautiful seaside resort of Albena, located in a picturesque and ecologically clean bay on the Black Sea.

Java2Days 2023 promises to give you a unique and unforgettable experience, bringing together the brightest minds in the Java community for three action-packed days of innovative lectures, hands-on workshops and unparalleled networking opportunities.

By attending Java2Days 2023, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn from world-class speakers, including Java Champions and industry leaders, as they share their insights, experiences, and techniques to help you level up your Java game.
  • Dive into practical, skill-building workshops designed to sharpen your expertise and expand your knowledge of the Java ecosystem.
  • Participate in thought-provoking conversations exploring the future of Java and its impact on the ever-evolving world of technology.
  • Connect with fellow Java enthusiasts, developers, and professionals from around the globe to share ideas and forge lasting relationships.
  • Grab your limited-edition Java2Days 2023 swag and merchandise to show off your Java pride!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to dive into the world of Java. The event will contribute significantly to your professional development. Secure your place at Java2Days 2023 today by selecting your ticket type here.

Register now and join to Java2Days for an extraordinary experience, where sun, sea, and code come together!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Digital skills

THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

03.05.2023 |

Over 400 teachers, principals and education experts took part in this year’s edition of the educational event “Best Practices in Focus” on 29 and 30 April in Sofia.

Art Therapy Studio to improve students’ emotional competencies; project-based learning to celebrate the holidays of different ethnicities in school and develop tolerance among students; a student portfolio in biology to develop scientific literacy, short-term memory and motivation; and a comprehensive school strategy for environmental education and developing awareness of global challenges related to climate change. These are the educational practices that were rated highest in this year’s Best Practices in Focus competition. For the second year in a row, the competition collects, describes and promotes good examples of the work of teachers in Bulgaria.

The awards were presented on 29 April in Sofia during the largest educational event of the same name, which brought together more than 400 teachers, principals and educational experts to exchange experiences, inspiration, practical workshops and search for new approaches to engage students in the 21st century.

The organizers of the competition and the final event “Good Practices in Focus” are the Foundation “Together in class” and the educational website prepodavame.bg.

The winning practices are reviewed and evaluated by an expert jury of over 40 people. In the selection criteria, they look for practices that are effective, sustainable and improve the well-being of children, promote youth participation and support students’ academic progress.

“We often talk about what is not happening in Bulgarian classrooms, what needs to be changed and fixed. This gives the wrong impression that meaningful and inspiring things are not happening. With Good Practices in Focus, we want to show just how much resource and potential there is in the country’s schools. We have received many good examples that we believe will be useful for teachers in other schools – to find inspiration, to find like-minded people and to look for new opportunities to be even more helpful to their pupils.”

In addition to jury awards, audience awards and additional special awards were presented to some of the partners in the event.

In the program of the event, in addition to the awarding of the best practices, teachers from all over the country had the opportunity to participate in an important discussion on how we provide quality education to all students with the participation of Anelia Andreeva from the National Inspectorate of Education, representatives of the World Bank and education experts. [recording of the discussion coming soon]

After the discussion, the forum participants drew on the experience of Dr. Rima Shore, head of the Bank Street College of Education in New York. She inspired the attendees with a lecture on “Empowering Teachers”, which focused on the power and impact of teacher empowerment [lecture recording coming soon]. She also led two hands-on workshops on strategies for improving student well-being and progress and adapting best practices from elsewhere. The workshops were highly appreciated by teachers and helped many of them to imagine how they could innovate more in their teaching practice.

In addition to the international guest, the teachers at the forum learned experientially through practical workshops prepared by teachers from Sofia, Varna, Staza Zagora, Knezha, S. Bohot, S. Rumyantsevo.

The first day of the event also introduced teachers to over 30 educational organizations and initiatives during a special educational exhibition.

More about the event and a full list of the award winners can be found here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION “DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION” OPENS

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION "DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION" OPENS

03.05.2023 |

Traditionally, the campaign and the award ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science

From today, 3 May 2023, the registration for the Digital Innovators in Education Teacher Competition 2023, organised by BAIT for the fourth consecutive year, will open.

The aim of the competition is to reward and encourage best practices in the use of digital content, the connection of schools with business and the preparation for the establishment of STEM centers. The competition is looking for teachers – digital innovators, teaching from 1st to 12th grade.

All teachers, including assistant teachers, teaching students from 1st to 12th grade in all subjects included in the curricula of the Ministry of Education can participate. Any teacher may apply or be nominated* in one or more categories. (*Nominations also require completion of all fields on the application form, as well as supporting evidence.)

Registration in the competition is done by submitting an Application Form.

Deadline for registration: 26.05.2023 by 17:00.

Links to posts, testimonials, comments from students and parents on Facebook, LinkedIn, learning platforms, received via email, test scores, videos, links to materials and videos will be accepted.

The competition will determine award winners in the following 4 categories:

1.Technological Innovation:

  • Application of ICT in the overall learning process – tests, homework, visualization and examples;
  • Additional technological innovations – simulation environments, automation, generation of unique tests with the same degree of difficulty (scoring and individualization), authorship check;
  • Use of special technological tools in extracurricular activities – 3D printers, computer aided design systems /CAD systems/, virtual reality, etc.;
  • Contribution to the learning of the material (comparison of test results with previous years).

2. Quality learning content:

  • Interactive presentation of content: engaging students in the delivery and preparation of the lesson;
  • Learning through fun with a platform based on games and building different worlds that encourages creativity, collaboration and problem solving /games, quizzes and other forms with a competitive element/;
  • Feedback from parents , students and guest speakers;
  • Multiple use by other teachers and/or schools.

3. Practical orientation of information technology teaching:

  • Teacher participation in the Business Teaches NP (by updating knowledge and introducing examples from practice to enhance the practical focus of teaching and/or using practitioners as teaching assistants, guest lecturers). Using practical examples and knowledge of new technologies acquired during training in companies in the teaching process;
  • Other forms of collaboration with business to make classroom learning more practical;
  • Extracurricular forms of cooperation with business – internships, workshops and visits to companies.

4. Contribute to a quality STEM center:

  • Preparing for the use of the STEM center in the learning process;
  • Preparation of attractive and interactive content for after-school activities/clubs;
  • Preparing teachers to successfully use the technology tools in the STEM center;
  • Programs to generate interest in STEM;
  • STEM Skills Formation Programs.

The jury, which includes the members of the Management and Supervisory Boards of BAIT, will award the best applications from 1st to 3rd place in each of the four categories.

The winners will be awarded at an official ceremony at TechnoMagicLand on 27.06.2023.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Telecommunications

Web Development

Big Data

Mobile apps

Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

MAY IN SOFTUNI

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
MAY IN SOFTUNI

02.05.2023 |

We are pleased to introduce you to the new modules and courses launching at SoftUni in May.

The programme of each course has been selected and developed with the most sought-after skills by employers in mind. The technologies emphasized in them are in line with the latest trends.

  • On May 2 the advanced training “C++ Advanced” with lecturer Doncho Angelov will start: https://bit.ly/3mZhzVA
  • The new course “Containers and Cloud” with lecturer Martin Gradev will introduce you to best practices for creating containers with Docker: https://bit.ly/3oxLkNr
  • The “MySQL” course with lecturer Nikolay Bankin starts on May 10: https://bit.ly/40AS62v
  • With the training “HTML & CSS” with lecturer Konstantin Dankov you will learn to create modern websites with HTML & CSS: https://bit.ly/3V3BP4R
  • The module “Algorithms with Java” with speaker Nikolay Bankin starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/43VJ96G
  • The module “Algorithms with C#” with lecturer Atanas Atanasov starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/3LnfPPh
  • Microsoft Excel module with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/43VP0ZN
  • Course “Microsoft Excel Fundamentals” with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/3Arbe8g

You can find out more about the courses and modules here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Digital skills

Web development

Programming

FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

By Audience, Basic digital skills, Digital marketing, For children, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

02.05.2023 |

Time to consider differentiated remuneration to retain good teachers in priority subjects

The frameworks set out by the Ministry of Education are the stumbling block in the modern training of young talent. The inability to have the power to implement a newer and genuinely useful approach to training processes. Freedom must be given. The head teacher should be able to assign classes to people from the business who within 4-5 hours can come and teach. This will certainly motivate the students, give them another perspective, and motivate the teachers, which in turn will raise the level and lead to better quality education in the state.

Around this opinion united teachers from the Professional High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems – city. Varna and Professional School of Computer Science and Mathematical Analysis “Prof. Minko Balkanski – town of Stara Zagora at the next meeting-discussion organized by BASCOM with IT schools in Bulgaria. At the meetings some of the most successful technology schools present and exchange best practices from their training models in order to study their experience and multiply it in other cities of the country. The moderator of the meeting was Ivan Rusev – part of the BASCOM working group that deals with education issues.

Both schools in Varna and Stara Zagora were established less than three years ago and are already an established centre of attraction for young people from their respective regions. Eng. Vyara Dukova, Director of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Varna, said that the curriculum is key for any high school. “The main thing we rely on is that in the elective classes children study mathematics. We believe that no engineer or programmer would be successful if they don’t have a good level of math knowledge. The idea of student learning is to achieve lasting knowledge in something, not to go over material that students cannot understand and master. It’s important for us to build a foundation that the business or university will then build on.”

Eng. Dukova is adamant that today’s children are very different in their perceptions and we should find an approach and language to them. “We have tried to build a model where university professors enter the classes at high school level. This was not a successful practice because the university lecturer imparts a knowledge while the student should be taught. Much more examples and work with children at the high school level is needed,” she says.

Kamelia Krumova, Director of PGKNMA “prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora

The issue of personnel is another big topic that was discussed in the meeting.

“It is very difficult to find teachers who meet the requirements and at the same time to be able to retain them. Often they come to us for a period of time, we put resources into their education and before long the IT industry swallows them up. Teaching is not just a job, it’s a cause and it’s not for everyone,” said Kamelia Krumova, director of Prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora. Kamelia Krumova added that we have many applications for teachers from people from other sectors, such as banking, who once acquired teaching qualifications and decided to try their hand as teachers years later. There is a need to find a mechanism to support these people, for example to update their knowledge and assess it, because in general there is a mistrust and among these candidates there may be many valuable educators with unrealised potential. As an advice to future technology schools in other cities, Ms. Krumova stressed that it is absolutely important to be able to rely on a core of great teachers in the first place, as well as on the strong support of the local government – the formula for success of the school in the city of Krumova. The main reason for the success of Stara Zagora’s school.

Dobroslav Dimitrov raised the topic of how long it takes teachers to prepare their materials and what a big effort it is. “I myself am the co-founder of a coder training academy, which I have been developing for 10 years and I know how labor-intensive the process is. I can boldly say that since two months we are much more productive thanks to the AI-based tools we implemented. It’s a colossal transition that can solve in a large percentage the problems with content creation or a complete course. Artificial intelligence could help teachers, for example, to come up with specific assignments or coursework for each student in a way that is interesting and personalised to their level of knowledge and understanding. Using these tools, good materials can be prepared and the overall teaching process can be improved. This frees up creative resources that could be directed towards students. The application of artificial intelligence makes sure that the new juniors are at the level of midlevel and this is already happening,” said Dobroslav Dimitrov.

The participants in the discussion were in consensus that at least twice a year IT school principals, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and business, need to meet to exchange information and share cases that can find their solution through such discussions. They re-emphasized the importance of having a regular government and a Minister of Education as soon as possible to address all the issues raised.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED – TBS ACADEMY

By AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED - TBS ACADEMY

28.04.2023 |

The shortage of staff in the IT sector is an undeniable fact. The right way to address it is multi-layered and dynamic, just like the industry itself. “TBS Academy” was established with a clear mission – to offer the best practical and personalized training in the field of IT infrastructure.

Established in 2021, “TBS Academy” has been able to train a total of 40 professionals, 21 of whom are already working in the company, having chosen the department they want to develop in themselves. Completely free of charge, the Academy enables anyone with an interest in the field to not only gain knowledge, but also to get a chance for future career development at TBS after successfully completing the training. At its core are the drive of the teaching team and a clear awareness of a holistic transformation of learners. The academy is gaining popularity, starting with 25 candidates in 2021, a number that has grown significantly to 122 for the last training.

A new, more ambitious stage in the Academy’s history, encouraged by its great success, is its expansion to other Balkan countries following the same model, with TBS offices becoming educational hubs of sorts. Up-to-date, different and practically oriented, the Academy successfully combines ambition and the drive for knowledge with the need for well-trained IT staff.

About the Academy

The training starts with a three-month technology-focused theoretical part that covers the basics of modern IT infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the first stage, it progresses to a paid three-month practical internship, during which trainees get the opportunity to get involved in real company projects on an ongoing basis. For many, the final step is to start a job at TBS that guides them in their overall career development.

After gaining hands-on experience, new experts are encouraged to take a company-sponsored, internationally recognized certification exam. For this purpose, the Academy’s own certification centre, part of the Pearson VUE network, is located in the TBS office in Sofia. It is also available to external candidates. The centre offers certification exams of leading IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Dell, IBM and many others. Nearly 300 certification exams have been conducted in the last year, half of them by TBS employees and the other half by external candidates.

Since human resource is the core of TBS’s progress, creating professionals with the right focus and understanding of market needs is an absolute must. It is crucial to invest in initiatives that support and develop young professionals. Thanks to optimized training content, adequate planning and vast teaching experience, the “TBS Academy” is considered one of the main pillars in the company’s strategic development. Future trainings will build on the knowledge base in line with TBS’s long-term vision and with a focus on current expert needs.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Big data

Telecommunications

AI

Blockchain

SCHOLARSHIP FUND “GO, STUDY AND COME BACK”

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
SCHOLARSHIP FUND "GO, STUDY AND COME BACK"

28.04.2023 |

The Tuk-Tam “Go, Study and Come Back” Scholarship Fund is launching for the eighth consecutive year and will be the largest ever with a total fund of nearly 100,000 BGN!

The fund is a Tuk-Tam initiative that supports motivated Bulgarians to continue their education with a Master’s degree at a foreign university, and then apply what they learn here – this is how we build a brighter future in Bulgaria.

You can take part in the competition REGARDLESS of the field and country you apply to, as long as you have:

  • Bulgarian citizenship
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree obtained by 31 July 2023
  • Started application process to a Master’s programme at a foreign university
  • At least B2 level of proficiency in the language in which the training will be conducted
  • A clear intention to pursue a career in Bulgaria.

If you are targeting an Engineering (or similar) Master’s degree abroad, you can apply for the 10,000 BGN Specialist Scholarship from Sensata Technologies.

Apply by May 10! More about the fields, as well as all the conditions and the application form, can be found here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Telecommunications

Big data

Mobile apps

Web development

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

SPINOFF BULGARIA

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Bulgaria, Computing, Country providing the good practice, Cybersecurity, For ICT professionals, For public administration, Funding of the good practice, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Good practices, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, National good practice initiative, Private, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
SPINOFF BULGARIA

25.06.2024

About Spinoff Bulgaria

 

Spinoff Bulgaria is the largest initiative dedicated to technology transfer, science-based  innovation and spinoff investments in Bulgaria and the region. The two-days format includes a wide range of  keynotes, panel discussions, workshops and roundtables and offers opportunities for networking,  matchmaking and the exchange of best practices.

The target group are scientists, universities and TTOs as well as investors, representatives of national  ministries and European organizations, experts, students, innovators and representatives of  corporations and business.

In addition to the exchange of insights and know-how and awareness-raising for topics related to technology  transfer, the declared goal of the spinoff initiative is to launch and initiate international cooperation projects  and spinoff foundations. By 2030, we aim to have helped 100 spinoff companies get founded, gain  investments and grow commercially.

The initiative supports the development of a sustainable spinoff ecosystem in Bulgaria, SEE and Europe by connecting national stakeholder with international partners. By presenting best practices, insights and collaboration opportunities, the initiative stimulates interest in the creation of spinoffs, promote the culture of technology transfer and bring together European organisations, companies, academia and investors.

Leading Technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Microelectronics, and Circular Economy Showcased at the Third Edition of Spinoff Conference 2024

 

The international conference Spinoff Conference was held for the third consecutive year on June 20 and 21, 2024, at Sofia Tech Park, John Atanasoff Forum, once again providing a platform for exchanging ideas, know-how, and raising awareness on topics related to technology transfer.

The primary goal set by the organisers— Health and Life Sciences Cluster, Artificial Intelligence Cluster Bulgaria, Venrize – spinoff factory, ISTEB—is to create a favourable environment for the growth and realization of 100 spinoff companies by 2030. These companies aim to provide high-value-added products and services crucial for the modernization and innovation of the Bulgarian economy. The initiative is supported by numerous ministries, municipalities, professional associations, and universities.

At the conference’s opening, Kristina Eskenazi, one of the main organizers, shared that over the past three years, more than 40 spinoff companies have been presented and awarded on the prestigious stage. “Bulgaria has immense capacity in cutting-edge technologies, and over the next two days, we have the opportunity to showcase them to you,” she stated.

Awards and Recognitions

One of the most anticipated events of the conference was the awarding of “Spinoff of the Year.” This prestigious award was given to companies that have successfully implemented innovative technologies and achieved significant market success. Six companies were awarded the Spinoff of the Year 2024: Momfident, VAReyes, Senesys. Biо, Simenso Ltd, MedTechLab, and Neuromorphica.

You can find additional information about the agenda and previous editions HERE.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

AI CLUSTER BULGARIA

Start date

20.06.2024

End date

21.06.2024

BULGARIA: Para Robotics Incubator

By AI & ML, Audience, Bulgaria, For children, In education, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, National good practice initiative, Private, Robotics, TechnologyNo Comments
BULGARIA: Para Robotics Incubator

15.03.2024 |

The Professional Association for Robotics and Automation (PARA) is recruiting participants for the third consecutive time for its educational program, PARA Robotics Incubator.

PARA Robotics Incubator is an incubator for robotics aimed at students and young professionals. The initiative selects projects from young people and helps them develop these projects to the “prototype” level.

Participants in the program will receive mentorship guidance, hardware, and access to specialized equipment in laboratories. The main goal of the program is for participants to create a working prototype based on a pre-designed project, thereby fostering entrepreneurship.

To enroll in the program, participants must be at least 14 years old and possess basic programming skills. Over the course of the six-month program, each participant is expected to complete their prototype. The projects encouraged should be focused on the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation.

In the third season of the incubator, projects sought are those aimed at: drones, industrial solutions, machine vision and artificial intelligence, agriculture, technical solutions for sustainable living, and the Internet of Things.

The five selected projects from across Bulgaria will have the opportunity to receive:

– Hardware
– Access to a prototyping space
– Mentorship assistance
– An interactive educational program
– A chance to win a prize of 5000 leva

Desired skills for participants in the program:

– Motivated to develop in the field of technical sciences
– Have their own technical project or idea
– Open to receiving feedback
– Technical knowledge above the average level
– Want to develop their project into a working prototype

Program Modules
What will you learn?

Module 1: Design Thinking
Concepts for developing new products, applications, and innovations within teams

Module 2: Sales and Marketing
Models for reaching the end customer through commercial and advertising tools

Module 3: Collaboration
How people and robots can work together, an overview of methods for coordination, collaboration, and assigning tasks to robots

Module 4: Machine Vision and Machine Orientation
An overview of models and methods for detecting, tracking, and recognizing objects, as well as applying these models to solve problems in real-world environments

 

For the remaining modules, read HERE.

 

And here is some more information about the main stages of the program:

  • The selection of teams will take place on April 6th this year during the special event Demo Day at The Venue in Sofia Tech Park. All teams will present their ideas there, and the jury will choose 5 projects to participate in the program.
  • The educational program will start on April 7th and will run until September 26, 2024. It will include active work with lectures, participation in mentorship sessions, visits to laboratories, and various activities for project development.
  • On September 26th, during the annual Robotics Strategy Forum, the final demonstration of the developments will take place. On that day, the winners of the third edition of the incubator will be announced and awarded.

More information about the program can be found on the official website of the PARA Robotics Incubator.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Robotics

Level

Intermediate

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

PARA- Professional Association of Robotics and Automation

Start date

02.04.2024

End date

26.09.2024

The best AI tools for education

By AI & ML, Basic digital skills, Bulgaria, Bulgarian, Country providing the educational resource, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Educational resources, Language оf the educational resource, Other educational resources, Technology, Type of the educational resourceNo Comments
The best AI tools for education

05.02.2024 |

Most of the discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) tools are often focused on business, but there is immense potential for AI to dramatically improve our educational systems. This is one of the most effective tools that teachers can have at their disposal, often relieving them of administrative burdens. These technologies will not replace teachers but rather allow them to allocate more time to student learning.

AI is rapidly growing in the education sector and is becoming a global billion-dollar market. This rapid growth is due to its ability to transform many aspects of teaching and learning processes. AI can create engaging virtual learning environments, generate “intelligent content,” alleviate language barriers, bridge gaps between learning and teaching, create specialized plans for each student, and much more.

Many innovative companies are creating AI tools to achieve these results. Let’s look at some of the best AI tools for education:

  1. Gradescope

What is Gradescope?

Gradescope’s AI tool allows students to evaluate each other while providing feedback simultaneously, which often consumes a lot of time without AI technology. Gradescope relies on a combination of machine learning (ML) and AI for easier grading, saving time and energy.

By outsourcing these tasks to external evaluators, teachers can focus on more important tasks. Gradescope can be used by teachers to grade paper exams and online assignments, as well as to prepare projects in one place.

Here are some key features of Gradescope:

  • AI-assisted and manually grouped questions
  • Time extensions specific to students
  • Grading with AI assistance
  • Improved efficiency and fairness
2.Fetchy

Fetchy is a generative AI-based platform created specifically for teachers. It empowers teachers to unleash their full teaching potential by simplifying and streamlining the myriad tasks they face, including creating engaging lessons, generating newsletters, crafting professional emails, and more. By harnessing the power of AI, Fetchy enables teachers to enhance their teaching methods, optimize time management, and make confident and informed decisions.

Fetchy specializes in personalizing generated language to meet teachers’ requirements without requiring them to formulate complex prompts. When using Fetchy’s personalized solutions, teachers can expect tailored results that align with their specific educational needs.

  • Generate lesson plans
  • Review history from multiple perspectives
  • Find mathematical or scientific experiments
  1. Nuance

Located in Burlington, Massachusetts, Nuance provides speech recognition software that can be used by both students and teachers. The company’s Dragon Speech Recognition product can transcribe up to 160 words per minute, aiding students who have difficulty writing or typing. The tool also supports verbal commands for document navigation, which is essential for students with accessibility needs.

Dragon offers many more features, including the ability to dictate lesson plans, curriculum, worksheets, reading lists, and more at speeds three times faster than typing, all while achieving 99% accuracy.

Here are some key features of Nuance’s Dragon:

  • Accessibility features supporting verbal commands
  • Voice assessment of students’ work
  • Dictate work in class with 99% accuracy

You can find the top 10 AI tools for education here.

Details

Website

www.unite.ai/bg

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial intelligence

Digital Skills

Level

Middle

Type of the educational resource

Other educational materials

Language of the educational resource

Bulgarian

Country providing the educational resource

Bulgaria

REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

17.05.2023 |

Registration for Java2Days 2023 is officially open! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the most anticipated Java event of the year, which will take place from 27 to 29 June in the beautiful seaside resort of Albena, located in a picturesque and ecologically clean bay on the Black Sea.

Java2Days 2023 promises to give you a unique and unforgettable experience, bringing together the brightest minds in the Java community for three action-packed days of innovative lectures, hands-on workshops and unparalleled networking opportunities.

By attending Java2Days 2023, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn from world-class speakers, including Java Champions and industry leaders, as they share their insights, experiences, and techniques to help you level up your Java game.
  • Dive into practical, skill-building workshops designed to sharpen your expertise and expand your knowledge of the Java ecosystem.
  • Participate in thought-provoking conversations exploring the future of Java and its impact on the ever-evolving world of technology.
  • Connect with fellow Java enthusiasts, developers, and professionals from around the globe to share ideas and forge lasting relationships.
  • Grab your limited-edition Java2Days 2023 swag and merchandise to show off your Java pride!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to dive into the world of Java. The event will contribute significantly to your professional development. Secure your place at Java2Days 2023 today by selecting your ticket type here.

Register now and join to Java2Days for an extraordinary experience, where sun, sea, and code come together!

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Digital skills

THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

03.05.2023 |

Over 400 teachers, principals and education experts took part in this year’s edition of the educational event “Best Practices in Focus” on 29 and 30 April in Sofia.

Art Therapy Studio to improve students’ emotional competencies; project-based learning to celebrate the holidays of different ethnicities in school and develop tolerance among students; a student portfolio in biology to develop scientific literacy, short-term memory and motivation; and a comprehensive school strategy for environmental education and developing awareness of global challenges related to climate change. These are the educational practices that were rated highest in this year’s Best Practices in Focus competition. For the second year in a row, the competition collects, describes and promotes good examples of the work of teachers in Bulgaria.

The awards were presented on 29 April in Sofia during the largest educational event of the same name, which brought together more than 400 teachers, principals and educational experts to exchange experiences, inspiration, practical workshops and search for new approaches to engage students in the 21st century.

The organizers of the competition and the final event “Good Practices in Focus” are the Foundation “Together in class” and the educational website prepodavame.bg.

The winning practices are reviewed and evaluated by an expert jury of over 40 people. In the selection criteria, they look for practices that are effective, sustainable and improve the well-being of children, promote youth participation and support students’ academic progress.

“We often talk about what is not happening in Bulgarian classrooms, what needs to be changed and fixed. This gives the wrong impression that meaningful and inspiring things are not happening. With Good Practices in Focus, we want to show just how much resource and potential there is in the country’s schools. We have received many good examples that we believe will be useful for teachers in other schools – to find inspiration, to find like-minded people and to look for new opportunities to be even more helpful to their pupils.”

In addition to jury awards, audience awards and additional special awards were presented to some of the partners in the event.

In the program of the event, in addition to the awarding of the best practices, teachers from all over the country had the opportunity to participate in an important discussion on how we provide quality education to all students with the participation of Anelia Andreeva from the National Inspectorate of Education, representatives of the World Bank and education experts. [recording of the discussion coming soon]

After the discussion, the forum participants drew on the experience of Dr. Rima Shore, head of the Bank Street College of Education in New York. She inspired the attendees with a lecture on “Empowering Teachers”, which focused on the power and impact of teacher empowerment [lecture recording coming soon]. She also led two hands-on workshops on strategies for improving student well-being and progress and adapting best practices from elsewhere. The workshops were highly appreciated by teachers and helped many of them to imagine how they could innovate more in their teaching practice.

In addition to the international guest, the teachers at the forum learned experientially through practical workshops prepared by teachers from Sofia, Varna, Staza Zagora, Knezha, S. Bohot, S. Rumyantsevo.

The first day of the event also introduced teachers to over 30 educational organizations and initiatives during a special educational exhibition.

More about the event and a full list of the award winners can be found here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION “DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION” OPENS

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION "DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION" OPENS

03.05.2023 |

Traditionally, the campaign and the award ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science

From today, 3 May 2023, the registration for the Digital Innovators in Education Teacher Competition 2023, organised by BAIT for the fourth consecutive year, will open.

The aim of the competition is to reward and encourage best practices in the use of digital content, the connection of schools with business and the preparation for the establishment of STEM centers. The competition is looking for teachers – digital innovators, teaching from 1st to 12th grade.

All teachers, including assistant teachers, teaching students from 1st to 12th grade in all subjects included in the curricula of the Ministry of Education can participate. Any teacher may apply or be nominated* in one or more categories. (*Nominations also require completion of all fields on the application form, as well as supporting evidence.)

Registration in the competition is done by submitting an Application Form.

Deadline for registration: 26.05.2023 by 17:00.

Links to posts, testimonials, comments from students and parents on Facebook, LinkedIn, learning platforms, received via email, test scores, videos, links to materials and videos will be accepted.

The competition will determine award winners in the following 4 categories:

1.Technological Innovation:

  • Application of ICT in the overall learning process – tests, homework, visualization and examples;
  • Additional technological innovations – simulation environments, automation, generation of unique tests with the same degree of difficulty (scoring and individualization), authorship check;
  • Use of special technological tools in extracurricular activities – 3D printers, computer aided design systems /CAD systems/, virtual reality, etc.;
  • Contribution to the learning of the material (comparison of test results with previous years).

2. Quality learning content:

  • Interactive presentation of content: engaging students in the delivery and preparation of the lesson;
  • Learning through fun with a platform based on games and building different worlds that encourages creativity, collaboration and problem solving /games, quizzes and other forms with a competitive element/;
  • Feedback from parents , students and guest speakers;
  • Multiple use by other teachers and/or schools.

3. Practical orientation of information technology teaching:

  • Teacher participation in the Business Teaches NP (by updating knowledge and introducing examples from practice to enhance the practical focus of teaching and/or using practitioners as teaching assistants, guest lecturers). Using practical examples and knowledge of new technologies acquired during training in companies in the teaching process;
  • Other forms of collaboration with business to make classroom learning more practical;
  • Extracurricular forms of cooperation with business – internships, workshops and visits to companies.

4. Contribute to a quality STEM center:

  • Preparing for the use of the STEM center in the learning process;
  • Preparation of attractive and interactive content for after-school activities/clubs;
  • Preparing teachers to successfully use the technology tools in the STEM center;
  • Programs to generate interest in STEM;
  • STEM Skills Formation Programs.

The jury, which includes the members of the Management and Supervisory Boards of BAIT, will award the best applications from 1st to 3rd place in each of the four categories.

The winners will be awarded at an official ceremony at TechnoMagicLand on 27.06.2023.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Telecommunications

Web Development

Big Data

Mobile apps

Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

MAY IN SOFTUNI

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
MAY IN SOFTUNI

02.05.2023 |

We are pleased to introduce you to the new modules and courses launching at SoftUni in May.

The programme of each course has been selected and developed with the most sought-after skills by employers in mind. The technologies emphasized in them are in line with the latest trends.

  • On May 2 the advanced training “C++ Advanced” with lecturer Doncho Angelov will start: https://bit.ly/3mZhzVA
  • The new course “Containers and Cloud” with lecturer Martin Gradev will introduce you to best practices for creating containers with Docker: https://bit.ly/3oxLkNr
  • The “MySQL” course with lecturer Nikolay Bankin starts on May 10: https://bit.ly/40AS62v
  • With the training “HTML & CSS” with lecturer Konstantin Dankov you will learn to create modern websites with HTML & CSS: https://bit.ly/3V3BP4R
  • The module “Algorithms with Java” with speaker Nikolay Bankin starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/43VJ96G
  • The module “Algorithms with C#” with lecturer Atanas Atanasov starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/3LnfPPh
  • Microsoft Excel module with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/43VP0ZN
  • Course “Microsoft Excel Fundamentals” with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/3Arbe8g

You can find out more about the courses and modules here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Digital skills

Web development

Programming

FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

By Audience, Basic digital skills, Digital marketing, For children, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

02.05.2023 |

Time to consider differentiated remuneration to retain good teachers in priority subjects

The frameworks set out by the Ministry of Education are the stumbling block in the modern training of young talent. The inability to have the power to implement a newer and genuinely useful approach to training processes. Freedom must be given. The head teacher should be able to assign classes to people from the business who within 4-5 hours can come and teach. This will certainly motivate the students, give them another perspective, and motivate the teachers, which in turn will raise the level and lead to better quality education in the state.

Around this opinion united teachers from the Professional High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems – city. Varna and Professional School of Computer Science and Mathematical Analysis “Prof. Minko Balkanski – town of Stara Zagora at the next meeting-discussion organized by BASCOM with IT schools in Bulgaria. At the meetings some of the most successful technology schools present and exchange best practices from their training models in order to study their experience and multiply it in other cities of the country. The moderator of the meeting was Ivan Rusev – part of the BASCOM working group that deals with education issues.

Both schools in Varna and Stara Zagora were established less than three years ago and are already an established centre of attraction for young people from their respective regions. Eng. Vyara Dukova, Director of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Varna, said that the curriculum is key for any high school. “The main thing we rely on is that in the elective classes children study mathematics. We believe that no engineer or programmer would be successful if they don’t have a good level of math knowledge. The idea of student learning is to achieve lasting knowledge in something, not to go over material that students cannot understand and master. It’s important for us to build a foundation that the business or university will then build on.”

Eng. Dukova is adamant that today’s children are very different in their perceptions and we should find an approach and language to them. “We have tried to build a model where university professors enter the classes at high school level. This was not a successful practice because the university lecturer imparts a knowledge while the student should be taught. Much more examples and work with children at the high school level is needed,” she says.

Kamelia Krumova, Director of PGKNMA “prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora

The issue of personnel is another big topic that was discussed in the meeting.

“It is very difficult to find teachers who meet the requirements and at the same time to be able to retain them. Often they come to us for a period of time, we put resources into their education and before long the IT industry swallows them up. Teaching is not just a job, it’s a cause and it’s not for everyone,” said Kamelia Krumova, director of Prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora. Kamelia Krumova added that we have many applications for teachers from people from other sectors, such as banking, who once acquired teaching qualifications and decided to try their hand as teachers years later. There is a need to find a mechanism to support these people, for example to update their knowledge and assess it, because in general there is a mistrust and among these candidates there may be many valuable educators with unrealised potential. As an advice to future technology schools in other cities, Ms. Krumova stressed that it is absolutely important to be able to rely on a core of great teachers in the first place, as well as on the strong support of the local government – the formula for success of the school in the city of Krumova. The main reason for the success of Stara Zagora’s school.

Dobroslav Dimitrov raised the topic of how long it takes teachers to prepare their materials and what a big effort it is. “I myself am the co-founder of a coder training academy, which I have been developing for 10 years and I know how labor-intensive the process is. I can boldly say that since two months we are much more productive thanks to the AI-based tools we implemented. It’s a colossal transition that can solve in a large percentage the problems with content creation or a complete course. Artificial intelligence could help teachers, for example, to come up with specific assignments or coursework for each student in a way that is interesting and personalised to their level of knowledge and understanding. Using these tools, good materials can be prepared and the overall teaching process can be improved. This frees up creative resources that could be directed towards students. The application of artificial intelligence makes sure that the new juniors are at the level of midlevel and this is already happening,” said Dobroslav Dimitrov.

The participants in the discussion were in consensus that at least twice a year IT school principals, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and business, need to meet to exchange information and share cases that can find their solution through such discussions. They re-emphasized the importance of having a regular government and a Minister of Education as soon as possible to address all the issues raised.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED – TBS ACADEMY

By AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED - TBS ACADEMY

28.04.2023 |

The shortage of staff in the IT sector is an undeniable fact. The right way to address it is multi-layered and dynamic, just like the industry itself. “TBS Academy” was established with a clear mission – to offer the best practical and personalized training in the field of IT infrastructure.

Established in 2021, “TBS Academy” has been able to train a total of 40 professionals, 21 of whom are already working in the company, having chosen the department they want to develop in themselves. Completely free of charge, the Academy enables anyone with an interest in the field to not only gain knowledge, but also to get a chance for future career development at TBS after successfully completing the training. At its core are the drive of the teaching team and a clear awareness of a holistic transformation of learners. The academy is gaining popularity, starting with 25 candidates in 2021, a number that has grown significantly to 122 for the last training.

A new, more ambitious stage in the Academy’s history, encouraged by its great success, is its expansion to other Balkan countries following the same model, with TBS offices becoming educational hubs of sorts. Up-to-date, different and practically oriented, the Academy successfully combines ambition and the drive for knowledge with the need for well-trained IT staff.

About the Academy

The training starts with a three-month technology-focused theoretical part that covers the basics of modern IT infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the first stage, it progresses to a paid three-month practical internship, during which trainees get the opportunity to get involved in real company projects on an ongoing basis. For many, the final step is to start a job at TBS that guides them in their overall career development.

After gaining hands-on experience, new experts are encouraged to take a company-sponsored, internationally recognized certification exam. For this purpose, the Academy’s own certification centre, part of the Pearson VUE network, is located in the TBS office in Sofia. It is also available to external candidates. The centre offers certification exams of leading IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Dell, IBM and many others. Nearly 300 certification exams have been conducted in the last year, half of them by TBS employees and the other half by external candidates.

Since human resource is the core of TBS’s progress, creating professionals with the right focus and understanding of market needs is an absolute must. It is crucial to invest in initiatives that support and develop young professionals. Thanks to optimized training content, adequate planning and vast teaching experience, the “TBS Academy” is considered one of the main pillars in the company’s strategic development. Future trainings will build on the knowledge base in line with TBS’s long-term vision and with a focus on current expert needs.

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Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Big data

Telecommunications

AI

Blockchain

SCHOLARSHIP FUND “GO, STUDY AND COME BACK”

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
SCHOLARSHIP FUND "GO, STUDY AND COME BACK"

28.04.2023 |

The Tuk-Tam “Go, Study and Come Back” Scholarship Fund is launching for the eighth consecutive year and will be the largest ever with a total fund of nearly 100,000 BGN!

The fund is a Tuk-Tam initiative that supports motivated Bulgarians to continue their education with a Master’s degree at a foreign university, and then apply what they learn here – this is how we build a brighter future in Bulgaria.

You can take part in the competition REGARDLESS of the field and country you apply to, as long as you have:

  • Bulgarian citizenship
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree obtained by 31 July 2023
  • Started application process to a Master’s programme at a foreign university
  • At least B2 level of proficiency in the language in which the training will be conducted
  • A clear intention to pursue a career in Bulgaria.

If you are targeting an Engineering (or similar) Master’s degree abroad, you can apply for the 10,000 BGN Specialist Scholarship from Sensata Technologies.

Apply by May 10! More about the fields, as well as all the conditions and the application form, can be found here.

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Telecommunications

Big data

Mobile apps

Web development

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity