Key topics related to developing reliable indicators for assessing the environment for students with disabilities and refugees, as well as creating an inclusive academic environment, were discussed at an international conference held in Sofia.

Acting Minister of Education and Science, Professor Galin Tsokov, emphasized the importance of social inclusion in higher education. He noted that significant steps have already been taken in this direction. One example is that 25 out of the 33 public higher education institutions in the country will now accept 400 foreign nationals or stateless persons with temporary protection for regular study programs.

Professor Eliza Stefanova, Chair of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency of Bulgaria, called for active participation and constructive solutions to address the challenges facing higher education. According to her, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), higher education institutions, and non-governmental organizations must work together to propose changes to the Higher Education Act.

Other topics discussed included opportunities for changes in the regulatory framework concerning the use of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), as well as the introduction of mechanisms for validation and micro-credentialing within higher education practices.

The event was organized as part of the implementation of the START project—Social Inclusion, Tolerance, Acceptance, and Realization for All Students—carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science, the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency of Bulgaria, the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), and the Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants. The project is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program.