Businesses award less than 100 scholarships per year

“In 2010, scholarships granted by businesses to students were less than 100,” told Klassa Professor Margarita Fileva from the Institute of Economics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), citing data from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science. Currently, her team is working on a project - "Economic Aspects of Educational Practice in EU countries - Opportunities to Use their Experience in Bulgaria." The main objective of the research is to boost the implementation of the European model of education and financing of the sector in Bulgaria. Professor Fileva added that, in 2008, the total number of partial or complete training places in Bachelor's or Master's programmes, granted by businesses was 70. Businesses covered the expenses of 59 participants in summer language courses. She said that the trend was for the sponsoring on the part of companies to increase but that the process is very slow.

"The support for education on the part of businesses is very difficult in this country. Company culture in this field is underdeveloped and we have no traditions in such cooperation. For this reason, the establishment of relationships is difficult, "said Fileva. She added that there is a gradual trend for businesses to show interest in winning over gifted students before they finish their education.

"In 2007, a project was drafted by the Bulgarian Business Network Association, the New Bulgarian University and the University of National and World Economy, under which students who have finished the third and fourth year of education are invited to get internships in enterprises, members of this association," explained Professor Fileva. She added that the best students who participated in this programme received job offers. According to her, such practice is common for all European universities.

"Everybody is saying that universities do nothing for businesses but, unfortunately, businesses do nothing for universities," told Klassa Rector of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Professor Ivan Ilchev. He explained that the university had very good connections with some computer companies such as Hewlett Packard, Musala Soft, and some prospecting companies.

"We have contacts with some Greek banks which pay the salary of a professor in banking who came from the States to teach the students at the university. We have relationships with other smaller companies which provide scholarships. Things are not at the level they should be,"said Professor Ilchev.

"The scholarships granted to students on the part of businesses are very few. Businesses do nothing in this direction," told Klassa Professor Borislav Borisov, Rector of the University of National and World Economy. According to him, the situation has always been like this but, due to the crisis, companies have an excuse not to show interest. He explained that the University has good relations with two or three large companies, such as Mobiltel and Coca-Cola.

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