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BULGARIA |
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BULGARIA |
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROFESSION
At the national level, all Bulgarian ministries and executive institutions routinely organise qualification courses for their employees. These are generally short-term, in-service training, weekend and evening courses. Courses tend to be organised when new laws and regulations are adopted or a new administration takes over various institutions. For the last year, longer and more in-depth qualification courses focusing on particular managerial skills have been organised due to the government’s demand to raise the level of administration in connection with plans for European integration. In some areas (e.g., health management), special requirements for successfully completing such courses in order to hold managerial positions have been introduced. As a result, all public managers and higher-ranking civil servants in such institutions must obtain adequate training to continue working.
For nearly two decades, the Ministry of Regional Development (the National Centre for Territorial Development and Housing Policy’s Consulting and Experimental Sector) has organised qualification courses for local municipal staff, including mayors, deputy mayors and civil council members. A special “School for Staff Qualifications” has been set up within the centre to train public managers in all governmental and local power spheres. Unfortunately, the National League of Municipalities does not possess its own training institution.
At the local level, training is organised either at the request of particular municipalities or, more often, local associations of municipalities. Academics (law or economics and business professors) are often invited to conduct lecture series. The Varna Technical University’s branch in Sliven, the Varna Free University and the University of Plovdiv are also known as qualification course providers. The New Bulgarian University and Sofia University also provide in-service or distance learning training activities. Sofia University and the University of National and World Economy regularly provide qualification courses all over the country. In general, the academic schools of PA have the potential to expand training activities.
The British Know-How Fund and USAID have been the most active international training providers to date. However, the courses sponsored by these organisations have not involved large groups of Bulgarian civil servants. A few NGOs and private firms, some focusing on business administration, also provide qualification services. As there is no coordination between these various training efforts, it is impossible to offer a detailed description of their activities.
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