[ Sofia Events ]

International conference, February, 24-25th, 2006, Sofia,
Organized by:

• Friedrich Naumann Foundation
• New Bulgarian University, Department of Philosophy and Sociology
• Human and Social Studies Foundation - Sofia

Participants: experts, politicians, university scholars, NGO representatives, students, journalists.

Place: NBU, Auditorium 310

Working languages: Bulgarian, English – simultaneous translation

Friday, Feb 24th, 2006

09.30 - Welcome, Dr. Sergey Ignatov, associate professor, rector of New Bulgarian University;
Dr. Wolfgang Sachsenroeder, project director for Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, and Moldavia, Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Dr. Dimitar Vatsov, President of Human and Social Studies Foundation - Sofia

10.00-10.30 - "The Need in New Law as a Pre-requisite for Higher Education Reform",
Tatyana Kalkanova. MP, vice president of Parliamentary Commission for Education and Science, Republic of Bulgaria
10.30-11.00 - "Bologna Process in Croatia – Reform of the Higher Education and Scientific Research", Prof. Dr. Pavo Barisic, lecturer in philosophy at Zagreb University, vice minister of education, Republic of Croatia

11.00-11.30 - Coffee Break

11.30-12.00 - "The Global Higher Education Agenda", Kemal Guruz, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, former president of Council of Higher Education of Republic of Turkey
12.00-12.30 - "Is Bulgaria Becoming a Part of the Knowledge Based Society, or Is It Turning into an Island of Darkness and Isolation? The Challenges We Are Facing", Dr. Boycho Kokinov, associate professor, vice rector of NBU

12.30-13.30 - Discussion

13.30-14.30 - Lunch Break

14.30-15.00 - "On the Socio-genesis of Knowledge. Why Is the Unification of Academic Education Impossible?", Dr. Krassimir Stojanov, associate professor at Hanover University, member of the European Association in Philosophy of Education
15.00-15.30 - "Funding System and Scientific Research in Bulgarian Universities", Dr. Dimitar Denkov, associate professor at Sofia University, vice dean of the faculty of philosophy

15.30-16.00 - Coffee Break

16.00-16.30 - "The Quality Culture Project at Uludağ University", Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yurtkuran, rector of Uludağ University, Bursa
16.30-17.00 - "Research at the Bachelor Level: Five Years of Experience in NBU", Dr. Moris Grinberg, associate professor, director of Bihavioral and Social Sciences Program, NBU

17.00-18.00 - Discussion

Saturday, Feb 25th, 2006

09.30–10.00 - "The Excellence Initiative and Its Long-term Effect on Research Universities in Germany", Dr. Tim Stuchtey, director of Strategic Development and Planning Group at Humboldt University, Berlin, project leader of Humboldt Institute on Transatlantic Issues
10.00-10.30 - "Higher Education – Challenges and Perspectives", Prof. Dr. Miroslav Dachev, vice rector of NBU
10.30-11.00 - "Distance Education Applications at Anadolu University", Prof. Dr. Engin Atac, member of the Council of Higher Education of Republic of Turkey, former rector of Anadolu University

11.00-11.30 - Discussion

11.30-12.00 - Coffee Break

12.00-12.30 - "Problems of Ph.D. Education in Bulgaria", Prof. Dr. Ivaylo Znepolski, Sofia University, MSHS, former minister of culture of Republic of Bulgaria
12.30-13.00 - "The Hidden Agenda of University Curricula", Dr. Antoniy Todorov, associate professor, vice rector of NBU
13.00-13.30 - "The Bulgarian Law of Higher Education – What Should It Be", Dr. Anastas Gerdjikov, assocate professor at Sofia University, former vice minister of education and science of Republic of Bulgaria

13.30-14.30 - Discussion.