Geography and Geography and Employability: the case of Employability: the case of

Bulgaria Bulgaria

Dr. Stelian DimitrovDr. Stelian Dimitrov

Sofia University “St. Kliment Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”Ohridski”

BulgariaBulgaria

Bulgaria: country in transitionBulgaria: country in transition(still!!!)(still!!!)

► Transition from centralized Transition from centralized government to democratizationgovernment to democratization

►Re-discovering Europe and European Re-discovering Europe and European valuesvalues

► total change of the economy rules total change of the economy rules and legislative frameworkand legislative framework

► Integration into European dimensions- Integration into European dimensions- social, economic and cultural social, economic and cultural

What was the Bulgarian Higher What was the Bulgarian Higher education before 1990?education before 1990?

► inin 1989 1989 we hadwe had an archaic higher an archaic higher education model designededucation model designed to serve a to serve a doctrinaire society with a centrally doctrinaire society with a centrally planned economy planned economy

►LimitedLimited access to higher education access to higher education

►narrowly specialized course programmes narrowly specialized course programmes

What happened?What happened?

►TThe reform of the sectorhe reform of the sector began with the began with the restoration of university autonomy restoration of university autonomy through the 1990 Act onthrough the 1990 Act on University University AutonomyAutonomy

►The realThe real institutional autonomy that institutional autonomy that resulted, coupled with the growing resulted, coupled with the growing demand fordemand for higher education higher education and changed and changed social and economic environmentsocial and economic environment

The result is:The result is:

►Very fast growth of the academic sector- Very fast growth of the academic sector- now in Bulgaria we have more than 50 now in Bulgaria we have more than 50 universities- too much!!!!!!!!universities- too much!!!!!!!!

► Programs are mainly affected by the Programs are mainly affected by the demands of the labor marketdemands of the labor market

► The quantity is not equal to quality!!!The quantity is not equal to quality!!!► The tree level structure of the higher The tree level structure of the higher

education was successively introducededucation was successively introduced►The accreditation system was The accreditation system was

implemented implemented

Geography and employabilityGeography and employability

► Geography in the Universities is experiencing Geography in the Universities is experiencing “post-factum” the “enthusiasm” of transition- “post-factum” the “enthusiasm” of transition- many new courses and programs (especially in many new courses and programs (especially in the graduate level)- most of them because of the graduate level)- most of them because of the labor marketthe labor market

► But… we still are not “making” employable But… we still are not “making” employable graduates, because:graduates, because:

- geography is too descriptive or- geography is too descriptive or- too theoretical- too theoretical- almost absence of vocational - almost absence of vocational

training training

What is the labor market in What is the labor market in Bulgaria like?Bulgaria like?

► 12.2% unemployed, but only 1.3% of 12.2% unemployed, but only 1.3% of unemployed are with degree!unemployed are with degree!

► The most “preferred” degrees are in law, The most “preferred” degrees are in law, economics, management and business economics, management and business administration- average salaries are 50% administration- average salaries are 50% higher compare to othershigher compare to others

► Requirements from the employers: Requirements from the employers: - experience at least 2 years- experience at least 2 years

- foreign language- foreign language - age between 25-35 years- age between 25-35 years

What is happening with the What is happening with the students?students?

To be able to see this, a small survey To be able to see this, a small survey was conducted:was conducted:

► Period: end of May 2004Period: end of May 2004►Target groups: Target groups:

65 first year geography undergraduate students 65 first year geography undergraduate students 53 last year geography undergraduate students53 last year geography undergraduate students

Questions:Questions:

► Do you speak any EU language?Do you speak any EU language? ► If yes, what language do you speak?If yes, what language do you speak?► Are you intending to study somewhere Are you intending to study somewhere

in Europe?in Europe? ►What is your opinion about the new What is your opinion about the new

Geography curriculum at Sofia Geography curriculum at Sofia University?University?

►Do you think that with geography degree Do you think that with geography degree you can find job in Bulgaria different than you can find job in Bulgaria different than as a teacher?as a teacher?

The answers:The answers:

► Do you speak any EU language?Do you speak any EU language?

First year students

32%

68%

Yes

No

The answers:The answers:

► Do you speak any EU language?Do you speak any EU language?

Last year students

21%

79%

Yes

No

If yes, what language do you If yes, what language do you speak?speak?

First year students

52% 21%

11%3%4%9%

English

German

French

Italian

Spanish

Other

If yes, what language do you If yes, what language do you speak?speak?

Last year students

44%

26%

13%4%3%10%

English

German

French

Italian

Spanish

Other

Are you intending to study Are you intending to study somewhere in Europe?somewhere in Europe?

First year graduates

31,0%

46,0%

23,0%

Yes

No

I don't know

Are you intending to study Are you intending to study somewhere in Europe?somewhere in Europe?

Last year graduates

19,0%

52,0%

29,0%

Yes

No

I don't know

What is your opinion about the What is your opinion about the new Geography curriculum at new Geography curriculum at

Sofia University?Sofia University?

First year graduates

61,0%18,0%

21,0%

Positive

Negative

I don't know

What is your opinion about the What is your opinion about the new Geography curriculum at new Geography curriculum at

Sofia University?Sofia University?

Last year graduates

56,0%21,0%

23,0%

Positive

Negative

I don't know

Do you think that with Do you think that with geography degree you can find geography degree you can find job in Bulgaria different than as job in Bulgaria different than as

a teacher?a teacher?First year graduates

14,0%

68,0%

18,0%

Yes

No

I don't know

Do you think that with Do you think that with geography degree you can find geography degree you can find job in Bulgaria different than as job in Bulgaria different than as

a teacher?a teacher?Last year graduates

8,0%

61,0%

31,0%Yes

No

I don't know

General question: Do you think that the education will give you

a successful career?► two-thirds of the students believe that good

education is crucial to achieving success in life

► However, 59 % of students also believe that education in itself is not a sufficient guarantee for a good career

► 17 % state the need for further training after graduation.

► 28 % state that if they have a chance, they will train in EU country

Increasing employability- the Increasing employability- the case of GIS and Cartography case of GIS and Cartography

departmentdepartment► This is the newest department at the This is the newest department at the

faculty of Geology and Geographyfaculty of Geology and Geography►15 students per year in MSc program15 students per year in MSc program► In that department we have In that department we have

established a program for increasing established a program for increasing employabilityemployability

What we are doing?What we are doing?

► Investigating the labor market for GIS and GI specialistsInvestigating the labor market for GIS and GI specialists► Designing our programs (especially the elective courses) Designing our programs (especially the elective courses)

together with the employerstogether with the employers► Advertising Geography through GIS and Remote sensingAdvertising Geography through GIS and Remote sensing► Making joint projects with different institutions – National Making joint projects with different institutions – National

Statistical Institute, Ministry of Regional Development Statistical Institute, Ministry of Regional Development ► Attracting non-geographers from different institutions to Attracting non-geographers from different institutions to

be trained- way to show them how useful could be be trained- way to show them how useful could be geographygeography

► Sending students to work in summer in Governmental Sending students to work in summer in Governmental institutions, private companies, national parks etc.institutions, private companies, national parks etc.

Results:Results:

► last year from 15 graduates, 8 started last year from 15 graduates, 8 started to work in the field of GIS before the to work in the field of GIS before the finishing of their degreefinishing of their degree

► Other 5 started work one month after Other 5 started work one month after their graduationtheir graduation

► Now we have 46 applications for 15 Now we have 46 applications for 15 places- not bad!!!places- not bad!!!

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention.attention.

Dr. Stelian DimitrovDr. Stelian Dimitrov

stelian@gea.uni-sofia.bgstelian@gea.uni-sofia.bg