BULGARIA IN THE ACADEMIC COOPERATION ON THE BALKANS

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study on the participation and the role of Bulgaria in the academic cooperation on the Balkans. The country's activity in regional and subregional initiatives, including cross-border cooperation, as well as its specific forms applied in the fields of higher education, science and development of innovations in the region, are analyzed. It has been demonstrated that certain successes have been achieved at the level of developing initiatives and project ideas for collaborative cooperation in the analyzed areas. The role of Bulgaria in the practical implementation of subregional academic cooperation and exchange, as well as in the active participation in regional research and innovation initiatives, especially in the transnational regional plan at the expense of bilateral cooperation, is significantly weaker. In this context, proposals have been made for the possible enhancement of the role of Bulgaria on the Balkans in the efforts of the state and academic institutions. The aim is our country to strive to take a leading position in the regional research and educational area as well as a leading position of a moderator in the process of European integration of the Western Balkan countries.