Continuing Training for Persons with Higher Education – Challenges and Opportunities for Universities

Abstract

The offered continuing education in higher schools in Bulgaria covers various activities, among which the non-formal training courses stand out, aimed mainly at persons with higher education. The ongoing changes in the socioeconomic environment are accompanied by the dynamics of the users of non-formal education and the formation of certain challenges for continuing education and training in higher education. The main goal of the article is to study the state and dynamics of participation in nonformal education of the population with higher education in Bulgaria, on the basis of which conclusions are formulated for future policies and approaches to improve the continuing education offered in higher education. The object of research are people with higher education in Bulgaria, and the subject of research is the participation in non-formal training. The main source of information is statistics from the last three editions (2007, 2011 and 2016) of the Adult Education Survey (Eurostat), which covers EU countries and provides opportunities for comparative analysis within the community. The 2007-2016 period coincides with the first decade of Bulgaria’s membership in the EU, including the beginning of the formation of the integrated European labor market in the conditions of free movement of people and workers.