EU funding state for improving the quality of higher education in Bulgaria

The quality of higher education is one of the critical factors for increasing the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy and the development of the regions. The financing of the higher education system is one of the main factors for the quality of the provided educational service in higher schools, which is dwelled upon in the Strategy for Development of Higher Education. The aim of the author is to explore the possibilities for using European funding for projects of higher education institutions under the operational programs and on this basis to outline some guidelines for improving the effectiveness of project funding in the sector and enhancing the quality of higher education. In order to determine the role of project funding under the operational programs for improving the quality of higher education in Bulgaria, interviews with experts have been conducted. The results of the research are processed by content analysis and are summarized in the paper. They are the basis of the main conclusions and recommendations for improving the quality of education in Bulgaria