ANALYSIS OF HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY CHANGES DUE TO COVID-19: THE CASE OF BULGARIA
Yordanka Noneva-Zlatkova - South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, 1 G. Izmirliev Sq., Bulgaria
Alexander Alexandrov - South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, 1 G. Izmirliev Sq., Bulgaria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/Balkans.JETSS.2021.4.2.91-99
Yordanka Noneva-Zlatkova - South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, 1 G. Izmirliev Sq., Bulgaria
Alexander Alexandrov - South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Blagoevgrad, 1 G. Izmirliev Sq., Bulgaria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/Balkans.JETSS.2021.4.2.91-99
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Balkans Journal of Emerging Trends in Social Sciences, (2021) , Vol 4, No 2
ISSN: 2620-164X |
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Abstract: The paper reviews and analyzes the factors influencing higher education public policy, and the impact of COVID-19 as a possible catalyst of change. The paper creates a definition of the public policy change and examines documents that carry public policy weight, assessing whether they represent changes in public policy which is a direct response to COVID-19. At the outset of the pandemic, the Bulgarian higher education sector was characterized by rigid accreditation standards, reliance on traditional forms of instruction, and poor use of technology and distance learning methods. The authors argue that the pandemic represents an unprecedented and currently underutilized window of opportunity for reforming the education sector and practices – especially where there does not seem to be political will or societal readiness to address – an opportunity that is currently not being utilized. The case is made that the pandemic can (and should) be used to provide the extra push to modernize educational models so that the sector emerges stronger and more resilient for the future.
Keywords: Public policy, Higher education, COVID-19, Distance learning.
JEL Classification J18 · I23 · D83
Keywords: Public policy, Higher education, COVID-19, Distance learning.
JEL Classification J18 · I23 · D83
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REFERENCES
About the OECD- OECD. (2021, June 23). Retrieved from Organisation for Economic: https://
www.oecd.org/about/
Acting on lessons from COVID to bring about deeper change in education. (2021, June 23).
Retrieved from OECD Education and Skills Today: https://oecdedutoday.com/lessons-
from-covid-bring-deeper-change-education/
Cairney, P. (2012). Understanding public policy: Theories and issues. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave
Macmillan. p. 5.
Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria, National Recovery and Resilience Plan (ver.
1.1/8.02.2021). (n.d.). Retrieved from Next Generation Website: https://www.nextgeneration.
bg/14 [Last accessed 6/23/2021]
Decision for adoption of a Strategy for development of higher education in the Republic of Bulgaria
for the period 2021 - 2030. (2021, January 08). Retrieved from Bulgarian Official
Gazette: https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=154629, p.22
Dye, T. R. (1972). Understanding Public Policy. Upper Saddle, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. p. 2.
ISBN 978-0-205-71685-2.
Eurydice. (2021, June 23). Retrieved from “Focus on: What has the covid-19 crisis taught us about
learning and teaching in higher education?”: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/
eurydice/content/what-has-covid-19-crisis-taught-us-about-learning-and-teaching-highereducation_
en
Global Metrics Ltd. (2021, June 23). Effects of the COVID19 pandemic on pre-school and school
education - Analysis of in-depth interviews and case studies. Retrieved from UNICEF Bulgaria:
https://www.unicef.org/bulgaria/media/8946/file
Institute for Research in Education. (2020, September 30). Impact Assessment of distance learning.
Retrieved from Institute for Researches in Education: https://ire-bg.org
Ministry of Education and Science. (2021). Retrieved from The implementation of a project of the
Ministry of Education and Science BG05M2OP001-5.001-0001 „Equal access to school
education in crisis conditions” has started: https://www.mon.bg/bg/100925
National Statistical Institute. (2015-2021). Retrieved from Statistical data: https://www.nsi.bg
OECD. (2021). Retrieved from OECD Recommendation on Broadband Connectivity: https://legalinstruments.
oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-0322 [Last accessed 6/23/2021]
OECD. (2021, June 23). The State of School Education: One Year into the COVID Pandemic. Retrieved
from OECD Publishing, Paris: https://doi.org/10.1787/201dde84-en
Open Society Institute, Sofia. (2020). Retrieved from Students’ perception of online training during
the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020: https://osis.bg/?p=3638&lang=en
Rinfret, S., Scheberie, D., & Pautz, M. (2018). „Chapter 2: The Policy Process and Policy Theories.
In Public Policy: A Concise Introduction. (pp. 19–44). ISBN 978-1-5063-2971-0:
SAGE Publications.
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