For the twelfth consecutive year, the Technical University – Sofia with a branch in Plovdiv is the unchallenged No. 1 in engineering specialties in the national ranking of higher education institutions in Bulgaria. The higher education institution is a leader in the professional fields of "Mechanical Engineering", "Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation", "Communications and Computer Engineering", "Energy", "Transport, Shipping and Aviation" and "General Engineering". "The evaluation of Bulgarian higher education institutions is truly comprehensive and is formed by the results of about 100 indicators. First of all, they cover the quality of education, but also scientific research and applied activities, the state of the material and laboratory base, teaching staff, social and other activities in universities. This ranking is significant not only for us who work in higher education institutions. Conversations with the young people who study with us give reason to believe that when choosing a higher education institution and a specialty, applicants and their parents follow the university rankings. And another fact: in recent years, young people applying to the Technical University – Plovdiv branch are very focused in their choice. Rarely does anyone apply for all specialties. Usually, they settle on one, two or at most three specialties that are close. This is the result of very good preliminary orientation." – commented Prof. Dr. Vaelo Nikolov, director of the Technical University – Plovdiv branch. The interest of universities to work better and occupy top positions in the ranking is not only prestigious but also financial. In recent years, a higher rating of the higher education institution has led to better funding from the state. In this way, through the Ministry of Education and Science, the best in the professional field are stimulated. Additional funding can lead to a significant increase in the university's budget if it has the highest rating. In recent years, it has been noticed that the national ranking also serves the state to form its priorities when determining the places for admission by professional fields, so as to have a better match between admission and labor market demand. According to Prof. Dr. Vaelo Nikolov, the traditional first position of the Technical University – Sofia with a branch in Plovdiv in the six professional fields in the field of "Technical Sciences" is also due to the substantially updated material base with the most modern new research laboratory equipment as a result of the implementation of activities under a number of projects for the establishment of centers of excellence and centers of competence under the Operational Program "Science and Education for Intelligent Growth".
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plovdiv-press.bg, 21.11.2022
