Role and Effects of Grant Funding for Higher Education in Bulgaria: Evidence from EU Cohesion Policy Instruments

Sevdalina Hristova ()
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Sevdalina Hristova: University of Economics - Varna, Bulgaria

HR and Technologies, 2025, issue 1, 34-48

Abstract: The article examines the role and effects of grant funding for the development and improvement of the quality of higher education in Bulgaria, focusing on the EU Cohesion Policy funds provided during the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 programming periods. A combined methodological approach is applied - quantitative analysis of public data from the Information System for Management and Monitoring of EU Funds (ISUN 2020) and qualitative analysis based on semi-structured interviews with experts from academic community and experts from practice. The results of the analysis show a clear concentration of European funds in a few leading universities, mainly in Sofia, as well as significant territorial and institutional imbalances in access to grant funding. Funding has a positive impact on infrastructure, administrative capacity and research activity, but at the same time challenges related to limited project management capacity, complex administrative procedures and different development level of universities in the country have been identified. The article concludes with recommendations for improving the effectiveness and sustainability of the use of European funds, including the need for targeted support for higher education institutions outside the capital, increasing administrative and expert readiness to participate in competitions, as well as a closer connection between project objectives and the real needs of the universities.

Keywords: universities; grants; projects; operational programmes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H52 I23 I29 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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