The aim of the project is mainly related to the idea of improving the digital skills of the staff, in order to introduce professions of the future, digital learning tools, modern media, as well as new methods and techniques for training. The practice proves that in order to achieve quality and efficiency of training for the difficult group of unemployed people disadvantaged in the labour market, measures should be taken to digitalize the training, i.e. to visualize certain topics in order to facilitate the perception of the content, enhance interest in the topic, retain the attention and concentration of the trainees. As the project was developed in late 2019 and audited in 2020, the activities that were planned were not fully implemented within the set timeframe due to the rollout of COVID-19. This necessitated a change in activities and an extension of the contract period.
The State Enterprise BGCPO was established in 2011 by Art. 3 of the Civil Code. Its functions are regulated in the Regulations on the Structure and Activities adopted by the Council of Ministers. Its structure consists of a Central Office (CA) in Sofia and branches in the cities of Pazardzhik, Pleven, Stara Zagora and Smolyan, it has its own staff and a long-term use of the MTB, has licensed by the National Education and Training Association (NAPEO) CPEs with 86 professions and CPEs, registration with the Academy of Health as a training service provider and with the Ministry of Education and Science to improve the qualification of teaching staff, a functioning internal system for quality assurance of training and a certificate according to ISO 9001:2015. It is a member of the European Association of Vocational Training Institutions (EVBB), winner of two EUROPE Awards of the EVBB and the Adalbert Kitche Foundation and a plaque award of the Ministry of Education and Science for its contribution to the training of adult learners. The main subject of activity is the implementation of vocational guidance and training for unemployed and employed persons aged 16 and over. There are two main aspects in the company culture of BGCPO - a constant striving to improve the quality of training and care for the qualification of the staff - the most important factor for its development and success and its greatest asset. The project idea of improving the digital skills of the staff in order to introduce professions of the future, digital learning tools, modern media as well as new training methods and techniques is related to this. Because these are the stakes for future development in Europe, and practice shows that to achieve quality and effectiveness of training in the difficult group of unemployed people disadvantaged in the labour market, measures should be taken to digitize training, that is, certain topics should be visualized to facilitate the perception of the content, enhance interest in the subject, retain the attention and concentration of the trainees. For the other target group of employees, mixed forms of training - face-to-face and digital - should be developed to save training time. For some administrative processes closely related to training, digitalisation is also of great benefit. By expanding the digital competencies of staff, attractive, effective and quality training will be achieved. The project involved staff responsible for training - management and teaching staff - all with a contribution to expanding the methodological know-how of the BGCPO. Key staff members are, branch directors, heads of training departments and teachers. All of them have a high level of education and qualification, acquired since the period of joint actions with German experts, extended through projects under the Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus+, OPHRD programmes.