Abbreviations and acronyms

The main abbreviations and acronyms used in the report are listed below.

Abbreviation/acronym

Full description

ACS

Institute for Adult Education (Slovenia)

ALMPs

Active labour market policies

BASSCOM

Bulgarian Association of Software Companies

BGVTC

Bulgarian-German Vocational Training Centre State Enterprise

BSCC

Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce

BSMEPA

Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Agency

BURS

Bulgarian University Ranking System

CAPSE

Centre for Evaluation of Pre-school and School Education

CCVET

Consultative Council for Vocational Education and Training

CEDEFOP

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

CEEC

Central and Eastern European Countries

CESAs

Centres for employment and social assistance

CITUB

Confederation of Independent Syndicates in Bulgaria

CoCs

Centres of competence

CoEs

Centres of excellence

CPD

Continuing professional development

CV

Curriculum vitae

CVET

Continuous vocational education and training

CVT

Continuing vocational training

DBBZ

Bulgarian-German Vocational Training Centre

ECEC

Early childhood education and care

ECS

European Company Survey

ECTS

European Credits Transfer System

EEA

European Economic Area

EFTA

European Free Trade Association

EHEA

European Higher Education Area

EQAVET

European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education

EQF

European Qualifications Framework

ESF

European Social Fund

ESIF

European Structural and Investment Funds

EURES

European Employment Services

EWCS

European Working Conditions Survey

FLCs

Family labour consultants

GDP

Gross domestic product

HDI

Human Development Index

HEPPP

Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (Australia)

HPWPs

High-performance workplace practices

HRM

Human resource management

ICT

Information and communications technology

ILA

Individual learning account

ILO

International Labour Organization

ILS

Individual learning scheme

INSAIT

Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology

IOM

International Organisation for Migration

IRAQP

Information Register of the Approved Qualification Programmes

ISCED

International Standard Classification of Education

ISCO

International Standard Classification of Occupations

IT

Information technology

ITE

Initial teacher education

IVT

Initial vocational training

LPVET

List of professions for vocational education and training

MEI

Ministry of the Economy and Industry

MES

Ministry of Education and Science

MEVyT

Modelo Educación para la Vida y el Trabajo (Education Model for Life and Work) (Mexico)

MIG

Ministry of Innovation and Growth

MLOs

Mobile labour offices

MLOWs

Mobile labour offices and workplaces

MLSP

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

MRDPW

Ministry for Regional Development and Public Works

NAP

National Assessment Program (Australia)

NAPLAN

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (Australia)

NAVET

National Agency for Vocational Education and Training

NDP

National Development Programme Bulgaria 2030

NEA

National Employment Agency

NEAA

National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency

NEAP

National Employment Action Plan

NEET

Not in employment, education or training

NEPC

National Employment Promotion Council

NGO

Non-governmental organisation

NQF

National qualification framework

NSI

National Statistical Institute

OOD

Private limited company

OPHRD

Operational Programme for Human Resource Development

OPSESG

Operational Programme for Science and Education for Smart Growth

PE

Programme Education

PES

Public employment services

PIAAC

Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies

PIRLS

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study

PISA

Programme for International Student Assessment

PPS

Purchasing power standard

PSEA

Pre-school and School Education Act

QA

Quality assurance

R&D

Research and development

REDs

Regional departments of education

RegiX

Registry Information Exchange System

RPL

Recognition of prior learning

SAA

Skills assessment and anticipation

SBA

Small Business Act

SES

State educational standards

SGI

Sustainable Governance Indicators

SME

Small- and medium-sized enterprise

SSCs

Sectoral skills councils

STEM

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics

TALIS

Teaching and Learning International Survey

TC

Training consortium

TCNs

Third-country nationals

TEZ

Trakia Economic Zone

TIMSS

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

UN DESA

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs

UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund

UNITE

Universities for Science, Informatics and Technologies in Esociety

VET

Vocational education and training

VETA

Vocational Education and Training Act

WBA

Academy of Continuing Education (Austria)

WBL

Work-based learning