BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER AND ACCUMULATION SYSTEM IN THE FORMAL EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

The process of modernization and effective application of the mechanisms of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System in the System of the Vocational and University Education at this point raises a number of up-to-date questions about their collaboration at national level, as well as their correlation in the context of continuing education in the System for Lifelong Learning. The goal is to found a new type of organization of the educational process, which would take into account the educational outcomes and the total busyness during the learning period in each educational field. In this way, the students would be able to make their individual choice of disciplines, forms of education, forms of homework, as well as receive an opportunity to schedule their learning busyness by using flexible learning pathways. In regards to that, the necessity of the process of modernization -both in the vocational and university education grows in the context of the negative demographic trends and the significant need for qualified and competitive workers. The changes demand the formation of an open and flexible educational field, adapted to the growing present demands of the labor market, favoring effective usage of the present human resources. There appears a necessity of actualization of the legislative system of making them official, as well as of the internal reconsideration of the philosophy of the present approaches, methods and means, at the elaboration of the learning contents, according to the European System for Transfer of Credits at the Vocational Education and Training and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System in the university education in the context of the National Qualification Form of Republic of Bulgaria, approved on 02.02.2012 by Resolution No 96 by the Bulgarian Government. The goal is to be created a new, advanced model of compatible credit systems, providing opportunities for a smooth transition from vocational to university education.