National conference with the active participation of COE UNITe
On December 16, 2025, the National Conference of the National Center for Professional Development of Pedagogical Specialists (NCPDPS) was held in Sofia, at the Balkan Hotel, on the topic of “Competence-based approach and social-emotional support for students and pedagogical specialists in times of crisis”.
The forum was officially opened by the guests of honor – Yanka Takeva, PhD, chair of the Bulgarian Teachers’ Union, and Natalia Mihalevska, Deputy Minister of Education and Science. In their speeches, they outlined the main parameters of social-emotional learning, defining it as one of the leading and priority topics in contemporary education, with key importance for society, personal development, and the formation of values.
The director of NCPDPS, Mr. Dimitar Asenov, presented the excellent results and extremely positive feedback from a training course conducted under the National Security Program on the topic of “Competence-based approach and social-emotional support for students and pedagogical specialists in crisis situations”. The course was delivered by the team of lecturers led by Col. Rumyan Rusev, an external expert at the Ministry of Education and Science. In his speech, Mr. Asenov expressed his gratitude to the NCPDPS team for their professionalism and dedication, thanks to which the institution has established itself over the years as a leader in improving the qualifications of pedagogical specialists.
A summary analysis of the training was also presented by the director of the Institute of Education, Prof. Galin Tsokov, who emphasized the significant added value of the course for the development of the professional competencies of the teachers who completed it.
A number of leading experts in the field of education took part in the National Conference of the NCPDPS, including the deans of the pedagogical faculties of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski” – Assoc. Prof. Vanya Bozilova and Prof. Vladimira Angelova, the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Arts at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Prof. Milen Zamfirov, and Prof. Dora Levterova-Gadzhalova, PhD, Director of the Department for Qualification and Professional Development of Pedagogical Specialists at Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”. Marin Barzakov, Executive Director of the Center of Excellence UNITe Association, actively participated in the discussions with questions and comments on the main topic, emphasizing the significant role of the Center in the development of social-emotional learning.
The forum was also attended by directors of university qualification departments, and heads and experts from regional education authorities from across the country.
The conference was closed by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Ms. Natalia Mihalevska, who emphasized the exceptional importance of consistency in educational policies. She highlighted that the overall focus should be on building a strong identity, maintaining supportive relationships, and preserving values.
During the discussions, a proposal was made to include specific measures to promote social-emotional learning in the national program of the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as to update the current regulatory framework related to the activities of pedagogical specialists.
