COMPLETED SCIENTIFIC STUDIES IN 2005

RESTRUCTURING AND PROSPECTIVES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN BULGARIA

Scientific study, headed by Associate Professor D-r Vera Pirimova

The main goals of the project are: systematizing, interpreting and analyzing the principle structural changes, indicators, proportions, and factors of growth in the Bulgarian economy in the context of market transition and the possibilities for its transformation into a modern free-market economy, in line with the trends shaping the globalizing economy and the new opportunities for economic growth and adaptation to the European economic structures.

The main tasks to be solved are:

Studying and determining the character of the changes in the structure of the main economic processes and the indicators reflecting them, mainly in the elements of total costs, the main economic and institutional sectors and the business sector in Bulgarian economy.

  • The manifestation and interpretation of new conditions, factors, and sources of development,driven by market transition, and of certain opportunities of achieving stable and accelerated economic growth.
  • Study of the preconditions and better potential opportunities forenhanced competitiveness of Bulgarian companies and of the economy as a whole.
  • Analysis of social dimensions of growth, of the key preconditions and requirements determiningBulgaria’s full-fledged EU membership and sustainable economic growth.

The study provides an analysisof the structural parameters of several keyfactors and sources of growth in the Bulgarian economy. GNP dynamics has been analyzed, as well as the elements of total expenditure – consumption, investment, export and import, and the main institutional and economic sectors. As a result of this analysis, the dominant sources of expenditure and industrial growth during the current period have been delineated, their most probable trends and prospective development have been traced. In this respect, the necessity for further limited and step-by-step implementation of the privatization process has been demonstrated, thus arriving at industry and sector levelscontributing tothe Bulgarian private entrepreneurship’s convincing presence and development.

The interrelationship between the achieved growth rates and the degree of use of labor (and capital) resources has been explored, as well as the dynamics of labor productivity and salary in general, in industry and sector cross-sections; specific industries and fieldshave been identified, which are still a barrier to development. A special emphasis is placed on the quality of human capital, and the conclusion is made that the wideningthe accelerated growth opportunities requires thatthe human resources potential is to be more fully exploited. As a result of the study of the investment-driven growth,a favorable interrelationship between GNPgrowth rate and the influx of foreign investments in our country during the last years has been established.

The development processes and the consequences of industrial restructuring have been explored; the prospects and possibilities for growth in the real sector and the banking one have been defined, as well as thesefor the predominant small business and “tertiary” sector. The limited nature of growth opportunities in some of these sectors at present calls forthe study of the implementation of the Law on Protection of Competition; certain conclusions have been arrived atrelating tothe most adequateways of encouraging industrial development, and more decisive and efficient implementation of tax incentives.

Some problems concerning the human dimensions of growth and welfare have been considered, and conclusions drawn that the country is lagging behind in coping with social problems; Bulgaria is far behind in terms of social parameters andsustainable economic growth as comparedtothe European countries.

The analysis focuses on the principal challenges and external preconditions of growth, resulting from the requirementsBulgariais to meetwith a view to its forthcoming EU membership, and the structure of the Bulgarian economy. On the basis of the conclusion of the insufficient efficiency of the appropriation ofthe pre-accession funds, some doubts are expressed as to the realization of higher rates of growth.

The results of the conducted study can contribute toan improved quality oftraining inspecial disciplines in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses, andprovide the basis on which the competent authorities can develop a model of contemporary market economy and its strategic goal – achieving sustainable economic growth and the finalization of Bulgaria’s full-fledged and reputable integration withinthe EU economic structures.

PROVIDING COMPETITIVE EDUCATION ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN UNWE

Scientific study headed by Associate Professor D-r Evangelii Andronov

Under the pressure of market competition, the increasinglycomplicated nature of managed projects and contemporary IT, project management and its implementation as a contemporary management practice is acquiring new significance. Together with the knowledge and skills in the field of strategic management, of human resourcesmanagement, management of operations, of financial analysis, etc., contemporary managers must receive also the necessary information on project management.

The goal of this study is to develop a system of scientific and more applied knowledge, which would provide more competitive education in UNWE in the field of project management. For the fulfillment of this goal, the following main tasks are defined:

  • Clarification of the theoretic-methodological characteristics of project management and its practical dimensions.
  • Exploring the state and development of project management in Bulgaria as a contemporary management practice. Preparation of study cases reflecting the best practices of project management in Bulgaria.
  • Developing a system of study materials, providing competitive education on project management,including in the master degree course of the specialty of economic management in UNWE.

With a view to accomplishing the tasks set, a study of a wide range of literary sources and an in-depth analysis of project management methodology and standards worldwidehave beenmade. A more applied scientific study has been conducted on the state of project management in Bulgarian business by using a questionnaire study in business organizations. A study on the state of human resource capacity,encompassing project management professionalshas been also made; the prospective trends incoping with the major problems, related to the professional training of specialists in project management for Bulgaria, have been addressed. Contemporary study materials ensuring competitive education in project management in UNWE have been developed.

ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A FACTOR, DETERMINING A NEW PLACE OF THE COUNTRY IN THE INTERNATIONAL DIVISION OF LABOUR

Scientific study headed by Associate Professor D-r Dinko Dinkov

The study is based on the analysis of the European Union as an important factor of the international system of division of labor. To a great extent, Bulgaria’s future place will be determined by the country’s expected accession to this decisively new model of social development. The goal of the authors is to consider the possibilities for the restructuring of Bulgarian economy from a new perspective. In this context, the challenges related to the rationalization of new trends, determining the directions of world development, and Bulgaria’s adaptation of to them, have been analyzed.

STRUCTURING OF THE SYSTEM AND THE NOTION APPARATUS OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Scientific study headed by Associate Professor D-r Yordan Bliznakov

The main goal of the study is to structure human resourcesmanagement as a system of relatively autonomous activities, thus analyze, systematize, and define the main concepts related to the realization of each specific component.

Depending on the specific character of the problems, of their comparison anddistinction, the methods of interrelated study and expert assessment have been applied.

The scientific product can be described as follows:

Systematizing and describing the main components of the human resources managementsystem, defining the keyconcepts, related to its construction, analysis, monitoring, auditing, effective functioning and improvement.

The scientific product can be used in the academic training of students in “Bachelor” and “Master”degrees, and specialists in the different forms of education; for the training of PhD students, for improvement of the qualification of specialists dealing with human resources management; for the education of managers, influencing different managementlevels, for the re-qualification of specialists and for all, who are interested in the problems of human resources management .

On 28.12.2005, in the National Palace of Culture – Sofia, the scientific study „Structuring of the system and the notion apparatus of human resources management” was awarded by the Foundation „Human resources in Bulgaria and Eurointegration” and the journal „Human resources” a diploma and the prestigious prize „Scientific Research in Human Resources 2005” as a best scientific study in Bulgaria in the field of human resources.

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