Challenges for IT education at Sofia University ELISSAVETA GOUROVA, MARIA NISHEVA, ALBENA ANTONOVA Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics Sofia University 125, Tzarigradsko shosse Blvd. bl. 2 fl. 3 BULGARIA Abstract: - The paper focuses on the challenges for Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI) of Sofia University. It presents the results of a foresight exercise carried out within the Faculty in 2008. The main findings of a SWOT analysis and environmental survey are given in the paper, as well as the strategic priorities and challenges for FMI in order to compete in the global educational environment and to keep its position as a leading research and education centre in ICT in Bulgaria. Key-Words: - higher education reforms, challenges for researchers and organizations, collaboration with stakeholders 1 Introduction During last years the global economy has shifted to service and knowledge-oriented economy. The GDP in most developed countries is increasingly generated by the sector of services and knowledge-intensive activities. The service sectors account more than 80% of the national incomes in most developed countries. For Bulgaria the service sector increased considerably and about 60% of the GDP (2005) is generated by services, 9,9% of which are ICT services. The services and their specific features are put increasingly in the centre of our society today. The scope of Bulgarian economy should be shifted to the understanding of the Service – delivered by University, but as well services delivered by information technologies (IT). It is not possible to compete longer as low-wage country – there is a need to deliver service with bigger value added. Sofia University (SU) is the first university in Bulgaria established more than a century ago, which is also an important resource bank of researchers for the country. Its Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (FMI) has a leading position among Bulgarian research organizations working in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The ICT research staff of FMI has a high potential, great experience and a large number of publications in a wide spectrum of areas: software architectures, computer networks, embedded systems, parallel architectures and systems, information security, information systems, knowledge based systems, machine learning, data mining, information retrieval, user modeling, bioinformatics, robotics, image processing, e- learning, digital libraries, software engineering, IT services, e-business, e-government, knowledge management, etc. FMI has well-established contacts with leading research organizations in Europe and a significant experience in international project activities. Despite the above successes, FMI has experienced some serious problems closely related to the general socio- economic and research environment in Bulgaria: • Emigration and migration to industry of highly skilled professionals • Insufficient research funding • Lack of sufficiently stimulating research environment • Lack of youth staff • Lack of stable and multiple bridges between research, development, education and training • Lack of traditions in university-industry- government cooperation • Fragmented nature of research activities and the dispersal and not effective use of limited resources. In order to overcome them and to strengthen its capacity, FMI has undertaken within the FP7 SISTER project several activities in order to determine its future strategy. The paper presents the methodology of these activities and the main findings of the experts involved. 2 Survey methodology After joining to the EU, the gap between the education and research environment in Bulgaria and those in well developed countries became clearly visible. In order to fill this gap, FMI is building its vision and strategy map for research and education within the SISTER project. The main project goal is to strengthen the FMI capacity and to develop it as a Leading Centre in South-East Europe (SEE) in research, innovation and training in the area of ICT. Therefore, the first SISTER objective is to elaborate a strategic framework for FMI future development and to outline where to make strategic investments in human resources, networking and capacity building. Some strategic questions are taken into account: Proceedings of the 7th WSEAS International Conference on EDUCATION and EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (EDU'08) ISSN: 1790-5109 50 ISBN: 978-960-474-029-1