BI4E in Sofia: Setting the Stage for a Successful Final Year

The Boosting INGENIUM for Excellence (BI4E) project marked the beginning of its final year with a key gathering at the Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria, on September 10-11. This meeting aimed to review the project’s progress, address remaining challenges, and set the course for the final stretch of deliverables. In parallel, our Bulgarian partner hosted BI4E’s inaugural Hybrid Training Week and a new info-day event.

Reflecting on Progress One Year On

One year after the last annual meeting in Romania, hosted by Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, the Medical University of Sofia welcomed the BI4E Steering Committee, its Advisory Council, and the leaders of various work packages to their third in-person meeting since the project’s inception.

This two-day meeting was more than just a review. It signalled the commencement of the final 12 months, during which the project will conclude its work, showcase final outputs, and hand over its results to the European INGENIUM University Alliance. The work achieved within BI4E has been tailored to strengthen strategic planning, institutional transformation, and innovation within the partner institutions, with special focus on supporting Romania and Bulgaria, the project’s Widening universities.

The Scope of BI4E’s Work

Since its launch in October 2022, BI4E has aimed to explore commonalities and differences in institutional governance, assess digital transformation efforts, promote entrepreneurship, and encourage collaboration in research. The eight partner universities have engaged in a dynamic work plan, striving to enhance each other’s strengths through collective learning and shared resources.

Registration and badge collection at the Preclinical University Centre. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

On 10 September, the Preclinical University Centre of the Medical University of Sofia served as the backdrop for key presentations that demonstrated the progress achieved across these domains. The fifth meeting of the Steering Committee began with a welcome from the host, Prof. Boycho Landzhov, MD, PhD, Rector of the Medical University of Sofia, and BI4E coordinator, Prof. Irina Lungu, from the ‘Gheorghe Asachi’ Technical University of Iasi, Romania. This was followed by updates from work package leaders.

Prof. Irina Lungu, BI4E Coordinator, and Prof. Boycho Landzhov, MD, PhD, Rector of the Medical University of Sofia, delivering the opening address before the BI4E Steering Committee meeting. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

Project representatives detailed how they had integrated recommendations from the European Commission’s Mid-Term Review held in March 2024 into their ongoing work plans.

Notable presentations during the meeting covered a wide range of outputs, including the latest results from Study Visits, the Report on Good Practices in HEI Governance and Institutional Transformation, the performance of the CONNECT platform, and the anticipated Catalogue of Services Associated with Innovation, soon to be published.

The work also included discussions on the recently completed Comparative Study on Challenges and Policies for Academic Talent Attraction. Furthermore, there were in-depth reviews of BI4E’s communication strategy, focusing on website performance and the reach of its social media efforts.

Participants of the Steering Committee meeting listening to presentations from work package leaders. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

Looking ahead to the final year, the Steering Committee outlined the remaining milestones. These include the publication of a Position Paper on Universities and the EHEA/ERA and SDG Challenges, the release of Guidelines for Better Governance and Institutional Transformation, and the drafting of Best Practices in Research Support Policies.

The final phase will also see the completion of two reports on fast-tracking the development of sectoral industry associations and Technology Transfer Offices. A key milestone in this area will be the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BI4E partners, aimed at establishing a network of Technology Transfer Offices across the INGENIUM universities. This network will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing, enhancing the partners’ capacity to drive innovation and foster stronger ties between academia and industry.

Additionally, key resources such as Guidelines for Good Practices in Human Resources Strategies for Attracting Talent and Training Programmes for Research and Academic Staff will be developed.

BI4E Steering Committee meeting at the Preclinical University Centre. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

Strategic Advisory Council: Shaping the Path Forward

In parallel with the Steering Committee’s work, the second in-person meeting of the Strategic Advisory Council (SAC) took place. Comprised of senior academics and researchers from BI4E partner institutions, the SAC was established to offer guidance and strategic insights to the project, with a particular focus on the needs of the Widening Partners.

The Council addressed pressing challenges related to the timely completion of deliverables and explored alternative approaches to ensure high-quality outcomes. A joint meeting between the SAC and the Steering Committee followed, where members collaborated on refining strategies for the project’s concluding phase.

Following the joint SC-SAC meeting, a presentation was given by one of the associate partners of MU-Sofia in the project – the Medical University-Pleven. Representing the institution were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diana Pendicheva-Duhlenska, Deputy Rector, Mr. Hristo Dochev, Chief Secretary, and Assoc. Dr. Mariela Kamburova, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at MU-Pleven.

Joint meeting of the BI4E Steering Committee and the Advisory Council at the Medical University of Sofia library. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

Hybrid Training Week: A Platform for Knowledge Exchange

From September 9th to 13th, BI4E organised its first-ever Hybrid Training Week, titled Current and Future Challenges in Higher Education. The week-long training involved over 200 participants, primarily early-career professors and researchers from partner institutions.

Poster for the BI4E Hybrid Training Week.

Through a combination of online and in-person sessions, attendees engaged with experts on topics ranging from digital transformation and artificial intelligence to sustainability and project management.

A highlight of the event was an in-person session led by Dr. Noelia Rico Pachón, a professor and researcher at the University of Oviedo. On September 11, she delivered a lecture on artificial intelligence at the Medical University of Sofia’s library. Her presentation, which was also streamed online for the wider audience, offered critical insights into how AI is reshaping higher education, touching upon both its potential and the ethical debates surrounding its classroom application.

Dr Noelia Rico, professor at the University of Oviedo, delivering her presentation on artificial intelligence during the BI4E Hybrid Training Week at the Medical University of Sofia library. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

Info-Day on Digitalisation

In addition to Dr. Rico’s session, the Medical University of Sofia hosted an info-day event focusing on digitalisation in higher education. Over 30 students from the Medical and Health Sciences programmes at the Medical University of Sofia attended the hybrid session. The event featured presentations by Chief Assistant Simeon Slavchev and Mr. Yasen Sabev, who discussed ongoing digital transformation initiatives within European project frameworks and the university’s efforts in this area.

A second presentation was delivered by Mrs. Lyudmila Tomova, Director of the Central Medical Library, on the library’s transition to e-services, digitisation, and automation. Additionally, the Association of Student Explorers shared their potential to serve as reliable partners in Horizon Europe projects, expressing their interest in networking with the university’s partners.

The session concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A, allowing attendees to engage directly with the presenters.

BI4E Info-day event at the Medical University of Sofia library. Photo by Mihail Mihailov (MUS).

Looking Ahead

As the BI4E project enters its final phase, the focus now shifts towards synthesising its accomplishments and sharing its outcomes with the broader INGENIUM community. The lessons learned and innovations developed during this project will not only strengthen the participating universities but also contribute to the broader goals of enhancing excellence and collaboration across the European higher education landscape.

In the coming months, the consortium will work diligently to finalise its deliverables, ensuring that the project’s legacy endures through the continued efforts of the European INGENIUM University Alliance. The journey towards excellence is ongoing, and the achievements of BI4E will pave the way for future endeavours in research, governance, and institutional transformation across European alliances.