Description
Country
Focus area
The National Reference Framework (NRN) website provides the organisational infrastructure that ensures the functioning and efficiency of the National Competence Assessment System ‘MyCompetence’. NRN involves on a partnership basis employers, managers, specialists, consultants, experts from state, educational and other institutions at national, sectoral and regional level.
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
Decision for Grant Subsidy No.1804/24.09.2009 of the Executive Director of the National Employment Agency for grant finding of the Competence Assessment System initiative, based on Regulation 1081/2006, article 5, paragraph 3, which stipulates the specific role of socio-economic partners in the process of utilising European financial resources and the European Social Fund. Weblink to decision: http://ophrd.government.bg/view_doc.php/3712
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
Being part of the Competence Assessment System initiative, the NRN also commenced in 2009, whereas its website is currently a sub-site of the MyCompetence online platform available at https://mycompetence.bg/.
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
NRN and its website provide the logistics for the development, adoption and application of competency models through the operation of a number of joint expert bodies, such as National Council for Competence Assessment, National Centre for Competence Assessment, Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment, Regional Centres for Competence Assessment, etc.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded as project (at least 3 years)
Development of the National Competencies Assessment System MyCompetence
Funded by the EU
ESF
Other
OP HRD
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
Supports the coordination of the competence standards development process
Supports the coordination of the competence standards development process
Supports the coordination of the competence standards development process
Supports the coordination of the competence standards development process
Supports the coordination of the competence standards development process
Supports the coordination of the competence standards development process
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Basic literacy and numeracy skills
Basic digital skills
More advanced digital skills
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Green skills
Career management skills
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Skills forecasting
Facilitated the development of skills needs forecasts for 20 pilot sectors initially included in the Competence Assessment System initiative
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
LMI from economic sectors and enterprises was used to link competence standards to NQF
LMI from economic sectors and enterprises was used for competence standards development
LMI was used in the design of competence standards used by students
LMI was used in the design of competence standards used by unemployed
LMI was used in the design of competence standards used by HR managers
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National ministry
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National ministry
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
National agency
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
Social partner: employer organisation
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
Social partner: trade union
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
National PES
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
Chambers of Commerce
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
Training Providers
Involved in the National and Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Young people making the transition from education into work
Benefitted by using the accessible through the NRN website competence standards
Adults in employment with upskilling potential
Benefitted by using the accessible through the NRN website competence standards
Adults in employment with reskilling potential
Benefitted by using the accessible through the NRN website competence standards
Other
Benefitted by using the accessible through the NRN website competence standards
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
NRN covers on a partnership basis employers, managers, specialists, consultants, experts from state, educational and other institutions at national, sectoral and regional level.
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
10 Regional Centres for Competence Assessment were initially established together with 20 Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment. The latter were increased to 25 with the addition of 5 new to the 20 pilot sectors in the period 2016-2019
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
Yes
A 2-year project was initiated by MLSP in September 2016 under Procedure No. BG05M9OP001-1.013 “Development of National System for Competence Assessment – MY COMPETENCE” of OP HRD 2014-2020, co-funded by ESF to expand the NRN scope to 25 economic sectors.
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
Initially 20 (to be increased to 25) Sectoral Advisory Councils for Competence Assessment were set up in the pilot sectors with the participation of all relevant stakeholders. Expert capacity was developed for each Sectoral Council – 20 sectoral advisors were trained for the purpose. 10 Regional Centres Competence Assessment were also established with the cooperation of BIA’s regional structures and 10 regional advisors were trained.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
Using BIA's sectoral and regional structure as a basis of the NRN is the driving factor which guarantees sustainability of the results achieved. And although the NRN website, which is currently a sub-site of the MyCompetence online platform available at https://mycompetence.bg/, is administered by MLSP, any follow-up initiatives, incl. in terms of expanding the sectoral coverage of NRN, is related to the availability of EU funding.
Other instruments in Bulgaria
On this page: