ACADEMIC RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR STUDENTS SUPPORT AND MOTIVATION IN UNIVERSITY INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT

The contemporary society has posed serious demands to the educational system as a bridge to overcoming complex social and economic changes that have taken place in the social life environment. These changes have given rise to the need of well-prepared employees who can be useful to society with their knowledge and practical skills. In order to accelerate this process, The University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) has introduced different and qualitatively new approaches to young people’s training. Considering the fact that it is not so important what accredited specialties they will graduate from, but rather what sustained skills they have gained in the process of their education – a team of scientists and experts from the university have developed scientific research projects aiming to additionally stimulate the motivation and the desire of students and PhD students to conduct scientific research.

One of these projects is “An Innovative Model for Research and Socialization of Strandzha Book and Documental Cultural Heritage”. The activities and results relating to its implementation have been directed to different target groups like: representatives of educational and cultural institutions, academic research centers, ethnic and religious minorities, tourists, disadvantaged people and all stakeholders involved in the issues in research and socialization of cultural heritage. The project helps to expand the social dialogue, to preserve the historical and family memory as well as offer economic and social growth of studied regions through the creation of an innovative cultural product.

The second project – “Contemporary Approaches for Diffusion of Information, Knowledge and Hypotheses – an Innovative Model for Motivating Post-Doctoral Students, PhD Students, Young Scientists and University Students” – has been focused on the creation and provision of new conditions that contribute to the dynamic character in the development of education and training in adapting them to the economic sphere. A motivation for the choice of research has been the significance of the process of conservation, protection and promotion of cultural heritage, due to which the involvement of young people in issues referring to their intellectual and professional development has been stimulated. Finding, systematizing, processing of information massifs and field study materials have revealed the significance, the role and importance of the project in the process of raising students’ motivation to generate new knowledge of the world.

Through these two projects the University brings up young people to rationally and single-mindedly use their future power resource. The successful realization of the projects is a sure guarantee for reaching high academic achievements of the academic staff, for the realization of numerous cultural events, which will additionally stimulate and support various sectors such as education, science and culture.
Building connections and relations with other institutions globally have been among the criteria for “quality education”, defining the foundations of the new times and the image of the contemporary student.