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On 22 and 23 May 2024, in Sankt Pölten, Austria, the 33rd Annual conference by EURASHE on the theme: “Stronger together: Promoting transnational cooperation” took place. The Bulgarian Inclusion Support Team was among the key panelists together with Mrs. Sophia Eriksson Waterschoot – the General Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+ at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture as well as representatives of Šiauliai State UAS, Thomas More UAS, Burgenland UAS, under the moderation of Mr. Michal Karpišek – member of the European Alliance E³UDRES².

We have presented the advantages of the Erasmus+ programme towards transnational cooperation and gave particular examples with different EU projects, where BIST is involved.

На 25 април 2024 г. в Спортната зала на 94 СУ „Димитър Страшимиров“ гр. София се проведе финалното дисеминационно събитие на проекта. На събитието присъстваха 80 представители на целевите групи по проекта: учители, психолози, академици, политици, представители на местни и национални власти, родители, ресурсни учители.

Събитието беше открито с музикално изпълнение на училищния хор. След това координаторът на проекта г-жа Латинка Ковачева представи проекта и неговите постижения. Специални гости на събитието бяха кметът на район Слатина г-н Георги Илиев, заместник-кметът на район Слатина г-жа Благородна Дошева-Здравкова и г-жа Преслава Димитрова от Синдиката на българските учители.

Дневният ред на събитието започна с представяне на резултатите от проекта и въздействието, събрано по време на пилотната фаза, проведена в България, Испания и Турция от проф. д.пс.н Снежана Илиева от Български екип за приобщаваща подкрепа – София.

След това г-жа Пенка Николова – специалист по развитие и управление на проекти на 94 СУ, представи въздействието на проектите по програма “Еразъм+” върху учителите, учениците, включително и тези със специални потребности и техните родители.

В края на събитието директорът на училището г-жа Ковачева инициира дискусия относно възможното използване на резултатите от проекта. Националната програма за психично здраве на учителите, инициирана благодарение и на проекта “BURNPRO” от министъра на образованието и науката проф. д-р Галин Цоков ще използва резултатите от проекта и ще ги използва във възможно най-голяма степен. Синдикатът на българските учители и неговият председател д-р Янка Такева също потвърдиха, че резултатите от проекта ще бъдат предоставени на всички техни 80 000 членове (учители).

Събитието завърши с пикет от производство на облекла на ученици със специални нужди от 94 СУ „Димитър Страшимиров“, което беше бурно аплодирано от публиката. Учениците ще представят продукцията си на модна фиеста Албена през юни 2024 г.

The final project multiplier event was held on 25 April 2024 in the Sport hall of 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” Sofia – the coordinator of BURNPRO project. The event was attended by 80 representatives of the project target groups: teachers, psychologists, academicians, policy makers, parents, resource teachers.

The event was open with musical performance of the school choir. Then, the project coordinator Mrs. Latinka Kovacheva introduced the project and its achievements. Special guests of the event were the Mayor of Slatina district Mr. Georgi Iliev, the Deputy Mayor of Slatina district Mrs. Blagorodna Dosheva-Zdravkova, Ms. Preslava Dimitrova from the Bulgarian Teachers’ Union.

The agenda of the event started with the presentation of the project results and the impact gathered during the piloting phase held in Bulgaria, Spain and Turkiye by prof. Dsc Snezhana Ilieva from Bulgarian Inclusion Support Team – Sofia.

Then, Mrs. Penka Nikolova – Specialist on development and project management of 94 SU, introduced the impact of the Erasmus+ projects on the teachers, students, including those with special needs and parents.

At the end of the event, the School principal Mrs. Kovacheva initiated discussion about possible exploitation of the project results. The National programme for mental health of teachers initiated thanks to the BURNPRO project by the Minister of education and science prof. PhD Galin Tsokov will use the project results and will exploit them to the highest possible extend. The Bulgarian Teachers’ Union and its chairperson Dr. Yanka Takeva also confirmed that the project results will be made available to all their 80 000 members (teachers).

The event was concluded with runway by clothers production of students with special needs by 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” which was highly applauded by the audience. The students will present their production at the Albena Fashion Fiesta in June 2024.

The final transnational partners meeting were held in 11th and 12th of April 2024 in Istanbul, Turkiye. The event was hosted by the Turkish partner World Innovative Sustainable Solutions, Istanbul, Turkiye. The focus of the meeting was the results from the pilot implementation phase in Bulgaria, Spain and Turkiye where more than 200 teachers passed the self-assessment of Burnout syndrome and took part in the prevention programme.

The partners discussed the feedback gathered from the teachers, which shows sucessful results of the programme. Moderate to high degree of causes and factors of stress in the work as teacher is evident. Stress is already become or becoming serious problem for the respondents. In Bulgaria teachers have moderate tollerance towards stress, while in Spain they have high stress tolerance and Burnout values. Moderate to high values of self-efficacy are evident in three countries.  Although moderate levels of Burnout predominate in the three countries, there is around 14% of the respondents, which have higher Burnout values. This concerns both physiological and psychological factors. In Bulgaria,respodents shows higher level of mental well-being, while in Spain, there are respondents with low to moderate level as well. In Bulgaria and Turkiye, we have higher commitment to work, while in Spain is moderate to high. In Bulgaria and Turkiye we have moderate degree of job satisfaction, while in Spain predominates higher degree of it. In Bulgaria and Turkiye, the motivation related to the work itself is moderate with some additional cases of high motivation in Spain.

Уважаеми Госпожи и Господа,

Екипът на проект “Превенция на Бърнаут синдром при учители чрез програмa и онлайн инструмент” (BURNPRO) по дейност „Малки партньорства” КД210, сектор: Училищно образование на програма „Еразъм+“ на Европейската Комисия има удоволствието да Ви покани да вземете участие в заключителното събитие за разпространение на резултатите на проекта.

Събитието ще се състои на 25 Април 2024 г. (четвъртък) между 16:00 и 18:00 часа в Спортна зала на 94 СУ “Димитър Страшимиров” гр. София – адрес: ул. 511 No 22, район Слатина, квартал Христо Ботев. Събитието се организира от Сдружение „Български екип за приобщаваща подкрепа“ гр. София и 94 СУ “Димитър Страшимиров” гр. София.

В рамките на събитието ще Ви бъдат представени Наръчник с насоки, деи ности и превентивни мерки срещу Синдром на професионално прегаряне (Бърнаут) сред учители, както и Онлаин инструмент за самооценка на ниво на Бърнаут синдром сред учители. В рамките на събитието ще бъдат представени и резултати от неговото прилагане в България, Испания и Турция, както и сравнителен анализ на събраните данни от инструмента за самооценка.
В края на събитието е планирана дискусия и обсъждане на възможности за по-широко използване на проектните резултати.

Ще се радваме да удостойте с участието си като официален гост на този важен за Българските учители форум.

Приложение: Дневен ред на събитието

Моля да потвърдите своето участие до 23.04.2024г., на следния линк: https://forms.gle/uGUGgeTELmRRvkK58 

Събитието няма такса участие и всички участници ще получат присъствен сертификат.

Oчакваме Ви!

The BURNPRO project was presented during X Conferência Ibérica de Inovação na Educação com TIC (ieTIC2024), which was held on 15 and 16 February 2024 at Câmara de Lobos in Madeira, Portugal by the team of AMPAT – prof. Pilar Gutiez Cuevas and prof. Crisalida Serna.

They presented the project results R1. Handbook with guidelines, activities and preventive measures to prevent Burnout syndrome of teachers as post-COVID measure and R2. Self-assessment digital tool about the level of Burnout syndrome among teachers.

Major part of their presentation was dedicated to the mid-term comparative results of the pilot phase between Spain, Bulgaria and Turkiye with regards to the level of Burnout syndrome among teachers. They gathered feedback from the audience, which mainly represented the school and higher education sectors. Initial exploitation negotiations were established as well.

Online broadcasting from the event is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlGEf8m6Jjg

The BURNPRO project was disseminated as part of the VISAGE4JOBS final multiplier event, which was held on 15 February 2024 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The project coordinator Mrs. Latinka Kovacheva and Mrs. Penka Nikolova presented the project results and the mid-term outcomes from the piloting phase for detection and prevention of possible Burnout syndrome among teachers. 40 representatives of the project’s target groups took part in it, including teachers, psychologists, pedagogical advisors, career consultants, representatives of vocational training centers.

The BURNPRO project concept was presented during INVEST conference as part of the INVEST European University Alliance at University of Reims Champagne Ardenne. The event was held on 23 January 2024, at the Aula of the university in Reims, France.

The head of the “Higher Education” section of the General Directorate “Education, Youth, Sports and Culture” of the EC Mrs. Vanessa Debiais-Sainton addressed the participants via video and congratulated them. She emphasized the great importance of this initiative by presenting the main lines of work.

Since beginning of November 2023, the Bulgarian partners started the pilot implementation of the project. It is related to the R2. Self-assessment digital tool about the level of Burnout syndrome among teachers, where teachers can self-assess their possible level of Burnout syndrome in 11 different domains.  Based on the results of the tool, suitable teachers coping strategies on how to overcome stress & fatigue and how to overcome emotional exhaustion are linked to the R1 Handbook with guidelines, which will include activities and preventive measures to prevent Burnout syndrome of teachers as post-COVID measure.

The piloting is implementing in the 94 High school “Dimitar Strashimirov” Sofia, 93 High school “Alexander Teodorov – Balan” Sofia and 102 Primary school “Panayot Volov” Sofia. So far more than 160 teachers passed through the self-assessment tool and have access to the Handbook with preventive strategies.

In April 2024, a national report with the findings from the implementation process and results from the evaluation will be presented at the project final multiplier event.

The project, which is coordinated by 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” and partnered by the Bulgarian Inclusion Support Team and ASOCIACIÓN MADRILEÑA DE PROFESIONALES DE LA ATENCIÓN TEMPRANA (AMPAT), Madrid, Spain was presented during the XVII International congress of the organisations working in the field of education, which was held in the period 08-10 November 2023 in Oviedo, Spain.

In the dedicated panel called: “Inclusive education in the 21st century: recent practices and solutions for teachers and students with speacial needs”. The project was presented by prof. Pilat Gutiez Cuevas and prof. Crisalida Rodriguez Serna from AMPAT. They presented the project concept and the entire self-assessment tool for measurement of Burnout syndrome among teachers. The audience was extremely interested, because this is the first tool developed in such way in Spain.

The congress was organised by the University of Oviedo and included more than 200 participants from Europe and Latin America (academicians, business representatives, teachers, lecturers, NGO representatives, policy makers). During the first congress day, the team of Bulgarian Inclusion Support Team presented the key outcomes of the project, especially appreciated by the giant name in the didactics of Spain – prof. Antonio Medina Rivilla from UNED | Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia and the key organiser prof. Emilio Álvarez Arregui – President of UNESCO Spain . Possibilities for exploitation of the key project results in Spain and in Latin America were discussed.

Dedicated article about the project, its concept and results was also published with ISBN: 978-84-18482-96-0

More information at: https://www.cioie2023.org/es/programa.php 

The second transnational partners meeting was held in 6th and 7th of November 2023 in Madrid, Spain. The meeting was chaired by the project coordinator Mrs. Latinka Kovacheva as principal of the 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” Sofia, Bulgaria. She welcomed the partners’ representatives and described the main outcomes of the project collaboration so far.

The meeting continued with the presentation of the digital version of the self-assessment tool for measurement of Burnout syndrome among teachers, which was developed by the Bulgarian Inclusion Support Team in collaboration with AMPAT, Spain.

The partners also discussed the new version of the Handbook with preventive guidelines for teachers, which will be extended with good practices from partners countries.

The meeting also included sessions about Quality assurance, internal evaluation with regards to the interim report and dissemination and exploitation activities. So far the project was disseminated at more than 12 international congresses. The partners also discussed the common presentation during the forthcoming XVII international congress of institutions in the field of education in Oviedo, Spain.

Thanks to the UNESCO / ICDE Chair of “Open Educational Movement for Latin America” and the School of Humanities and Education of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, Prof. Dr. Paloma Antón Ares from AMPAT, Spain (project partner) was invited as keynote speaker at the conference “MAKING RESULTS VISIBILIZED WITH ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION”. It is a scientific event with special focus on building together the future of education, innovation, interdisciplinary research and open science.  The event was held from 29 to 31 October, 2023 with the participation of 145 in-person participants and 159 online – all in the field of pedagogics and education. During its development, she has presented and delivered information on the Erasmus+ KA2 projects, financed by the European Union aimed at education, the training of teachers, aimed at promoting cooperation, innovation and the exchange of good practices that are being developed by BURNPRO project. Prof. Ares presented the recent version of the self-assessment tool which was highly welcomed by the audience.

On 26th and 27th of October 2023 in CaixaForum Madrid, the team of ASOCIACIÓN MADRILEÑA DE PROFESIONALES DE LA ATENCIÓN TEMPRANA, Madrid, Spain represented by prof. Pilar Gutiez Cuevas presented the project and its results – the handbook and self-assessment tool for Burnout prevention. The Forum was a nice opportunity to share experiences and work proposals in the care of National Association of Special Education Centers and the Promiva Foundation. Its objective is to constitute a forum for the exchange of knowledge between all the agents involved in the special education sector, based on adequate interdisciplinary articulation, favoring a global approach that considers all the dimensions of our students and creating collaboration networks between centers of special education, through the approach to experiences, research projects, and diagnostic methodologies and psychoeducational intervention.

Prof. Paloma Anton Ares from AMPAT, Spain was keynote speaker at the X CONGRESO ESTADUAL APAES-BAHIA Y IV FÓRUM DE AUTODEFENSORES, I FÓRUM DE FAMILIA: INCLUSAO, DESAFIOS, PERSPECTIVAS E POSIBILIDADES. The congress was held in the period 11 – 13 October 2023 at FBH, Salvador de Bahía (Brasil). She presented the BURNPRO Prevention program via digital tool of Burnout syndrome among teachers was presented. Prof. Ares reported on the objectives, purpose and expected results. Possible exploitation of the project results and especially the self-assessment digital tool were negotiated.

On 05 September 2023, a meeting with young teachers was organised at the University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”. Mrs. Nevena Apostolova from the team of 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” Sofia presented the project concept and the draft version of the handbook for the prevention of the Burnout syndrome. The teachers provided feedback, which will be reported to the project consortium and will be taken into account.

The team of the 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” under the chair of the Principal and project coordinator Mrs. Kovacheva and Mrs. Nevena Apostolova discussed with the teachers about the recent version of the R1. Handbook with guidelines, which will include activities and preventive measures to prevent Burnout syndrome of teachers as post-COVID measure. The handbook is providing information in easy to understand language to teachers with regards to the definition and symptoms of Burnout syndrome including explanations with regards to Burnout antecedents, Prevention and intervention measures, Next steps and challenges, Strategies for Burnout control as well as innovative practices and exercises to prevent and cope with Burnout syndrome.  The teachers contributed with suggestions for further improvement and were happy that are involved in this very important initiative for their mental health resilience. During the meeting, the next steps of the project development was also discussed.

Prof. Paloma Anton Ares from AMPAT, Spain was keynote speaker at the IV INTERNATIONAL PEDAGOGICAL CONGRESS ISIMA 2023, which was held on 22, 23 and 24 June 2023 in Mexico. Path towards 2050 “Reimagining Our Futures” was the slogan of the congress with the participation of 150 teachers, academicians and policy makers in the field of education . During the panel “TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL INCLUSION” the BURNPRO Prevention program via digital tool of Burnout syndrome among teachers was presented. Prof. Ares reported on the objectives, purpose and expected results and pointed out that the Erasmus +KA2 projects are financed by the European Union, in response to detected needs and aimed at improving education, the training of teachers and students as well as promoting cooperation, innovation and the exchange of good practices. Exploitation agreements were negotiated.

The project was presented during the panel session at International Seminar on Current Pedagogical Problems, which was held on 9 June 2023 at the headquarters of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Portugal . Mrs. Viviana Sofia Sanchez Bobadilla from the Spanish partners – ASOCIACIÓN MADRILEÑA DE PROFESIONALES DE LA ATENCIÓN TEMPRANA, Madrid, Spain presented the project concept and the expected outcomes.

The event took place on 8-9 June 2023 and was hosted by the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest (UPB). During the event series discussions were held about the inclusive Higher education together with the new EURASHE President, Mr. Hannes Raffaseder, CEO of the St. Pölten University of Applied Science and the Rector of UPB Prof. Mihnea Costoiu. Both of them expressed interest towards the project and it was agreed to invite them for one of the project multiplier events.

On 21st May 2023, the physical kick off meeting was organised in Sofia, Bulgaria with the participation by representatives of all partners. The meeting was opened by the Principal of the 94 SU “Dimitar Strashimirov” in Sofia – Mrs. Latinka Kovacheva. She explained the agenda the the main topics, which will be discussed during the meeting. The physical meeting was organised after series of online meetings, where the partners already discussed and elaborated the relevant project activities.

The meeting continued with the presentation of the statistics on Burnout syndrome in partners’ countries as well as the analysis of the existing courses and prevention programmes by each partner.

The meeting continued with the presentation of the scope and initial content of the R1. Handbook with guidelines, which will include activities and preventive measures to prevent Burnout syndrome of teachers as post-COVID measure and the R2. Self-assessment digital tool about the level of Burnout syndrome presented by prof. Snezhana Ilieva, PhD, Dsc and Andrean Lazarov from Bulgarian Inclusion Support team.

The second part of the meeting was conducted at the premises of the 94 SU “Dimiter Strashimirov” where the discussion and feedback gathering from teachers was continued.

The partners were able to visit different classrooms and to speak with Roma children and their educators.

Erasmus University Rotterdam  has been working on the fundamental topics of inclusion, diversity, equity and access for more than seven years. Their dedicated and institutionalized IDEA Center now consists of more than 20 specialists that develop and execute our institutional and integral approach on inclusion, diversity, equity and access. The IDEA Center has taken on a pioneering role, nationally and in Europe helping initiate IDEA-structures at universities, disseminating our knowledge and expertise.

During the week, various national and international speakers – including Prof. Lina Gálvez Muñoz (European Parliament), Alfred Herrera (University of California, Los Angeles), Prof. Eveline Crone (Erasmus University Rotterdam – EUR), Fanny Passeport (Education Development Officer at Erasmus X, EUR) & Dr. Dirk Deichmann (Associate Professor, EUR) and our team together with academicians, researchers, PhD students and disability organisation representing participants shared practical insights and knowledge on topics such as (academic) outreach, student engagement, inclusive education & Universal Design for Learning, inclusive HR, inclusive communication and monitoring & research.

During the panel workshop “Integrating Universal Design for Learning into your course” we have presented the recent development in the field of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is an approach that allows instructors to proactively design their course content and pedagogical strategies to anticipate a wide range of needs. Rather than seeing students as ‘average’, they are considered as ‘variable’. By acknowledging and welcoming diversity, instructors adopt a pluralistic approach that honors learning differences. When applying UDL, the instructor provides multiple ways of engagement, representation, and action & expression. Concrete examples from EUR applications (and reflections) in a ‘Design Thinking’ course at RSM (in fall 2022) and contributions from the Bulgarian inclusion support team recent and past development were presented. The concept and expected results of the recent BURNPRO project were disseminated to the audience.

More information and detailed programme is available here: https://www.eur.nl/en/research/information-form-idea-international-knowledge-week/idea-international-knowledge-week-wednesday

We are proud to announce the official start of our project! Looking forward for the kick off meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria