University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT) is a state university. The social mission of ULSIT is to prepare highly qualified, socially responsible personally motivated and adaptive to the labour market specialists. ULSIT has the strategic aim for sustainable development as a leading higher school with a significant scientific, technological and innovative potential. ULSIT has the ambition to continue the implementation of the so called Third Mission of the universities – to work on projects with national and regional significance, including projects linked to the National Strategy for Research Development 2020, the Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation of the Republic of Bulgaria (2014-2020), etc. The University has gained educational, scientific, technology and innovation capacity, able to get actively involved in the European Research and Innovation Area by implementing projects under Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ Programmes, as well as in other international projects, programmes and initiatiives e.g. those financed by UNESCO and World bank funds. ULSIT has partnerships with many European research and educational centres and high technological companies especially in the field of Internet technologies, cultural and creative industries, education technologies, etc. ULSIT is member of the Balkan Universities Network.
ULSIT provides professional education and training and has joined the Programme for Lifelong Learning. ULSIT has already implemented the ECTS in all courses and is cooperated with more than 15 foreign universities. ULSIT has participated in a lot of national and international scientific, education and innovation projects. It has at a disposal well developed scientific, education, technological and innovative infrastructure. Eight functional centres and laboratories were established at ULSIT: Computer Laboratory “John Atanassov”, Oracle Laboratory, Research laboratory for Cyber Security, Centre for Carrier Orientation and Development, Centre for Continuing Education, Centre for Information Security and Protection. The ULSIT’s students carry out summer study practices and probations in companies.
ULSIT is involved in more than 30 projects funded by EC, National Science Fund and Structural Funds. ULSIT is in process of joining also the Global Students Laboratory (GlobalLab) Initiative supporting exploratory learning: GlobalLab is a unique, web-based, educational platform that enables students, teachers, and learners of all ages to pose questions and together find answers.
ULSIT has two faculties: Faculty of Information Sciences and Faculty of Library Studies and Cultural Heritage. The University is accredited by the National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation. It offers 7 Bachelor programmes and 26 Master’s programmes, as well as a number of Doctoral programmes. The main research areas of the doctoral studies fit very well to the priority areas of SSEE-CITY, such as: Information Security, Automated Systems for Information Processing and Management, Information Technologies, Future Internet Technologies and Applications, Software Engineering, Electronic Business and Electronic Government, Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Information Technologies and Financial Engineering, Information Technologies and Law, Digital Archives and Electronic Learning, etc. The main university units which will be involved in the area of Internet and Innovation are Department of Computer Science and Department of Cultural-Historical Heritage.
There are three research and innovation institutes associated to ULSIT: Institute for Research and Doctoral Education, Institute for Research in the Field of Organisation, Management and Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Institute of Leadership in an Information Environment. The UNESCO Chair on ICT in Library Studies, Education and Cultural Heritage was established as an interfaculty chair of ULSIT (Centre of Excellence), member of the UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN Network. The main activities of the Chair are related to development of educational and training programs in the field of ICT in Library Studies, Education and Cultural Heritage for citizens. It supports innovations and technology transfer to governmental, nongovernmental and industrial bodies. The Chair contributes to a number of global initiatives, such as: development of Academic Across Borders Initiative of UNESCO; development of the virtual community for best practices exchange between UNESCO Chairs/UNITWIN, strengthening North-South cooperation in higher education and research. In addition, the Chair works for strengthen some existing networks of partners at regional level and plays the role of a Centre of Excellence and innovation zone in the specified areas. The members of the UNESCO Chair are active members of EDUsummIT - a global community of researchers, policy-makers and educators committed to supporting the effective integration of IT in education.
