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At an October 15 press conference, the Business Foundation for Education, Hewitt Associates, the Bulgarian American Credit Bank, and USAID announced the launch of the first nationwide survey that wiassess the career goals and expectations of Bulgarian university students. The survey, conducted through the USAID-supported network of university career centers, will include questions on students’ career focus, salary expectations, and education. At the press conference, Gergana Rakovska, Managing Director of the Business Foundation for Education (BFE), noted that interviews with Bulgarian students reveal that many students have unrealistic expectations about their career development, are unaware of how to acquire the necessary skills and education for their future careers, and overemphasize pay as a criteria for job selection.

The survey will begin in October 2007 and will be conducted over a one-month period. Results are expected in January 2008 and will be available to the general public, Ministry of Education, universities, businesses. The Bulgarian American Credit Bank and USAID provided funding for the survey.

Hewitt Associates is an international human resources consulting firm which has conducted similar surveys in other countries. The BFE, a legacy of the USAID Labor Market Project, is leading efforts to institutionalize career services at universities and establish stronger links between students and potentemployers.