Researching digitalization of the education: a case study of Bulgarian universities

Abstract

Digitization in education is a process formed because of the general digitization of society and all its sectors. Digitization improves the education quality and methods. Digital technologies are an integral part of any field of education. The following criteria defining the level of digitization of the learning process in the universities are essential. The first criterion, we think, is expanding learning opportunities by providing electronic materials (slides from lectures, videos, exercises, projects, etc.); acceptance and evaluation of materials related to the learning process in digital form based on already existing and popular technologies allow training from any location, regardless of the physical location of the university. The second criterion is the education interactivity; the increasing and massive entry of audio and visual devices helps for this. The third criterion is the demand for new digital skills from businesses -creating websites, mobile applications, cyber security and more. Another criterion could be the digital expansion of the competence of the university -the increase in the number and attractiveness of the offered digital services (enrollment, education, exam process, practices, etc.), which are tailored to the interests and preferences of students based on their digital experience and digital expectations. All these questions will be the subject of research in this article.