In recent years, not only in Bulgaria, but in all EU, there has been an accelerating and difficult to predict labour market dynamics. Technological changes, Covid 19 and the speed of innovation significantly change the requirements for the competencies necessary for the labour market. Several traditional professions disappear, and new ones appear, automation leads to polarization of the labour market, so the transfer of personal date through different technologies opens a new niche for research and teaching. As there is an increased demand for Data protection officers, Data protection legal experts, researchers, and other analytical specialists in the same sphere in connection with the process of application of the GDPR rules on EU level and internationally. Many big international corporations who deliver services and products to EU citizens are encountered to comply with these rules and needs the arsenal of qualified data protection officers and experts who could consult them. Main challenges related to the accelerating dynamics of the labour market are the mismatch between the needs of the labour market and the nature of the training received in higher education in terms of both knowledge (need for interdisciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary training) and skills and competencies (need to focus the educational process on the acquisition of analytical, digital, practical and social competences), need to create a permanent and effective mechanism for timely changes in curricula in view of the dynamic labour market and social development, lack of flexibility in the introduction and management of innovative courses. There is also a need to gain more in-depth knowledge and research activities in the field of personal data, to prepare courses with a specific focus on personal data.
The main objectives of the proposal are to: – Diversify and update the current curricula EU studies at SWU with new and innovative course on the topic: Personal Data Protection in EU and Third Countries, that is not taught in any other Bulgarian University a course based on the use of a new teaching methods and on the idea of policy oriented one. – Raise the academic and professional interest in the field of Data protection both at the national level and at the EU level. – Raise the interest and the awareness of students at EU Studies, Law, Economics, Political Science, International Relations and National Security on Data protection in the perspective of their professional development. – foster the publication and dissemination of the results of academic research, which would generate knowledge and insights in support of EU policy-making and strengthen the role of the EU within. To fulfil these four objectives, the proposed module will include the following actions: – Preparation and teaching of course on Personal Data Protection in EU and Third Countries – Preparation and organization of 2 roundtable which will gather not only students and academic society, but also other specialised audiences- businesses, Bulgarian Commission of Personal Data Protection, BAEL, NGO and Public Sector to discuss and debate on the topic. – Preparation of series of practical assignments and playing role games in view for the students to design their own Privacy Policy and be introduced to the different parties in the Data protection circle (Administrator, DPO, subject of personal data, Processor, Public Authority etc.) . – Research activities on Data Protection Theory and practice. – The invitation of Data protection guest lecturer/s per year, who is/are expert/s in Personal Data protection and its impact within EU and concerning Third countries. – Preparation and dissemination of the research results through the participation in 3 national or international academic conferences and/or 7 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
The indicators of achievement will be as follows: – 1 prepared and taught course – 2 prepared and organized one roundtable which will gather not only students and academic society, but also other specialised audiences. – Prepared series of practical assignments and playing role games. – Approx.90-120 Involved students (incl. PhD. students) per year in the course through course enrolment. – Involved approx. 30 participants at the roundtables per year- students, academia and other specialised audiences.
