The European Commission and the OECD have joined forces to support higher education institutions with the creation of the self-assessment tool HEInnovate. HEInnovate facilitates the assessment of an HEI in a systematic way, opening up discussion, debate, and policy-making on the entrepreneurial and innovative nature of higher education institutions. HEInnovate can be used by all types of higher education institutions. Rather than defining a single way forward, it offers self-assessment, guidance and good practice materials to take action.

On the 18th of November this year, following over 30 workshops across Europe, with more than 2000 registered users, HEInnovate was relaunched with improved functionality, revised and updated content and other features developed based on user feedback and input. The event was held at the Bibliothèque Solvay and hosted over 50 professional experts. The event was supported by Prof. Paul Hannon (Director of Leading Business Growth and the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Swansea University, UK), Dr Alan Gibb (Professor Emeritus, University of Durham), Mrs Rebecca Allinson (Director, Technopolis ltd), Dr Jonathan Potter, (OECD LEED Programme), etc. Different approaches to innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions and the future potential and outcomes of the HEInnovate methodology on an ever broader scale were discussed.

Scholars and business experts from countries such as Germany, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, the UK, Poland, Ireland, etc., participated in the forum. Vladimir Zhechev, Ph.D. a senior assistant professor from the Marketing Department of University of Economics – Varna took part in the event as officially appointed delegate and the only representative of HEIs in Bulgaria.  He provided advise on future developments of the tool and international entrepreneurial education policy creation. Mr. Zhechev also presented the different opportunities offered to UE-Varna students and external stakeholders through the innovative UEBN web-platform. UEBN being an exemplification of a good practice in encouraging entrepreneurial activity in Bulgaria has generated interest among representatives of other HEIs, heads of innovation centres, accreditation committee representatives, consultants and EU officials.