In a television interview, the executive director of the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Milen Dobrev, emphasizes that the observed price increase is a trend that began in 2024 and should not be seen as a direct result of the adoption of the euro. According to him, it is rather a matter of multiple economic factors, including rising costs for energy, transport and resources, as well as an increase in the minimum wage (over the last 10 years the increase is almost 4 times), which are reflected in the final prices of goods and services. We should not forget the increase in VAT to 20% in a number of areas that were previously subject to preferential tax (medicines, food, bread and bakery products - previously it was 0%, books and printed publications, baby food and cosmetics, tourist services, restaurant and catering services), the increase in the social security burden, as well as the many newly introduced administrative regulations, requirements and procedures that gradually burden the cost of a number of businesses (which accumulates on the final price of products and services).

The Pro TV Romania material describes a wide range of reactions among the public. It is mentioned that some citizens and entrepreneurs express some concerns about the initial price fluctuations, especially in the first days after the transition to the single currency, as well as about the adaptation to the dual pricing of products. Some Bulgarians are looking for traditional „havens“ for their savings, such as investments in gold or real estate, in an attempt to protect their purchasing power during a period of transition. Our Romanian neighbors do not fail to jokingly mention some extreme opinions, such as that the „Bulgarian euro“ will not be valid in the rest of Europe, or that a folded 50 euro banknote in front of a mirror shows the image of Satan.

Despite the ongoing debates in society, the economic outlook of Mr. Dobrev and the business community remains focused on long-term stability. The adoption of the euro is seen as a natural continuation of the current monetary policy (currency board), which will strengthen predictability for investors and facilitate trade with EU partners.

The Romanian media concludes the report with the reminder that Bulgaria managed to overtake Romania in this particular area, as the Romanian government does not have a clear plan for introducing the single European currency, making it one of the six countries in the EU that have not yet done so.

The Pro TV Romania article is available at the following address (in Romanian).

This newsletter provides an inside look at the training materials currently being developed and shows how they are directly related to two key emerging professions:

• Prompt engineer
• Generative AI application developer

Both profiles are formally identified and described in the project's job mapping work package, with detailed competencies and responsibilities included in the supporting materials.

Training materials for future professionals in the field of artificial intelligence

The GenAISA HE course is built around five training modules, each designed to support real-world job requirements identified by the consortium. Below is an overview of the modules and how they align with the two emerging professions in the field of artificial intelligence.

1. Introduction to Generative AI

This topic introduces students to the fundamentals of generative AI, tracing its evolution from early GANs and VAEs to today's transformer- and diffusion-based systems. It also covers the ethical, social, and transparency challenges associated with modern AI (bias, trustworthiness, data provenance, explainability).

Link to professional profiles:

• The engineers need a solid foundation in model behavior, constraints, and linguistic models to design effective prompts.
• Developers of generative AI applications They need to understand the types of models to choose the right architecture for each task.

2. NLP, image and video generation in generative AI

This topic focuses on the multimodal capabilities of modern GenAI systems – how they process language, how they generate images or video, and how humans interact with these systems. Students explore practical use cases such as text-to-image tools, conversational assistants, and multimodal reasoning.

Link to professional profiles:

• Prompt engineers learn how language and visual cues influence model results, supporting optimization and prompt testing skills.
• Developers of generative AI applications gain knowledge about multimodal APIs and learn how to integrate them into applications.

3. Generative AI models

A more technical module covering GANs, VAEs, diffusion models, latent diffusion and hybrid architectures. It draws on state-of-the-art research and landmark publications in the field of deep generative modeling, providing students with a structured understanding of how generative systems are implemented and improved.

Link to professional profiles:

• Prompt engineers benefit from understanding model limitations, bias mechanisms, and failure modes.
• Developers of generative AI applications acquire basic knowledge of model operation, fine-tuning, and optimization workflows.

4. Fundamentals of Deep Learning for Generative AI

This topic introduces students to the fundamentals of deep learning, from neural architecture components to embedding and optimization techniques. It prepares students to understand or implement artificial intelligence systems using modern frameworks.

Link to professional profiles:

• Prompt engineers develop the analytical skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of model results.
• Developers of generative AI applications acquire the technical fundamentals needed to work with APIs, fine-tune, and integrate models into applications.

5. Managing the transformation of generative AI

Implementing generative AI requires organizational readiness, management skills, governance, and ethical decision-making. This module provides practical methods, process models, and frameworks for responsible AI design and implementation. It also covers AI transformation in business and industry, as well as change leadership. The content is based on recent research and case studies from various sectors.

Link to professional profiles:

• Prompt engineers must understand the fundamentals of AI design processes, compliance, safety, and governance to design responsible prompts.
• Developers of generative AI applications must be familiar with AI design and development processes, as well as security and change management practices when integrating models into products.

Connecting training with real job opportunities

The higher education and vocational training course is specifically designed to match two fast-growing professions identified in the project's occupational profiles report:

Prompt engineer

Mid-level AI specialist who designs, tests, and optimizes prompts for LLM and other generative systems.
 Basic skills: NLP, prompt optimization, testing methodologies, critical thinking, bias awareness and safety.
 Typical career paths: product teams in the fields of artificial intelligence, EdTech, customer experience automation, prompt design in the legal and medical fields.

Generative Artificial Intelligence Application Developer

A technical position focused on integrating generative artificial intelligence models into real-world applications, ensuring security, performance, and usability.
Required skills: API integration, model orchestration, backend/frontend development, AI-ready DevOps, compliance-oriented programming.
Typical career paths: artificial intelligence software development, SaaS, corporate R&D, digital health, creative industries.

A look to the future

The higher education teaching materials are being refined, integrating real-world examples and case-based tasks developed by the project partners. Once completed, they will be made available as open educational resources through the online learning platform GenAISA, thus ensuring accessibility in academic and training ecosystems across Europe.

In the next phase, the consortium will pilot test these materials in selected higher education institutions, collecting feedback from faculty and learners to ensure quality, inclusiveness, and real-world applicability.

Stay with us

Follow GenAISA's journey as we continue to support the European education sector with AI-ready skills and innovative learning solutions.

Visit our website: www.genaisa.eu
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/genaisa-project/
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genaisa.project/

The event was part of the „Meet the Experts“ series, which brings together experts from different sectors to share good practices and professional experience in the field of financial literacy. The main objective of these webinars, as set out in the project proposal, is to support capacity building among trainers and mentors by providing them with access to modern approaches, topical topics and practical guidelines for teaching financial literacy and responsible financial behavior.

The webinar speaker was Dimitar Toshev, Senior Product Manager "Financial Crime" at Paysafe, one of the leading international companies in the field of digital payments and financial technologies.

The topic of the lecture – „From Literacy to Security: How to Stay Safe from Financial Crimes Online“ – was distinguished by its practical focus and relevance. During the presentation, key issues related to the relationship between financial literacy and financial security, as well as ways to protect against online fraud and abuse, were discussed:

• Digital wallets and online transactions
• Financial literacy and financial crimes: the link between them
• Main types of financial and online fraud
• Sustainable strategies for financial crime prevention
• Protecting businesses from financial abuse
• Toolkit for educators – how to train youth and adults in recognizing financial fraud

The webinar is part of Work Package 3 (Comprehensive Methodology) of the project, which includes a series of expert meetings and trainings aimed at improving the competencies of trainers. The events in this series provide a bridge between academic concepts and real practice, encouraging participants to integrate innovative, scenario-based approaches into their training.

The FINMAN+ project aims to increase the financial literacy of young people (25–30 years old) and provide trainers with innovative methodologies that combine practical knowledge, digital skills and sustainable thinking.

The event marked an important milestone in the development of the project – the transition from the development stage to the preparation of pilot activities and national and international competitions.

During the first day, the partners presented the progress of the training modules developed within the Moodle platform. They discussed opportunities for improvements, the integration of interactive videos and translation tools, as well as the finalization of micro-certificates that will add value to the training courses.

The second day focused on the upcoming pilot phase and the organization of the competitions planned for 2026. Guidelines for the conduct of the pilots were presented, as well as the structure of the national and international competition to be held in Italy. The partners had the opportunity to visit the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev", where they examined the already built digital twin laboratory, and Dr. Ventsislav Keseev also presented in detail the Center for Excellence.

In addition to the work program, the partners had the opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural landmarks of Ruse and participate in joint events that contributed to strengthening the partnership and good cooperation between the organizations.

For more news and information, follow us on project site, or in LinkedIn and Facebook.

According to Dobrev, Bulgaria is joining a kind of “club of economies with excellent stability”. This is reflected in a number of benefits – the euro eliminates currency risks and creates a predictable exchange rate, and Schengen membership ensures easier cross-border business. The result is reduced transaction costs for companies, which will no longer pay currency conversion fees and will have easier access to European capital.

Credit rating increase

Dobrev also recalls that the credit rating upgrade in July, just days after the decision of the European Parliament and the European institutions, is a sign of confidence from international agencies. Fitch raised Bulgaria's long-term rating to "BBB+" with a stable outlook, mainly due to the expected entry into the eurozone. Shortly after, Scope Ratings raised the rating to "A-", indicating that the single European currency will eliminate currency risk, expand access to liquidity from the European Central Bank and strengthen banking stability. This is also the first time in history that Bulgaria has had such a high credit rating.

Investors seek security

The benefits at the business level, according to Dobrev, are obvious – companies will save on currency conversion fees and enjoy more efficient work with the stable European currency. The euro not only provides protection from costs and currency fluctuations, but also gives investors confidence that the country’s mechanisms are sustainable and compatible with those in major European economies. This view was also supported by key institutional steps taken in June and July 2025. The European Commission and the European Central Bank confirmed that Bulgaria meets all convergence criteria, and has a stable banking system.

In conclusion, according to Dobrev, the combination of the Eurozone + Schengen brings not just symbolic weight, but real economic advantages – low risk, more accessible finances and more efficient business processes. And the trust of international rating agencies confirms it – Bulgaria is already among the preferred destinations for new investments, which Ruse and the entire region can benefit from.

The event will be held on the territory of Industrial Park Ruse (19 Industrial Park Street) and will mark an important investment step for the development of the company and the region. The new production building is located on an area of nearly 25,000 sq m, on three levels, and is connected to the existing base by three overpasses - two cargo and one two-story pedestrian bridge.

The ceremony will be attended by high-ranking guests, including: Mr. Doncho Barbalov - Deputy Minister of Economy, Mr. Moritz Seiler - Head of the Economic Department at the Embassy of Germany, Mr. Pencho Milkov - Mayor of Ruse Municipality, Mr. Rainer Goelz - Executive Director of WITTE Automotive GmbH, Germany, as well as representatives of the central and local authorities, the management of the WITTE Group and business partners from the country and abroad.

Guests will have the opportunity to tour the new production area, watch technology demonstrations, and meet the engineering and production team. The musical program includes performances by vocalist Victoria Vinalieva from the band "Chetno", students from the National Institute of Music "Prof. Veselin Stoyanov" and the bagpipe ensemble "Dunavski gaidi".

After the official part, at 1:00 p.m., an Open Day will be held for the general public, professionals and future employees. Visitors will be able to explore the modern office area, the break areas, as well as learn about the working conditions and career opportunities in the company.

The company, which started operations in Ruse in 2008, recorded a turnover of over 204 million euros in 2024, and with the new expansion, it is expected to reach 250 million euros by 2027. In addition to economic growth, the expansion will lead to the creation of over 300 new jobs, establishing "WITTE Automotive Bulgaria" as a key employer and investor in the region.

The Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes this development as a clear sign of the long-term industrial potential of Ruse and expresses its readiness to support future initiatives by WITTE and other companies in the region.

The forum was opened by the Executive Director of RTIK, Milen Dobrev, who emphasized the importance of Ruse as a strategic business hub, thanks to its proximity to Bucharest and access to the European market. He emphasized the growing interest of Indian companies in Bulgaria, especially in the context of the upcoming adoption of the euro.

Manish Sharma from FIEO noted that bilateral trade between Bulgaria and India has reached 424 million USD in 2024, with a growth of 5.71% in exports from India to Bulgaria. He expressed hope for the imminent signing of a free trade agreement between the EU and India, which would facilitate business relations.

The Regional Governor of Ruse, Dragomir Draganov, and the Deputy Mayor of the municipality, Zlatomira Stefanova, also took part in the event, emphasizing the commitment of the local authorities to promoting investment and cooperation between the two countries.

The forum concluded with a discussion of the possibility of signing a memorandum of cooperation between RTIK and FIEO, which would lay the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership between Bulgarian and Indian businesses.

What is GenAISA?

GenAISA is a joint initiative co-funded by Erasmus+, which aims to respond to the growing need for new skills in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). With the participation of 13 partners from academia, vocational training, industry and digital innovation, the project aims to:

• It developed two curricula – for higher education and vocational training.
• Provide micro-certification through a massive open online platform (MOOC).
• Introduced a Digital Skills Passport for tracking and recognizing acquired competencies.
• Define new professional profiles such as "Prompt Engineer" and "Generative AI Developer".

What have we achieved so far?

Since our kick-off meeting in December 2024, the partners have reported significant progress:

• We conducted a thorough analysis of existing educational practices and labor market needs.
• We have built the basic framework of curricula for higher and vocational education.
• We discussed the concept of the online learning platform (MOOC) and virtual learning environment.
• We launched the official project website: www.genaisa.eu

Main conclusions from the study

As part of the project, we conducted a large-scale survey among educators and institutions from 16 European countries. The aim was to explore the current state of GenAI education and what the challenges are.

• 86% of the participants already offer or plan to offer artificial intelligence training.
• Only 49% currently offers specific courses in generative artificial intelligence.
• Most of the training is in the form of seminars or online courses, not full academic programs.
• Engineering disciplines dominate, but there is a growing need for business and user-centric approaches.
• Main obstacles: limited funding, access to tools and lack of ready-made training materials.
• An analysis of over 15,000 job postings showed strong demand for skills in Python, project management, UX design, and communication.
• Soft skills are becoming just as important as technical skills.
• New job profiles are emerging in fields such as healthcare, design, and manufacturing.

What's coming up?

• Testing of curricula and the Digital Passport in the second half of 2025.

• Launch of the MOOC platform for pilot training in early 2026.

• Organizing events, trainings and collaboration opportunities

Contact us

Visit the project website: www.genaisa.eu

Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

Thank you for supporting GenAISA – for more accessible, innovative and sustainable AI education in Europe!

Significant progress on all fronts 10 training modules:

• Module 1 – Introduction

The PLC programming module is complete and is in the process of being reviewed by partners. The IoT and programming parts (Python and C#) are in the process of being developed, ensuring a solid foundation for learners.

• Module 2 – Digital Twins

Content and presentations are finalized. Partners review the exercises and record accompanying videos to bring the concepts to life.

• Module 3 – Virtual Commissioning

The basics are complete, advanced modules are planned for finalization. Practical exercises are being refined for maximum student engagement.

• Module 4 – Virtual Support

The content has already been developed and the partners are reviewing the exercises for improvement. Practical exercises are being prepared for more in-depth training.

• Module 5 – Business Intelligence

The first draft of the course is ready and is being reviewed by partners to ensure alignment with the project objectives. Exercises and videos are in the process of being developed.

• Module 6 – Virtual Environment

To be finalized in July, the partners confirm that the practical tasks will provide a practical understanding of virtual environments.

• Module 7 – Industrial Cybersecurity

The course material has been prepared, and the exercises and support videos are currently being reviewed.

• Module 8 – Other technologies

The robotics, reverse engineering and cloud computing modules are progressing well, with an emphasis on developing practical exercises and recording learning materials.

• Module 9 – Transition to a green economy

To be completed after Module 6. Focused on sustainability in smart manufacturing, this module integrates environmental responsibility into manufacturing strategies.

• Module 10 – Entrepreneurship and creating incubators

The project is complete. Exercises and video materials are being reviewed to assist learners in developing entrepreneurial skills for Industry 4.0. 

After finalizing and reviewing all training modules, our training platform will be open and free to the public (expected in July 2025). 

Digital Learning Tools: Mobile App and Micro-Certificates

• The Moodle application is under development for seamless and personalized learning. The app will help learners find the most useful materials for their needs and guide them through the learning process.

• Creating the micro-certificate platform (MICOO), which will certify student achievements with digital badges and recognized certificates.

Self-assessment tool and virtual labs

• The partners approved a set of gamification tools for soft skills assessment, with which learners will be able to assess their soft and hard skills related to digital twins.

• Virtual labs are in the process of being configured to provide a real-time remote learning environment, even on older hardware!

Pilot testing and international competitions

• Ambitious goals: 50 teachers and 300 students actively use the platform!

• International events are planned skills competitions, with an emphasis on engagement and fair recognition. The competitions will take place in September in 4 of the partner countries (Italy, Spain, Sweden and Bulgaria) and will bring together schoolchildren and university students. 

Study visits and real-world inspiration

The meeting included in-depth visits of leading players in the industry – Ericsson and Volvo, who offered first-hand information on how Digital Twin technologies are being applied in cutting-edge industrial settings.

On a wider stage

The Digital Twin project was presented during a study visit organized by Innotecs in The Hague, the Netherlands, on 7-8 April 2025. The event brought together around 60 participants from vocational schools across Europe for two days of exchange, inspiration and innovation in the field of technical and vocational education. In this international setting, Annalisa Rizzo and Stefano Antona (coordinators of the Digital Twin project) presented the main results of the project, generating interest and follow-up comments among educators and stakeholders. More information about the event can be found the project website. 

We continue to work together, transforming our shared vision for smarter and more sustainable production in reality.

Stay connected and follow our journey on www.digitaltwinproject.eu!

The event is organized by the Bulgarian Fashion Portal Fashion.bg on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. Fashion.bg is the first Bulgarian online platform, uniting domestic designers, brands, manufacturers and fashion professionals in one place.

Ruse Fashion Week will kick off on May 3 with a creative workshop where young people from Ruse will create original prints. During the week, these unique designs will be printed on fabrics and transformed into dresses that will be presented at the fashion show.

The culmination of the event will be the fashion shows of leading designers and fashion houses on May 9 and 10 at the House of Culture - Ruse.

“Ruse has rich traditions in the textile and fashion industry, and organizing Fashion Week is a unique opportunity to promote the city as a cultural and economic center. Fashion Week in Ruse is not just a celebration of style and creativity – it is also a powerful platform that promotes sustainable fashion and independent fashion designers and brands. The event will highlight the importance of ethical production, environmental responsibility and innovative design”, commented the creator of Fashion.bg and chairwoman of the Bulgarian Fashion Association – a partner of the event – Silvia Kabaivanova.

You can follow everything about Ruse Fashion Week at www.rusefashionweek.com