Bridging Education Across the Danube ( BEAD - ROBG00271 )
What is the purpose?
Specific Objective: 4.2 - Improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning through developing accessible infrastructure, including by fostering resilience for distance and on-line education and training
Improving the quality, inclusiveness, and enriching with practice the cross-border scope of provided educational services starting with the region Silistra-Calarasi through developing advanced educational infrastructure that supports hybrid learning environments and lifelong learning opportunities for all and bridging the gap in the provision of essential transversal skills demanded by employers from both neighboring countries.
What is the budget?
269.267,00 €, from which 215.413,59 € FEDR and 53.853,41 € National Contribution
Who implements the project?
Lead partner (LP): Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Ruse, Bulgaria
Partner 2 (P2): Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Calarasi (Romania)
Partner 3 (P3): University or Ruse "Angel Kanchev", Bulgaria
Partner 4 (P4): University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine – Bucharest, Romania
What is the implementation period?
Start date: 2025-05-31
End Date: 2026-07-30
Period: 14 months
Where it is implemented?
Bucharest and Calarasi County – Romania
Ruse and Silistra, Districts - Bulgaria
What will happen?
- Procurement for the lab in the Silistra Branch;
- Procurement for the lab in the Calarasi Branch;
- Delivery and Installation of the Equipment for the Labs;
- Testing and Synchronising the Labs;
- Promotion of the Labs;
- Procurement of the 'Erasmus+ Competence Curriculum,' a component of the Joint Cross-border Education and Training Scheme (Joint CETS);
- Procurement of the 'New European Bauhaus Curriculum' , the second component of the Joint Cross-border Education and Training Scheme (Joint CETS);
- Joint Development and Delivery of the Procured Services;
- Delivery of Teaser Courses from the Joint CETS using the Integrated Labs;
- Communication and promotion activities;
- Development of interactive training resources: Good practices е-Тoolkit;
- Pilot events and Transfer of knowledge;
- Programme for joint exchange/visits, solving companies' cases;
What will be the results (what is the contribution to the program)?
- PSO4 - Investments in education, training and life-long learning services: 2
- RCO85 - Participations in joint training schemes: 170
- RCO87 - Organizations cooperating across borders: 8
- RCR81 - Completion of joint training schemes: 80
- RCR84 - Organizations cooperating across borders after project completion: 4
- PSR4 - Annual users of the supported investments in education, training and life-long learning services: 50
Status
The project is currently under implementation. The following progress was achieved so far:
- The project’s official kick-off meeting and opening event was organized on 31.07.2025 in Calarasi.
- The purchase of IT equipment and furniture for the Innovative Rural Development Laboratory in Calarasi has been completed by PP4 – USAMV-B, Calarasi Branch in September 2025 through direct purchases. The IT equipment and furniture for the Innovative Rural Development Laboratory were received in October 2025 and put into operation by the supplier, and the staff servicing this equipment was trained.
- PP2 – CCIA Calarasi has produced promotional materials (agenda, thermos, bag, map, cardboard notebook, external battery) in December 2025.
- PP3 – Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”, Silistra Branch coordinated and academically validated the cross-border analytical study assessing foreign language literacy, digital competence, and intercultural competence in the regions of Silistra (BG) and Călărași (RO), with particular attention to vulnerable groups. Based on the study results, PP3 led the development and academic validation of four hybrid study programmes in December 2025 (Digital Competence, Bulgarian Language, Romanian Language, and Intercultural Competence), contract for which was signed in November 2025. Finally, PP3 compiled the Delivery Report, presenting concise summaries of all key outputs and ensuring access to full deliverables through the Table of Links.
- The procurement of the service regarding the development of the cross-border study and the two courses has been completed by PP4 - USAMV-B, Calarasi Branch in September 2025. The cross-border study to evaluate and analyze specific competences and two courses “Consolidation of innovative entrepreneurship in rural areas” and “Smart village”, the second component of the Joint Cross-Border Education and Training Scheme (Joint CETS) have been completed in November 2025.