University of National and World Economy implemented under Work Package 3 – Establishment of the Language Buddy System in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), successfully completed the national implementation of the Language Buddy Online Training Course.

The online training programme was developed by the project consortium and delivered through the Open Learning Platform, coordinated by Advenio eAcademy. The course aimed to equip higher education students with key competencies in mentoring, intercultural communication, and language support, enabling them to effectively support migrant children and young people in their integration process. The training consisted of eight thematic modules, combining theoretical input, reflective tasks, practical case studies, and forum-based peer interaction and was a part of a traineeship program established at the Regional Centre for Research of Migrants and Refugees.

In Bulgaria, 84 students were registered as active participants on the platform, representing a diverse cohort in terms of age, academic background, and prior experience. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 46 years and came from various fields of study, including sociology, psychology, economics, international relations, philology, journalism, and other disciplines. This diversity reflects the inclusive and interdisciplinary nature of the Language Buddy approach.

By the end of the reporting period, 50 participants completed the course and the evaluation questionnaire (in progress for more), providing detailed feedback on the course content, platform, and overall experience. The results demonstrate a very high level of satisfaction:

• Over 85% of participants stated that the course met or exceeded their expectations.
• More than 96% described the course as interesting and engaging.
• Over 92% confirmed that they learned new knowledge and skills through the training.
• More than 80% rated the eLearning platform as user-friendly and supportive of learning.
• Over 96% expressed satisfaction with the communication, support, and responsiveness of the national coordination team.

Participants particularly appreciated the practical and interactive nature of the course, the use of real-life scenarios and case studies, the clearly structured learning objectives, and the supportive learning environment. The flexibility of the online format and the opportunity for self-paced learning were also highlighted as key strengths.

National facilitation and coordination were provided through regular live online sessions and continuous support by the UNWE course team - Mihaela Misheva and Marieta Hristova. Weekly tutorials and feedback meetings created opportunities for reflection, discussion, and peer exchange, contributing to strong engagement and motivation among participants.

In addition to the online training activities, an in-person meeting was organised with members of the project team, during which Bulgarian participants had the opportunity to meet and interact with the ToT mentors from Malta. The meeting created a valuable space for direct exchange, mutual learning, and discussion of mentoring practices across national contexts. Participants described the encounter as highly inspiring, highlighting the importance of personal connection, shared experience, and cross-country collaboration within the Language Buddy project. The meeting further strengthened participants’ motivation and sense of belonging to a wider European community of practice.

Meeting with ToT Mentors

The successful completion of the Language Buddy Online Training Course in Bulgaria marks an important step in preparing trained student mentors for the next phase of the project, where they will apply their skills in supporting migrant children and young people as Language Buddies.