Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

"Information Services" Plc launched a national platform for centers for IT skills and entrepreneurship support in Bulgaria. InfoStart: www.infostart.eu. This is one of the steps taken by the system integrator for improving the training of IT professionals given the increasing shortage of experts in the field.

The platform aims to prepare new employees for the company's needs, public administration and the business. Also, "Information Services" Plc will create conditions for work and partnerships with IT entrepreneurs across the country. The company will use and build technological capacity, the resource base (offices in all regional cities) and expert staff (over 300 highly skilled software engineers and communication specialists) to develop the competencies of IT professionals and support businesses in Bulgaria.

The implementation of a series of trainings and certification courses throughout the country is envisaged. Successful graduates of different areas: major "Programmer", major "System Administrator" and major "Quality Assurance Specialists" will receive a certificate of professional competence of the Ministry of Education and Science.

The training programs are adapted to the needs of the market and will provide practical knowledge and skills to work with the latest technologies. The duration of training in three IT majors is six calendar months. Lectures start on May 9 and the detailed program of courses, information about speakers and criteria for applications is published www.infostart.eu.

The main emphasis of the platform InfoStart is placed on IT entrepreneurs. The wide branch network of "Information Services" Plc covering all regional cities in Bulgaria opens doors to business and offers opportunities for development, distribution and introduction of products and solutions as well as customer support and relationship management with clients across the country.

Objectives of InfoStart by the end of 2014:

• A series of training sessions across the country, most of them free;
• Preparation of 150 IT professionals in three major professional fields as 15% of them will be able to work in the company and study grants;
• Training of 200 specialists in the field of information technology and public administration through the internship program at the company's offices throughout the country;
• Opening 30 new jobs in the offices of “Information Services” in the larger cities;
• Creation of interactive laboratories to develop new projects and technologies in the larger offices of the company.