Bringing Together Education, Research and Industry

The conference welcomed 34 participants representing a diverse cross-sector audience, including VET educators, AI technologists, inclusive education specialists, researchers, and representatives from academia. The event aimed to disseminate the tangible results developed throughout the three D2CIN project activities while fostering a growing national community of practice dedicated to inclusive AI in education.

Throughout the day, participants explored practical approaches for embedding responsible and inclusive AI into vocational education, demonstrating how collaboration between higher education institutions, creative industries and technology experts can accelerate educational innovation.

Inspiring Programme Focused on Practical Innovation

The conference programme combined research insights, practical demonstrations and real-world implementation examples delivered by distinguished experts.

The event opened with an introduction to the D2CIN project by Budakov Films, followed by a series of keynote presentations:

• Dr. Yordan Karapenchev (Sofia University) presented the Personalized Feedback Navigator, demonstrating approaches for measuring and mitigating bias in AI-supported learning.
• Assoc. Prof. Ilija Kojuharov, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at New Bulgarian University, showcased the piloting of the Personalized Feedback Navigator and discussed its educational impact.
• Mrs. Keti Tserovska, Art Director at Budakov Films, presented innovative approaches for designing accessible AI solutions in vocational education through inclusive UX design and digital storytelling.
• Mr. Boris Baev, Managing Director of Innovation Group Services, demonstrated how conversational AI avatars can support inclusive vocational training environments.

The conference concluded with an interactive discussion session, where participants exchanged ideas on integrating the project’s innovative tools into existing educational practice. Particular attention was given to the Personalized Feedback Navigator, the Accessible AI for Education Handbook, and the implementation of conversational AI avatars within VET institutions.

Outstanding Results Beyond the Project KPIs

The Bulgaria National Conference delivered exceptional results, exceeding every major performance indicator defined in the Erasmus+ project proposal.

Among the most significant achievements were:

• 34 participants attended the conference.
• 96% of survey respondents rated the overall conference 4 out of 5 or higher, exceeding the planned KPI of 85%.
• 92% considered the sessions highly relevant and directly applicable to their professional practice, surpassing the project target of 80%.
• 14 stakeholders actively contributed constructive feedback—double the project’s target of at least seven active contributors.
• 96% agreed that the event successfully promoted inclusion, accessibility and diverse perspectives.
• 92% recognised the conference as highly valuable for professional networking and future collaboration opportunities.

These results clearly demonstrate the growing interest in inclusive AI solutions and validate the practical relevance of the D2CIN project outputs among education professionals and technology experts.

Strengthening Future Collaboration

Beyond knowledge exchange, the conference created new opportunities for strategic cooperation.

Discussions initiated future collaboration with:

• Sofia University, focusing on integrating D2CIN resources into vocational education curricula;
• New Bulgarian University, exploring future joint dissemination activities;
• Innovation Group Services, strengthening collaboration between academia and the creative technology sector.

These emerging partnerships contribute directly to the long-term sustainability of the project by expanding the network of organisations committed to responsible and inclusive AI implementation.

A Significant Milestone for the D2CIN Project

The Bulgaria National Conference confirmed that the D2CIN project’s innovative resources—including the Accessible AI for Education Handbook, the Personalized Feedback Navigator, and the piloted conversational AI avatars—address real needs within vocational education and have strong potential for wider adoption.

Organised by Budakov Films, the event successfully demonstrated how collaboration between education, research and industry can accelerate the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence while ensuring accessibility, diversity and inclusion remain at the heart of digital transformation.

By substantially exceeding all planned dissemination and stakeholder engagement KPIs, the conference represents a major success for the D2CIN consortium and provides a strong foundation for future project activities and the continued expansion of an international community committed to inclusive AI in education.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project No: 2025-1-DE02-KA210-VET-000354956