Budakov Films is proud to announce the successful organisation of the D2CIN Bulgaria National Conference – Inclusive AI Impact Pilot & Collaborative Outreach Summit, held on 28 July 2026 at New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Bulgaria. The conference represented a major dissemination milestone within the Erasmus+ co-funded project Digital Diversity: Crafting Inclusive AI Narratives (D2CIN), Pr. No: 2025-1-DE02-KA210-VET-000354956, and was delivered as part of Activity 3: Inclusive AI Impact Pilot & Collaborative Outreach Summit.

The event brought together 34 participants from across Bulgaria, including vocational education and training (VET) educators, Artificial Intelligence specialists, researchers, inclusive education experts, and representatives from academia. Its primary objective was to disseminate the project’s three innovative results while fostering collaboration among organisations committed to developing more inclusive, ethical, and accessible AI solutions for education.

Showcasing Practical Innovation in Inclusive AI

The conference programme featured presentations from distinguished experts representing higher education, industry, and the creative sector.

The programme opened with an introduction to the D2CIN project delivered by Budakov Films, followed by presentations from:

  • Dr. Yordan Karapenchev, Chief Assistant Professor at Sofia University, who presented the Personalized Feedback Navigator and discussed methods for recognising and mitigating bias in AI-supported learning.
  • Assoc. Prof. Ilija Kojuharov, Dean of Undergraduate Studies at New Bulgarian University, who demonstrated the piloting process of the Personalized Feedback Navigator and its practical implementation within vocational education.
  • Mrs. Keti Tserovska, Art Director at Budakov Films, who presented the Accessible AI for Education approach, highlighting inclusive UX design, accessibility standards, and digital storytelling techniques.
  • Mr. Boris Baev, Managing Director of Innovation Group Services, who demonstrated how conversational AI avatars can support inclusive and engaging vocational learning environments.

The conference concluded with an interactive discussion session, during which participants exchanged ideas on integrating the project’s innovative tools into educational practice and strengthening collaboration between education providers, researchers, and technology organisations.

Outstanding Results Beyond Expectations

The Bulgaria National Conference delivered exceptional outcomes, exceeding every key performance indicator (KPI) established in the Erasmus+ project proposal.

Among the most significant achievements were:

  • 34 participants attended the conference.
  • 96% of survey respondents rated their overall conference experience 4 out of 5 or higher, surpassing the project’s target of 85%.
  • 92% considered the conference content highly relevant and directly applicable to their professional work, exceeding the planned 80% target.
  • 14 stakeholders actively contributed constructive feedback during discussions, doubling the project’s engagement target of seven active contributors.
  • 96% agreed that the event successfully promoted inclusion and welcomed diverse perspectives.
  • 92% recognised the conference as highly valuable for networking and future professional collaboration.

These outstanding results demonstrate both the quality of the conference programme and the growing interest in responsible and inclusive Artificial Intelligence within the vocational education sector.

Strengthening National Collaboration

Beyond the dissemination of project results, the conference established new opportunities for long-term cooperation.

Constructive discussions were initiated with Sofia University, New Bulgarian University, and Innovation Group Services, focusing on integrating the D2CIN resources into vocational education curricula, expanding dissemination activities, and supporting future collaboration between academia and the creative industries.

These partnerships will contribute to the sustainability of the project by extending the reach and practical implementation of its innovative educational resources.

Advancing Inclusive AI Across Europe

The success of the Bulgaria National Conference confirms the strong relevance of the D2CIN project’s three core results:

  • the Accessible AI for Education Handbook;
  • the Personalized Feedback Navigator;
  • and the piloting of Conversational AI Avatars for vocational education.

By bringing together educators, researchers, AI experts, and creative professionals, Budakov Films demonstrated how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate the responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence while ensuring accessibility, diversity, and inclusion remain central to digital transformation.

The conference represents an important milestone in the implementation of the D2CIN project and provides a strong foundation for future dissemination activities and international collaboration across Europe.

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