This article outlines the most important barriers for Bulgarian and Polish students that abandon or significantly reduce the execution of their entrepreneurial intentions and the start of new businesses. There are significant and diverse barriers in the implementation of entrepreneurial activities, but it is especially important that they are outlined for young people with a desire and intentions for entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial activities developed by young educated people are very important for the initiating and identifying changes in the economy’s and society’s structures. An increasingly important place in this process is taken by higher education institutions, which with their adequate training can "turn" intentions into real entrepreneurial activities or completely lock people with great potential for entrepreneurship. The aim of this article is to highlight some key barriers preventing students to develop their business intentions and initiatives. They are based on a survey conducted in Bulgaria and Poland among students studying entrepreneurial subjects at the “St. Cyril and St. Methodius” University of Veliko Tarnovo and Maritime University of Szczecin, Poland. On this basis, some conclusions are outlined and recommendations are made to universities in terms of strengthening their role as external motivators for launching various entrepreneurial projects by their students.

This paper investigates the environment for digital transformation in rural areas of Bulgaria with a special focus on the digital village concept. Rural regions form the backbone of society and face unique challenges that include depopulation, an agеing population, and limited access to modern services. Despite extensive studies on digitalization in urban areas, rural areas have received less attention in the scientific literature. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the potential of digital technologies to revitalize rural communities and by assessing whether the digital village model can offer a viable solution for sustainable rural development. The research uses a mixed methodology combining quantitative analysis of statistical data with qualitative evaluations of policy initiatives and local conditions. Two primary research questions guide the study: first, what is the current environment for digitalization in Bulgarian rural areas, and second, is the digital village concept an applicable model for digital transformation in these regions? The findings reveal that while significant infrastructural and educational challenges remain, there is an encouraging trend in digital literacy and policy support. Moreover, improvements in digital infrastructure and targeted training initiatives indicate that rural areas have untapped potential for digital growth. The study contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive framework that synthesizes the key factors affecting rural digital transformation and by offering practical recommendations for policymakers and community stakeholders. The findings results imply that with targeted investments and strategic planning, the digital village concept could play a pivotal role in enhancing economic activity, social inclusion, and overall quality of life in rural areas of Bulgaria.

Digitalization in various areas of business processes is underway. It changes traditional models of how organizational activities are carried out, including rearranging the way people are managed in modern companies. Undoubtedly, new digital solutions significantly facilitate work in HRM, but also pose a number of challenges. Due to the exceptional dynamics in the field, research on digitalization in HRM activities is also dynamic and accumulates new and new findings and recommendations for improvement. Two primary research questions guide the study: first: what significant changes are occurring in HRM as a result of digitalization, and second, what challenges do companies face in the process of digitally transforming HRM activities in Bulgaria? Possible solutions in HRM through digital tools are increasing, and in this article, using quantitative and qualitative research methods, the parameters of readiness for this major change in Bulgaria are sought. Using official statistical sources by National Statistical Institute and Eurostat data is outlined “demand-employment-digitalization” relation in Bulgaria. A study on digital readiness of HR managers and specialists In Bulgaria is used to give the national context of the study. There are analysed some of the AI solutions for HRM developed by Bulgarian companies covering the main elements of thew HRM system. The findings show that while significant challenges remain, there is an encouraging trend in the digital transformation of HRM activities in the country’s large and internationally present companies. The study shows the presence of innovative solutions in the HRM field, solved through AI by Bulgarian developers, which with their implementation will have a beneficial effect on the optimization of these activities in companies.

In recent years, artistic gymnastics has been characterized by a constantly increasing complexity of the exercises performed. In this regard, the control and assessment of coordination abilities strongly activate the system for sports selection in adolescents. The research aims to establish the connection of coordination abilities with the technical training of young gymnasts. We selected coordination tests to identify the most significant component of its structure in the initial selection in gymnastics. We determined the technical level of the studied gymnasts through expert assessment in natural conditions of competition – State Championship 2022. The object of the research are the coordination abilities in the selection of 6-7-year-old girls, and the subject of the study are the components of coordination and their connection with technical training. In this research, we used the following methods: testing method, expert evaluation method, and mathematical-statistical methods – variation and correlation analysis. The processed results show that the overall score from the coordination tests has a moderate correlation with the technical level of the results taken from the competition. The static equilibrium stability test shows the highest degree of correlation on the technical level of all gymnastic apparatus. The results of the other tests, which showed a lower correlation, remain debatable. In conclusion, we can summarize that establishing the level of coordination skills will help the process of selecting talented gymnasts.