The selection process for participating Bulgarian schools in the project has been successfully finalized.
On May 28, 2026, in Sofia, an expert selection committee held a final evaluation meeting.
The application window, which ran from May 1 to May 20, 2026, generated immense interest among the 205 member schools of the Cambridge Schools Association in Bulgaria. A total of 85 online application forms were submitted. Following a rigorous administrative compliance check, the committee evaluated 22 fully completed applications based on three strategic pillars: Innovation Capacity (STEM environment, “Innovative School” status, and Erasmus+ experience), Leadership Potential and Commitment, and Strategic Vision. These criteria had been previously verified during a transnational partner meeting in Malaga in April 2026 with partners from Spain and Slovenia to ensure international relevance.
Originally, the project aimed to select 8 schools. However, due to the high quality of proposals and strong motivation displayed by applicants, the committee decided to expand the pilot group to 11 schools. This expansion ensures a broader geographical reach and a diverse representation of educational stages across Bulgaria, guaranteeing a robust validation of the project’s results.
The 11 selected schools demonstrated outstanding readiness for leadership transformation, integrating advanced concepts such as AI-driven learning tools, distributed leadership models, and comprehensive STEM integration.
The chosen schools have signed a commitment declaration to ensure high-quality and timely execution of project activities. The upcoming roadmap includes National Training (Summer, 2026): A two-day intensive training in Sofia focused on the competency profile of innovators and setting up school innovation labs. The training program is developed under the leadership of New Bulgarian University and will be delivered by trainers who participated in the international session in Malaga, Spain; Providing expert feedback on the first draft of the “School Innovators Handbook”; Innovation Labs (September 2026 – May 2027): Executing 11 internal school labs with a team of 8 teachers per school to test new ideas; International Mobility (November 27–28, 2026): A knowledge-sharing mobility in Ljubljana, Slovenia, alongside Spanish and Slovenian partner schools; National Conference (June 2027): Public dissemination of results, video reports, and an official awards ceremony.
The ESLTI project is coordinated by the “Cambridge Schools Association in Bulgaria”. It aims to shift school governance from purely administrative tasks to a sustainable, lasting culture of innovation.