ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF RESEARCH PROJECT ACTIVITIES PERFORMED AT MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES IN BULGARIA.

• Main Authors: Svetoslav Garov (Author), Maria Dencheva (Author), Angelina Kisselova (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Peytchinski Publishing, 2013-07-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.5272/jimab.2013194.340; 1312-773X
• Keywords: Bulgarian medical universities; research projects; organizational research structure; project team; Dentistry; RK1-715; Medicine (General); R5-920
• Source: Journal of IMAB, Vol 19, Iss 4, Pp 340-344 (2013)

Introduction: There are five Bulgarian medical universities in the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven and Stara Zagora. A major priority of medical universities is to encourage research activities mainly aimed at preparation and implementation of research projects. Projects are managed by the participating organizations called "beneficiaries". Beneficiaries develop projects, apply for finances and if approved they implement those projects.Aim: The purpose of our study is to examine the organizational structure of research project activities on the macro level and on the micro level in Bulgarian medical universities.Material and methods: In order to define the separate elements of the organizational structure and to analyze the relations and interaction between them we have applied a documentary and sociological approach. Results: During the last six years there was a significant increase in the number and the overall annual financial value of the projects performed at medical universities in Bulgaria. The reasons for such increase are: managers realizing the advantages of and benefits from the implementation of research projects ensuring high quality modernization of research units' equipment and facilities; access to innovative technologies; development of interdisciplinary relations, etc. Benefits arising from improved results motivate us to consider as appropriate some additional investments aimed at increasing the number of team members and further optimization of the currently existing structures (research centers) in charge of research with the purpose of achieving even better results in this particular field. Conclusion: The role of research project activities in medical universities' research field is of vital importance for the educational institutions' success. Taking into consideration the changed conditions, European possibilities and the highly competitive environment, realizing this aspect will be essential for the future research results for the relevant research institution.