1. Pathways│Center for Education and Entrepreneurship
Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
October 2010
Skills of the Future Delivered.
Providing Skills for the Future.

2. Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Preliminary Work
III. Opening Ceremony & Press Conference
IV. Student Recruitment
V. Beginning of Classes
1

3. I. Background
Skills of the Future Delivered.

4. Project Overview
Angel Kelchev, an MPA student and Kokkalis Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of
Government, worked closely with a team of Harvard faculty and staff for a year in order to
devise a comprehensive business plan for an education center that was submitted to USAID
The proposed idea was selected by USAID as the winning initiative under the US-Bulgaria
Partnership for Information Technology and Innovation. In April 2010, Pathways was
awarded seed capital in the amount of ~$500,000, making it the largest USAID initiative in the
country during 2010
Pathways (www.pathways-bg.com) was officially unveiled in Pazardzhik, Kelchev’s
hometown, three months ahead of schedule on September 21st, 2010
The organization aims to leverage significant resources through a multi-layer education
public-private partnership. Pathways and its founders aspire to increase the competitiveness
of Bulgaria’s youth in the fields of computer science, English language and entrepreneurship
Pathways is working with diverse partners such as Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Athens
Information Technology Center (AIT), Rotary clubs and many more
The organization is open not only to students but also to professionals looking for
opportunities for career transitioning and enhancement of their productivity
3

5. Pathways’ Offerings
Pathways has two state-of-the-art facilities, focused on IT and English language
The facilities feature three classrooms that address the needs of today’s most demanding
students and offer up-to-date computer equipment, multimedia and software
IT Center’s and English Language Center’s course offerings include:
IT Courses Cambridge University ESOL Certificates
MS Office 2007 & Introduction to Windows 7 First Certificate in English (FCE)
PHP programming Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
HTML/CSS
University Admission Exams
Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign,
Flash, etc.) TOEFL
Cisco Networking Academy (CCNA Certification) SAT
Pathways’ curriculum is flexible and innovative and integrates eLearning capabilities. It is
complemented by a dynamic mentoring program, staffed by more than 50 high achieving
volunteers from top academic and professional institutions from the U.S. and beyond
In addition, Pathways offers seminars on business development, business ideas generation
and career planning through Project LEAD. Pathways offers scholarships as it aims to ensure
that people from disadvantaged backgrounds gain access to world-class education
4

6. II. Preliminary Work
Skills of the Future Delivered.

7. Volunteers From the U.S. and Bulgaria Help to Assemble the
Furniture at Pathways’ English Language Center …
6

8. … And the Newly Arrived Computer Equipment at the Same Location
7

9. Construction and Equipment Installation Work at Pathways’ IT Center
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10. III. Opening Ceremony & Press Conference
Skills of the Future Delivered.

11. Greeting the guests
Left: Mr. Kelchev, Pathways’
founder and CEO, and his family
greet public officials before the
commencement of the opening
ceremony
Right: Mr. Alan M. Trager, Senior
Fellow, at the Mossavar-Rahmani
Center for Business and Government
and Chair, Public-Private Partnerships
Study Group, both at the Harvard John
F. Kennedy School of Government,
greets Mr. Todor Popov, Mayor of
Pazardzhik
10

12. Mr. Kelchev outlines Pathways’ vision and Mr. Popov talks about the
significance of this project to the community
11

13. Cutting the ribbon at Pathways’ IT Center
Left & Right: Mr.
Seiji T. Shiratori,
Deputy Chief of
Political/ Economic
Section at the
Embassy of the U.S.
to Bulgaria and Mr.
Kelchev cut the
ribbon in front of the
new IT facility
Bottom Left: Mr. Shiratori
gives a welcoming speech
in Bulgarian to the dismay
of the guests
12

14. Traditional Bulgarian custom of expressing hospitality and showing
respect by greeting guests with bread and salt
Left: Ms. Michelle
Barrett, USAID
Program Officer in
the Regional Support
Center in Budapest,
and Mr. Shiratori are
the first to tour the
new facilities
Bottom: Mrs. Katia
Alexieva, USAID
representative at the
Embassy of the U.S. to
Bulgaria
13

15. Tour of Pathways’ IT Center
14

16. Tour of Pathways’ English Language Center
All: The English Language Center
features two state-of-the-art
classrooms, equipped with
multimedia and modern computers
15

17. Pathways’ press conference
Left: Mr. Shiratori shares his ambitions
for Pathways with the media and talks
about USAID’s commitment to the
region
Right: Mr. Trager outlines the involvement
of multiple partners in the process and the
achievements and ambitions of the
Pathways’ team. Ms. Yanachkova, Pathways’
Manager of Business Development, was in
charge of the ceremony and translated for
Mr. Trager
16

18. IV. Student Recruitment
Skills of the Future Delivered.

19. Pathways Reaches Prospective Students Through Multiple
Information Sessions at Local High Schools
Left: Presentation on Pathways’
offerings to students from the
Language High School of Pazardzhik
Right: Prospective students pick up
Pathways applications at the end of an
information session
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20. Project LEAD, a Pilot Project on Business Planning and Career
Development, Implemented by Ms. Krasteva of the MIT Sloan School
19

21. V. Beginning of Classes
Skills of the Future Delivered.

22. Pathways’ Incoming Class
Pathways received more that 100 applications in its first operating cycle
The applicants have all been recommended by instructors from local high schools or from
current employers
After careful screening of the application pool, including in-person interviews, Pathways
commenced operations with 65 students in eight classes
27 students were offered full scholarships made possible by the generous support of the
American people through USAID
Class Profile
Male/Female Ratio IT/English Classes Ratio Students per Course (1)
MS Office, 5 SAT, 5
TOEFL, 6
HTML/CSS, 7
Male English
43% Classes
IT CAE, 11
Female 46% Adobe, 11
Classes
57% 54%
FCE, 10
Cisco, 12
(1) Total exceeds 60 students as some students are registered for more than one class
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23. FCE Students Receive Their Textbooks
22

24. First FCE Lesson
Left: Mrs. Dureva and her students
practicing reading comprehension in
preparation for the First Certificate
in English (FCE) exam
Right: The lesson also features a
listening comprehension exercise
while utilizing modern computer
equipment and multimedia
23

25. Pathways Offers a Challenging Working Environment and Provides
the Tools Necessary for Students to Succeed
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26. First CCNA Lesson
Top: Mr. Stoitzev, a student at Sofia University and winner
of the National Olympiad in Information Technologies in
2010, teaches the highly popular CCNA class
25

27. 7A Cherven Stoyan Office of Press Relations
Pazardzhik – 4400 Ronald Reagan Building
Bulgaria Washington, D.C. 20523-0016
T: +359-34-919-495 T: 202-712-4320
W: www.pathways-bg.com F: 202-216-3524
W: www.usaid.gov
This presentation is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Pathways and do not
necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.