On 30 September 2026, Sofia will host the final conference of the international project “Artificial Intelligence in Mentoring in Dual Training” (AI in Mentoring), in which the Modern Education Foundation is one of the main partners.
Under the title “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Dual Training”, the event will bring together business representatives, trainers, mentors and experts to discuss an increasingly important question: how can artificial intelligence support mentoring and training without replacing the human role at their core?
The conference will take place on 30 September 2026 at Grand Hotel Sofia, Triaditsa II Hall, with registration starting at 09:30.
From project results to practical application
In recent years, artificial intelligence has been entering education and the workplace at an accelerating pace. In dual training, however, the question is not simply how to introduce new technological tools, but how they can genuinely support the people who train and mentor young people in real working environments.
This is precisely the focus of the AI in Mentoring project. Its aim is to explore and promote the meaningful use of artificial intelligence in mentoring and vocational training and to develop practical solutions that can support the work of trainers and in-company mentors.
During the conference, the project partners will present the main results achieved, the approaches developed and the experience gained from their practical implementation. The event will also open a broader discussion on how training, mentoring and coaching are changing in an environment where technologies are developing much faster than traditional training models.
What do trainers and mentors themselves say?
A special focus of the programme will be two international panels in which trainers and mentors from Bulgaria, Belgium and Spain will share their practical experience.
This is particularly important because discussions about artificial intelligence can easily remain at the level of possibilities and predictions. Through the project, we have had the opportunity to observe how new approaches are actually perceived and used by people who work directly with learners and young people.
Participants in the conference will include Svetoslava Stoyanova from New Mindset Coaching & Training, Belgium, Lina Kostadinova from the Human Resources Development Centre and Regional Initiatives at the Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Tatyana Levcheva, a mentor involved in the pilot activities, and Daniel Pangev, Employee Relations Manager at Overgas Networks.
The Modern Education Foundation will be represented by Petya Evtimova and Lachezar Afrikanov, who will contribute to the discussion on the project results and on the role of mentoring and coaching in the changing environment of vocational education and training.
Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about practical AI developments presented by Siyana Lilova from CuratedAI.
Programme
09:30 – 10:00 – Registration
10:00 – 10:10 – Welcome
10:10 – 10:40 – “AI in Mentoring” project – results achieved and project objectives
10:40 – 11:00 – The future of training and the role of mentoring and coaching
11:00 – 11:30 – Panel 1: Trainers – feedback and experience from Bulgaria, Belgium and Spain
11:30 – 11:50 – Coffee break
11:50 – 12:20 – Panel 2: Mentors – feedback and experience from Bulgaria, Belgium and Spain
12:20 – 12:40 – Artificial intelligence developments
12:40 – 12:50 – Questions and answers
12:50 – 13:30 – Open discussion
13:30 – 14:15 – Buffet and bilateral discussions
We invite you to join us
The conference is an opportunity not only to present the results of the project, but also to open a broader conversation about the role we want artificial intelligence to play in vocational education and training.
For us, this conversation is not about replacing mentors with technology. The more important question is how technology can help mentors become better prepared, give them access to more useful tools and allow them to devote more attention to what remains deeply human: relationships, feedback, professional judgement and support for the development of young people.
Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required here.
Representatives of the media are also invited to attend and cover the event.
Date: 30 September 2026
Venue: Grand Hotel Sofia, Triaditsa II Hall, 1 Gurko Street, Sofia
Registration: from 09:30
Please note that photographs, video and/or audio recordings will be made during the event. By participating in the event, you grant the organisers the right to use these materials for non-commercial purposes, including publication on websites and social media channels.
