The aim of the program is to train engineers in “Automation and Information Technologies” who possess knowledge, skills and competence, enabling them to carry out management, design, implementation, exploitation, technological, research and pedagogical activities in the industry, oriented mainly towards the chemical, metallurgical, biotechnological industries, ecology and environmental protection. The training in the specialty “Automation and Information Technologies” aims for bachelors to receive very good preparation in the field of computer technology and information technologies and their application both in the field of automation and in all spheres of life. Graduates of this specialty acquire sufficient knowledge, skills and competence to actively participate in the processes of digitalization of industry and society in Bulgaria and abroad, and to address the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The goal of the program is to prepare engineers with knowledge, skills and competence to implement the digital transformation of industry and public life, by creating a basis for a more extensive and in-depth mastery of the methods, techniques and tools of engineering informatics, related to solving the following 3 main tasks that must be solved in the conditions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Vertical integration of flexible and reconfigurable information management and production systems. Horizontal integration of information through the construction of value networks; Digital engineering from end to end, along the entire value chain.

Masters receive in-depth theoretical training on the most current problems of control theory, technical and software tools and the application of information technologies in the technological process control. They deepen their knowledge of applied mathematics, applied statistics and master the new programming languages ​​C++, Java, Python. Special education includes the main sections of modern control theory such as optimal, adaptive and robust control, nodel based control and intelligent control systems. Particular attention is paid to signal processing and image recognition and AI. Modern information technologies are considered in a specific way in cutting-edge disciplines such as Internet control systems, Information Modeling and Data Management. Systems analysis is a key point in the preparation of masters and includes mathematical modeling of processes and systems and theory of large systems, operations research and decision making. The most modern technical and software solutions in operations management systems are presented in disciplines such as Information and Control Systems, Sensors, Project Management.

The main objective of the Master’s program in Information Technology is to develop knowledge, skills and competencies in the field of research, design, development, implementation, reengineering and maintenance of computer-based information systems, software applications and computer hardware. The program aims to create a basis for a more extensive and in-depth mastery of the methods, techniques and tools of information technology, providing better opportunities for the future realization of graduates in the field of information and communication technologies.

The curriculum and programs provide in-depth fundamental training combined with profiling in the field of quality management. They include basic training in the field of informatics, statistics and quality management. An approach based on the principles of total quality management is adopted. Then, a number of technical aspects of quality management are taught at all stages of the product life cycle: design, production, sales and use. The Statistical Quality Control course is dedicated to methods for detecting and eliminating defects. Methods for reengineering and improving quality indicators are considered in the Experiment Planning course. The Reliability course considers ensuring product reliability, as well as methods for technical maintenance of production facilities. The Optimization course provides training in the field of optimization and optimal decision-making. Issues of quality assurance at the design stage of products and processes are considered in the Quality by Design course. The International Quality Standards course considers the construction and operation of modern quality management systems. The practical focus is also maintained with three course projects.

Scientific research is related to modern trends in implementing the digital transformation of industry and public life and includes the following current and contemporary thematic areas:
− Creation and research of modern methods for synthesis of automatic control systems;
− Synthesis of non-linear controllers;
− Development and research in the field of Modern Control Theory;
− Adaptive systems – synthesis of adaptation algorithms;
− Synthesis and research of robust automatic control systems;
− Development and research of intelligent methods in the theory of automatic control;
− Optimal control of discrete systems;
− Parametric models and methods for parameter estimation.

Research activities are related to contemporary trends in implementing the digital transformation of industry and public life and include the following current and contemporary thematic areas:
− Development and analysis of methods based on fuzzy logic for modeling and control of objects and systems;
− Genetic algorithms and genetic programming;
− Development and application of neural networks and models in identification and control tasks;
− Multi-agent systems;
− Intelligent production systems – holonic, biological, fractal;
− Development and analysis of formal methods for specification and verification in modeling and control tasks of production objects and systems – Petri nets, generalized networks, finite, time and hybrid automata;
− Intelligent approaches in diagnostic tasks;
− Development and application of intelligent methods in decision-making and optimization tasks;
− Development and application of methods for pattern recognition and machine learning;

Scientific research is related to modern trends in implementing the digital transformation of industry and public life and includes the following current and contemporary thematic areas:
– Modern methods, methodologies and systems for statistical evaluation and modeling;
– Modern methods for experiment planning;
– Methods, methodologies and tools for quality management;
– Modern methods and systems for optimization;
– Intelligent methods and systems for optimization;
– Modern methods, methodologies and systems for design of control systems – object-oriented, component-based, agent-based or aspect-oriented;
– Optimal control of discrete systems;
– Methods and approaches for integration of automated design systems with other information and control systems;
– Parametric models and methods for parameter estimation.

Research activities are related to contemporary trends in implementing the digital transformation of industry and public life and include the following current and contemporary thematic areas:
– Distributed information processing and control systems;
– Modern methods, methodologies and tools for information modeling;
– Reference architectures and integrated information systems;
– Modern Database systems – distributed, OLAP, OLTP, Data Warehouses;
– Standardization of data presentation and exchange in various areas of the economy and public life;
– Modern methods and tools for web-based data exchange and communications;
– Electronic business;
– Intelligent information systems;
– Semantic web;
– Ontologies and ontological models and systems;
– Modern methods and methodologies for knowledge representation and design of Knowledge Base Systems;
– Interactive environments and systems, human-machine interfaces;
– Information modeling and product life cycle management;
– Modern approaches to software engineering;
– Model-driven development;
– Cyber-physical systems;
– Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Execution Systems (MOM/MES);
– Industrial Internet of Things.

Scientific research is related to modern trends in implementing the digital transformation of industry and public life and includes the following current and contemporary thematic areas:
− Creation and study of modern methods for synthesis of automatic control systems;
− Distributed systems for automation and production control;
− Intelligent production control systems – holonic, biological, fractal;
− Multi-agent control of production systems;
− Modern methods and approaches in automation – component-based automation, object-oriented, agent-based;
− Supervisory control;
− Manufacturing Execution Systems;
− Hybrid production control systems;− Intelligent methods and tools for diagnostics in production systems;
− Modern control systems – optimal, robust, adaptive, predictive;
− Optimal control of discrete-event systems;
− Formal methods and approaches for specification and verification of control systems;
− Reconfigurable control of production systems