The international conference hosted by the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (Sofia, Bulgaria) and International Research Center ‘Scientific Cooperation’ (Rostov-on-Don, Russia) from 15-18 June 2015 in Sofia on the topic “Worldwide trends in the development of education and academic research” attracted more than 150 papers in the form of oral and virtual presentations by the participants from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Russia. The main aim of this Conference was to focus academic discussions on the current worldwide trends in the development of education and academic research. The conference had three specific objectives:

1. to discuss new policies, reforms and practices in preschool and school education;
2. to outline prospects for the development of higher education;
3. to examine different approaches to academic research.

We were very pleased to welcome two keynote speakers, one of whom was Professor Mike Osborne, Chair of Adult and Lifelong Education at the University of Glasgow, as well as being a Director of PASCAL International Observatory. He gave a keynote presentation “Learning Cities and Big Data” that stimulated heated discussions and huge response from the international audience that most probably will lead to further interactions of PASCAL and those regions interested in cooperation within the Learning Cities Project.

We believe that this international event provided a good ground for establishing links between colleagues who work in the field of educational sciences and research at universities, colleges, and institutes around the world. We also welcome all interested parties to collaborate in other activites with the International Research Center ‘Scientific Cooperation’ at Rostov-on-Don in educational and research spheres.