The proposed project complements and develops the previous grant scheme BG051PO001-3.3.07-002 “Student Practices” under Operational Programme “Human Resources Development 2007-2013”. In the period up to 2017, the procedures, teams, web platform, control systems and mechanisms for the implementation of practical training in higher education will be used, developed and approved between 2013 and 2015. The project proposal fully fits into the context of the national and European objective of strengthening the links between higher education and the labour market, as there is a mismatch between the needs of the business and the specialists trained in higher education. One of the main challenges described in the Partnership Agreement of the Republic of Bulgaria, outlining the assistance from the Structural Funds for the period 2014-2020, is that the system of higher education slowly responds to the dynamically changing requirements for qualification, motivation and professional careers of graduates. The strategy for the development of higher education adopted by the National Assembly in 2015 as a major challenge is the realisation of specialists with higher education, which in almost 50 % of the cases is not in the specialty. Another key challenge outlined in the document is the lack of link between higher education and the needs of business and public institutions. The project proposal is in line with the measures set out in the Strategy to build a sustainable and effective link between higher education institutions and the labour market. The Student Practices Project is one of the successful approaches to further promote strategic cooperation between higher education institutions, business and the research sector.