VFU "CHERNORIZETS HRABAR" OPENED ITS 30TH ACADEMIC YEAR!
28 September 2020
Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" opened the academic year 2020/2021, which will mark the 30th anniversary of its foundation.
Special guest of the ceremony was the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev. The event was attended by the mayors of Varna, Smolyan and Rudozem - Ivan Portnih, Nikolay Melemov and Rumen Pehlivanov, the regional governor of region with administrative centre Varna Stoyan Pasev, the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Varna Vladimir Klimanov, the Chairperson of the Council of Rectors and Rector of Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski" - Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, D.Sc., the rectors of Varna universities, head teachers of secondary schools, representatives of the judiciary, social partners and employers related to the university.
The Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev congratulated the leadership, the lecturers and students for their contribution to the 30-year growth and establishment of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" as a good educational institution. "VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" shapes and completes the overall university profile of Varna - a real university city, where we can see all areas of higher education and the full professional profile," the minister said. He addressed the mayors of the Rhodope region and stressed their active participation in support of the Smolyan University branch. Minister Valchev wished the first-year students to find in Varna Free University the place, which will help them for their personal development, to be knowledgeable and capable people, to continue studying throughout life.
Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD - President of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" and the Rector Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD greeted the students. Father Vasiliy Shagan gave blessing for a healthy and successful year.
The guests took part in the Open Joint Meeting of the Board of Trustees, the Academic Council and the Student’s Council: "VFU" Chernorizets Hrabar "on the road to modernization of higher education", led by the President of the University Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD.
Prof. Petar Hristov presented the implementation of the Concept for Development of Varna Free University in the context of the draft Strategy for Higher Education 2020 - 2030. Questions were raised related to inequality between public and private universities, the transformation of Bulgaria into an attractive educational destination, the shared educational resources, the creation of new research structures, etc.
Prof. Anna Nedyalkova, D.Sc. - Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", presented the views of the university based on its experience regarding the project for Higher Education Strategy. She spoke about the need for greater regulatory security and stability of the higher education system. Issues related to the regional specifics of higher education, internationalization and the quality of education were commented. "30% of the investment in higher education is made by private universities. They create staff and are a place for innovation. We will continue to insist on equality of private universities and the rights of young people who study in them," said Prof. Nedyalkova.
In his speech, Minister Valchev expressed the opinion that today's students will change professions, not jobs. The future will require more integrated, multidisciplinary knowledge and multiple intelligences. In the coming years, the profit will not be the number of students, but the reputation of the university," he stressed.
The Mayor of Varna, Ivan Portnih brought out the leading role of the universities in the city for the realization of Varna as a city of knowledge. Nikolay Melemov - Mayor of Smolyan Municipality and Chairperson of the Rhodope Municipalities congratulated Varna Free University and the team of the Branch in Smolyan for their dedicated work and commitment to the problems of the Rhodope region. "The apostolic work of VFU" Chernorizets Hrabar "contributed to Smolyan becoming an educational centre," he said, adding that the university, institutions and business work in coherence.
The ensuing discussion involved university rectors, students, mayors and representatives of the social partners.
Varna Free University welcomes the academic year 2020 - 2021 with completely renewed curricula and syllabuses. The students in the professional areas of Administration and Management, Economics, Informatics and Computer Science and Psychology can choose between wide-profile training with the acquisition of a second specialty or deepening the specialised training without changing the duration and tuition fee. Part of the new academic philosophy of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" is the project "Education in Partnership" for students majoring in construction, psychology and computer science. They will acquire part of the educational credits through training in a real business environment.
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