Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” was awarded its third institutional accreditation for the maximum validity period of 6 years, with a mark of 9.12 out of 10. The accreditation document is awarded by the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA). This mark is amongst the highest marks ever awarded to a higher education institution in Bulgaria.

The high accreditation mark comes as a result of the university’s effort to continually enhance the quality of education and adapt curricula and student training to the dynamics of the labour market. It is a guarantee for the high quality of the academic product and the strategic development of research.

Full list of the awarded accreditations:

І. Institutional accreditation
 
Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" received another institutional accreditation from the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria on 13 June 2019 for a period of six years with a score of 9.21 (nine point twenty-one hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
 
Additional information can be found on the official website of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria at: https://www.neaa.government.bg/akreditirani-institucii/visshi-uchilischa

 ІІ. Accredited professional areas
 
1. Professional area 3.2 Psychology was accredited by NEAA on 20/10/2015 for a period of six years with a score of 9.06 (nine point six hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
2. Professional area 3.3 Political Science was accredited by NEAA on 06/07/2015 for a period of five years with a score of 8.53 (eight point fifty-three hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
3. Professional area 3.7 Administration and Management was accredited by NEAA on 03/09/2014 for a period of six years with a grade of 9.30 (nine point thirty hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
4. Professional area 3.8 Economics was accredited by NEAA on 12/05/2021 for a period until the next accreditation of the professional area, according to the schedule under Art. 81, para 2 of the Higher Education Act with a score of 8.96 (eight point ninety-six hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
5. Professional area 4.6 Informatics and Computer Science was accredited by NEAA on 13/04/2020 for a period of five years with a score of 8.94 (eight point ninety-four hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
6. Professional area 5.7 Architecture, Construction and Geodesy was accredited by NEAA on 14/10/2016 for a period of six years with a score of 9.14 (nine point fourteen hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
7. Professional area 8.2 Visual Arts was accredited by NEAA on 24/03/2021 for a period until the next accreditation of the professional area, according to the schedule under Art. 81, para 2 of the Higher Education Act with a score of 9.03 (nine point three hundredths) at the highest possible 10.  
8. Professional area 8.3 Music and Dance Art was accredited by NEAA on 6/03/2019 for a period of five years with a score of 7.35 (seven point thirty-five hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
9. Professional area 9.1 National Security was accredited by NEAA on 10/12/2020 for a period until the next accreditation of the professional area, according to the schedule under Art. 81, para 2 of the Higher Education Act with a score of 9.03 (nine point three hundredths) at the highest possible 10.  
 
Additional information can be found on the official website of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria at: https://www.neaa.government.bg/akreditirani-institucii/visshi-uchilischa
 
III. Accredited majors from the regulated professions
 
1. Major from the regulated professions Law was accredited by NEAA on 11/07/2019 for a period of five years with a score of 8.63 (eight point sixty-three hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
2. Major from the regulated professions Architecture was accredited by NEAA on 25/03/2021 for a period of six years with a score of 9.07 (nine point seven hundredths) at the highest possible 10.
 
Additional information can be found on the official website of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria at: https://www.neaa.government.bg/akreditirani-institucii/visshi-uchilischa
 
 
IV. Programme accreditations for educational and scientific degree "Doctor" - Scientific majors  accredited by NEAA
 
 
1. Doctoral programme in General Psychology in the professional area 3.2. Psychology, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 20/10/2015 with a score of 9.10 (nine point ten hundredths) for a period until 20/10/2021 at the Faculty of Law.
2. Doctoral programme in Pedagogical and Age Psychology in the professional area 3.2. Psychology, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 20/10/2015 with a score of 9.12 (nine point twelve hundredths) for a period until 20/10/2021 at the Faculty of Law.
3. Doctoral programme in Political Science in professional area 3.3. Political Science, Higher Education 3. Social, Economic and Legal Sciences, accredited on 16/01/2020 with a score of 9.00 (nine in total) for a period up to 16/01/2026 at the Faculty of International Economics and Administration.
4. Doctoral programme in Theory of State and Law. Political and Legal Studies in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 18/02/2021 with a score of 8.65 (eight point sixty-five hundredths) for a period until the next accreditation of the professional farea, according to the schedule under Art. 81, para 2 of the Higher Education Act in the Faculty of Law.
5. Doctoral programme in Administrative Law and Administrative Procedure in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 30/01/2020 with a score of 8.99 (eight point ninety-nine hundredths) for a period until 30/01/2025 at the Faculty of Law.
 
 
6. Doctoral programme in Criminal Law in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 30/01/2020 with a score of 9.19 (nine point nineteen hundredths) for a period until 30/.01/2026 at the Faculty of Law.
7. Doctoral programme in Constitutional Law in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 27/10/2016 with a score of 8.81 (eight point eighty-one hundredths) for a period until 27/10/2021 at the Faculty of Law.
8. Doctoral programme in Civil and Family Law in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 27/10/2016 with a score of 8.83 (eight point eighty-three hundredths) for a period until 27/10/2021 at the Faculty of Law.
9. Doctoral programme in International Law and International Relations in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 27/10/2016 with a score of 9.12 (nine point twelve hundredths) for a period until 27/10/2022 at the Faculty of Law.
10. Doctoral programme in Criminology  in professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 27/10/2016 with a score of 9.02 (nine point two hundredths) for a period until 27/10/2022 at the Faculty of Law.
11. Doctoral programme in Criminology  in the professional area 3.6. Law, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 27/10/2016 with a score of 9.11 (nine point eleven hundredths) for a period until 27/10/2022 at the Faculty of Law.
12. Doctoral programme in Organization and Management outside the Field of Material Production in the professional area 3.7. Administration and Management, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 8/09/2021 with a score of 9.35 (nine point thirty-five hundredths) for the period until the next accreditation of the professional field, according to the schedule of Art. 81, para 2 of the Higher Education Act at the Faculty of International Economics and Administration.
13. Doctoral programme in Economics and Management (industry) in the professional area 3.7. Administration and management, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 17/06/2015 with a score of 9.23 (nine point twenty-three hundredths) for a period until 17/06/2021 at the Faculty of International Economics and Administration.
14. Doctoral programme in Political Economy in the professional area 3.8. Economics, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 15/07/2020 with a score of 8.55 (eight point fifty-five hundredths) for a period until 15/07/2025 at the Faculty of International Economics and Administration.
15. Doctoral programme in World Economy and International Economic Relations   in the professional area 3.8. Economics, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 17/06.2015 with a score of 9.36 (nine point thirty-six hundredths) for a period until 17/06/2021 at the Faculty of International Economics and Aadministration.
16. Doctoral programme in Accounting, Control and Analysis of Economic Activity in the professional area 3.8. Economics, field of higher education 3. Social, economic and legal sciences, accredited on 15/07/2020 with accreditation score of 8.58 (eight point fifty-eight hundredths) for a period until 15/07/2025 at the Faculty of International Economics and administration. "
17. Doctoral programme in Information Systems and Technologies, Informatics and Computer Sciences in the professional area 4.6 Informatics and Computer Sciences, field of higher education 4. Natural sciences, mathematics and informatics, accredited on 13/04/2020 with score of 8.63 (eight point sixty-three hundred) for the period until 13/04/2025 at the Faculty of International Economics and Administration.
18. Doctoral programme in Architecture of Buildings, Structures, Facilities and Details  in the professional area 5.7 Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, field of higher education 5. Technical sciences, accredited on 12/07/2019 with a score of 9.16 (nine point sixteen hundredths) for a period until 12/07/2025 at the Faculty of Architecture.
19. Doctoral programme in Territorial and Landscape Planning and Urban Planning in the professional area 5.7 Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, higher education 5. Technical Sciences, accredited on 12/07/2019 with a score of 9.10 (nine point ten hundredths) for a period until 12/07/2025 at the Faculty of Architecture.
20. Doctoral programme in Building Structures  in the professional area 5.7 Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, field of higher education 5. Technical Sciences, accredited on 14/10/2016 with a score of 9.21 (nine point twenty-one hundredths) for a period until 14/10/2022 at the Faculty of Architecture.
21. Doctoral programme in Building Materials, Products and Technologies for Their Production  in the professional area 5.7 Architecture, Construction and Geodesy, field of higher education 5. Technical sciences, accredited on 14/10/2016 with a score of 8.69 (eight point sixty-nine hundredths) for a period until 14/10/2021 at the Faculty of Architecture.
22. Doctoral programme in Synthesis of Architecture with Other Arts, Interior and Architectural Design in the professional area 5.7 Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Higher Education 5. Technical Sciences, accredited on 23/04/2021 with a score of 9.13 (nine point thirteen hundredths) for a period until the next accreditation of the professional area, according to the schedule under Article 81, paragraph 2 of the Higher Education Act at the Faculty of Architecture.
23. Doctoral programme in Occupational Safety and Firefighting Equipment in the professional area 5.7 Architecture, Construction and Geodesy, field of higher education 5. Technical sciences, accredited on 14/10/2016 with a score of 9.33 (nine point three hundredths) for a period until 14/10/2022 at the Faculty of Architecture.
24. Doctoral programme in Choreography in the professional area 8.3 Music and Dance Art, field of higher education 8. Arts, accredited on 6/03/2019 with a score of 8.40 (eight point forty hundredths) for a period until 06/03/2024 at the Faculty of Architecture.
25. Doctoral programme in Management in the Field of Security and Public Order in the professional area 9.1. National Security, field of ​​higher education 9. Security and Defence, accredited on 10/12/2020 with a score of 9.02 (nine point two hundredths) for a period until the next accreditation of the professional area, according to the schedule under Art. 81, para 2 of the Higher Education Act at the Faculty of Law.
  
Additional information can be found on the official website of the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA) at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria at: https://www.neaa.government.bg/akreditirani-institucii/visshi-uchilischa

On 28 February 2016 the university received its fourth certification by the international certification organisation BUREAU VERITAS Certification in compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 international standard, and was awarded accreditation certificates from UKAS (Great Britain) and ANAB (USA) for a validity period of 3 years.

ISO is an international standardisation organisation comprising organisations from over 100 countries around the world.Its work is dedicated to developing different standards for quality management in diverse spheres of business life.

The ISO standards have been officially adopted by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), replacing national standards with internationally-adopted ones. The international standards are used to enhance communication and international cooperation on a global scale.

 

VFU’s fields of certification under ISO 9001:2015 for the 2016 – 2019 period include:

• Provision of accredited higher education, organisation of postgraduate qualification and specialization, requalification and lifelong learning.
• Research, expert and consulting work.
• Development and participation in national and international applied research projects and initiatives.
• Provision of interuniversity cooperation and academic mobility for lecturers and students (also under the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).
• Business activities in direct relation to, or in support of, the university’s main fields of operation.

 

 

VFU’s goals upon integrating ISO 9001:2015:

• Permanent improvement of the quality of the academic product provided;
• Implementation of programme accreditation of professional fields and specialities related to regulated professions in accordance with the amendments to the Bulgarian Act on Higher Education;
• Adaptability and flexibility in the higher education market;
• Efficient realization of the university’s research product in market economy conditions;
• Integration into the international academic space.

 

 

The advantages of integrating a quality management system certified under ISO 9001:2015 are seen in the following fields:

• Independent and objective evaluation of the quality management system’s performance.
• Adoption of clear-cut criteria and indicators for the work of the different departments and bodies of the university.
• Encouragement of systematic and precise documentation keeping.
• Timely and objective detection and definition of problems.
• Provision of support for the university’s management upon decision-making.