The European Commission has awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education to Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" for 2021 - 2027. It was signed by the President of the University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krassimir Nedyalkov on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the biggest private university in Bulgaria, after another successful accreditation.

The Charter is the framework for the quality of the activities for European and international cooperation, which VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" conducts under the "Erasmus +" program. It is a necessary condition for participation in educational mobility and cooperation in the fields of education, training, youth and sport, offered by the next generation of "Erasmus +" during the 2021-2027 programming period.

Varna Free University has long-standing partnerships for innovation and good practice, reflected in inter-institutional agreements with 51 universities in Europe. The arrangements allow students, faculty and staff to study and go to internships in various fields of education in  countries from the Community.
The university is signing for the second consecutive time the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education for a new seven-year period. From 2007 to 2021, more than 350 students from VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" took part in internships or training under the program. Over 160 lecturers have visited 40 European universities, and since 2014, 76 university staff have exchanged experience with their colleagues from the Old Continent.

The award Erasmus Charter for Higher Education will allow Varna Free University to develop and deepen European and international cooperation in the next programming period 2021-2027 by actively participating in various key activities of the program, which for more than three decades has proved its added value.


In 2013 Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" was awarded with Erasmus Charter higher education (ECHE) for the entire duration of Erasmus + programme from 2014 to 2020 by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

In accordance with the requirements for the award of Erasmus Charter for Higher Education VFU has developed Erasmus Policy Statement which points out:

• Our international (EU and non-EU) strategy –how we choose our partners, geographical area, most important objectives and target groups of our mobility activities (with regard to staff and students in first, second and third cycles, including study and training, and short cycles);
• Our institution's strategy for the organisation and implementation of international (EU and non-EU) cooperation projects in teaching and training in relation to projects implemented under the Programme;
• The expected impact of university participation in the Programme on the modernisation of VFU “Chernorizets Hrabar”  and the Modernisation Agenda;

By signing the Charter VFU “Chernorizets Hrabar” undertook to contribute to the European Union's modernisation and internationalisation agenda in higher education, which includes 5 priorities:

• Increasing attainment levels to provide the graduates and researchers Europe needs;
• Improving the quality and relevance of higher education;
• Strengthening quality through mobility and cross-border cooperation;
• Linking higher education, research and business for excellence and regional development;
• Improving governance and funding;