At the end of last year, the Bulgarian Construction Chamber - Smolyan Regional Representation, awarded the diploma "Significant contribution to the development of higher education in the Smolyan region" to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anelia Parzhanova, director of the Smolyan branch at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". Of course, this recognition of the Rhodope builders, who passionately preserve and develop the atmosphere of the old Rhodope architecture and the spirit of the revival builders, is an assessment of the work of your university, and of the Faculty of Architecture, which you are in charge of...
 
The Faculty of Architecture at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" has a long-standing partnership with the Bulgarian Construction Chamber (BCC). The partnership with the Regional Representations in Varna and Smolyan, where the training in the faculty's engineering specialties is also held, is extremely valuable. Our graduates - civil engineers in construction, water supply and sewage, as well as transport construction and fire safety engineers - work in companies that are members of BCC.
The diploma, which was presented by the BCC-RR Smolyan to the director of the Smolyan Branch at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anelia Parzhanova, is another proof of the need for well-prepared engineering personnel in the field of construction and of the quality of training offered by the Faculty of Architecture and Varna Free University.
A few days ago, the processing of the surveys done among our students on their satisfaction with the educational process was completed. The rating given to us by students is Excellent 5.71. This is indicative that the learning process is conducted at a very high level.
The motto we follow at the faculty is "We build the new generation - innovators with respect for traditions" - we offer education that fits with all the innovations in the construction sector, but also introduce students to classic construction practices and technologies. Our students develop their projects according to the requirements of the Eurocodes adopted in the country, apply digital technologies, use numerous electronic resources. In addition, they do practices and internships in a real production environment.
 
There is no doubt that the traditional International Scientific Conference "Architecture, Construction - Modernity" maintains the leading positions of the Faculty of Architecture in education and research activities in the field of construction, architecture and other interesting specialties. What new things can the school leavers expect in the near future?
 
The traditional eleventh edition of the International Scientific Conference on Construction and Architecture ArCivE'2023, organized by the Faculty of Architecture t VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar", was held at the beginning of June. More than 30 scientific articles on current topics were presented by scientists, doctoral nd university students from Bulgaria, Ukraine and Serbia. The conference was held in a new and unprecedented way, which once again demonstrated the need for direct communication and scientific discussions between architects, civil engineers, designers and safety specialists.
 
The scientific activity of lecturers from the Faculty of Architecture is also expressed in the participation in scientific teams for the implementation of tasks in the field of energy-efficient and resource-efficient materials and products, expert groups on the introduction of BIM in Bulgaria, etc.
 
At the Faculty of Architecture, we strive to work in symbiosis and constant collaboration between the various specialties we offer in the professional field "Architecture, Construction and Geodesy". During the new academic year, we expect the graduates to enroll in one of the engineering specialties - Construction of Buildings and Facilities, Water Supply and Sewerage or Fire and Emergency Safety. We guarantee high quality of training, individual approach and successful professional realization. This is supported by the fact that all our graduates work in the specialty they graduated from.
 
The project "Innovative model for the modernization of higher education through the creation of an academic ecosystem VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" - Technical University-Varna - Paisiy Hilendarski University of Plovdiv" is already being implemented, in which VFU is a beneficiary. Tell us something more about it?
 
At the end of 2021, VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" started work on this innovative project in partnership with the Technical University - Varna and the"Paisiy Hilendarski" University of Plovdiv. We are already at the end of it and what I would like to pay special attention to is what we have achieved within the project:
- a new laboratory complex for 3D technologies and virtual reality was built, with specialized equipment for 3D scanning and 3D printing, specialized software for virtual reality, etc. We have the only 3D printer in the country with a working space of 1m x 1m x 1m. The equipment is used not only for educational purposes, but also for the implementation of scientific and applied tasks.
- the training on the first joint master's degree programmes - Eco-technological Systems in Industry" and "3D technologies for Design and Production" has already started. The students share great satisfaction not only with the applied nature of the subject being taught, but also with the lecturers from the partner universities. Admission continues into the new academic year. The programmes enjoy interest from active engineers and architects, they provide new practical knowledge and skills in the field of digital and additive technologies, and in the field of new technologies for environmentally friendly solutions.
- lecturers from the Faculty of Architecture, as well as from other departments of the university, had the opportunity to realize specializations in the associated partners - the University of Žilina, Slovakia, the University of Bucharest, Romania, where new contacts were established and opportunities for cooperation, scientific and educational initiatives were expanded.
The accreditation assessment and international recognition are proof that VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" is competitive in the European and global educational space.
 
During its 30-year history, VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" has established itself as a sought and loyal partner on the international educational market. There are many agreements and framework contracts with foreign universities and organizations, on which various initiatives are being worked on and implemented.
 
The Faculty of Architecture has many stable foreign partners, such as universities from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, Portugal, Italy, etc. The faculty is now also on the American continent through its collaboration with the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia, USA. Last year, a framework contract for cooperation between the two universities was signed, and this year we won a project under the Erasmus+ programme, KA171, for mobility and joint master classes. Contacts have been deepened and relations with Chinese universities for joint study are at an advanced stage.
In the new academic year, we continue with the training of foreign students, but now in the renewed specialty "Civil Engineering".
 
Along with the academic activity, the teaching staff engages the students with numerous competitions, creative workshops, seminars and conferences, where they can realize their original creative ideas and build their portfolio of competencies and qualifications...
 
Yes, we strive to organize various initiatives for our students so that they can get greater opportunities to develop their individual qualities and aptitudes.
One such traditional extracurricular event is the national creative skills competition "Varna Spaghetti Engineering", where students from various courses and majors (mainly from Architecture and Construction of Buildings and Facilities) are involved as consultants to student teams from vocational high schools in construction and architecture. There, they not only demonstrate their mentoring abilities and knowledge of constructions, but also develop a sense of teamwork and communication skills. After a two-year break due to the Covid-pandemic, in the period March 31 - April 1, 2023, the eighth edition of the competition was held, which was traditionally supported by the Bulgarian Construction Chamber and the Chamber of Engineers in Investment Design. 13 teams from leading vocational high schools in architecture, construction and geodesy in the country participated - students from Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarovo, Plovdiv, Sofia, Stara Zagora and Shumen. All student teams performed very well by building spaghetti structures that passed the most serious test - an earthquake. The next edition of the Varna Spaghetti Engineering national competition is already planned and will take place on November 17-18, 2023.
Students are given the opportunity and are supported to participate in the scientific conferences ArCivE (organized by the Faculty of Architecture at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar") and "Design and Construction of Buildings and Facilities - DCB" (organized by the Scientific and Technical Union of Construction in partnership with VFU).