The Russian Centre of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" celebrated its 12
th birthday with pupils, students, lecturers and friends. Traditionally, the centre celebrates on Tatiana's Day - the student holiday in Russia. Anastasia Artyushina from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, who is an intern at the university, told the students of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" about its celebration.
The holiday was double for the students from 2
nd "d" grade of the 7
th "Nayden Gerov" Secondary School. They already know the Russian alphabet, and the Russian Centre of the University has visited them with a festive lesson. The children presented short verses about the letters, learned many new words and were surprised to find out that they coincided with the Bulgarian ones. For the second-graders, who are studying Russian for the first year, the staff of the Russian Centre had prepared interesting language games and certificates that they know the alphabet. By mail, the young students sent a special video greeting for the 12
th birthday of the Russian Centre with the performance of their favourite song "Sun Circle".
On this day, as is customary, the Russian Centre welcomed many friends - university staff and students - for cake and tea. They recalled the establishment of the first Russian centre in the Balkans in 2009 at Varna Free University, talked about the friendships and partnerships with Russia that were born during the numerous events. The support of the
Russkiy Mir Foundation is a sign of recognition for the high rating and authority of the university in Bulgaria and Europe.
For its 12 years the team of the Centre, under the leadership of Prof. Galina Shamonina, PhD has implemented many successful projects related to the training and qualification of Russian language teachers – specialists in Russian studies from all over Bulgaria.
The International Qualification School of the Russian Centre is among the greatest achievements of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" - 600 young specialists in Russians studies from all over the world are certified. The centre welcomed students from over 30 European and Asian universities. 140 various educational forms were held - lectures, master classes, methodical seminars and workshops, round table discussions. 4 symposiums, 3 monographs and dozens of publications in scientific journals, referenced in world databases, were published.
As part of the "Professor of the Russian World" programme at the Russian Centre, some of Russia's most authoritative scientists visited Varna Free University, including Prof. Andrei Zagorski from the National Research Institute for World Economy and International Relations at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Mihail Shubenkov - Deputy Rector of the Moscow Institute of Architecture (MARHI), Prof. Evgeny Kozhokin, D.Sc. - Vice-Rector of MGIMO, the Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences - Prof. Alexey Gromiko, Director of the Institute for Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who became an honorary professor at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar".
Student teams of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" participate annually in the International Festival of Students Learning Russian, defending the name of the university with prizes. At the initiative of the centre, the university hosts memorable exhibitions, book presentations, reading marathons and concerts. And every year the President of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" Assoc. Prof. Krasimir Nedyalkov, PhD supports the march of Shipka on 3 March, carried out by the Russian Centre and the Student Council.