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VARNA FREE UNIVERSITY EXPANDS THE PARTNERSHIP NETWORK OF THE FIRE ENGINEERING PROGRAMME IN TURKEY
03 August 2026
Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" has expanded the network of fire departments, professional organizations, public institutions and media in Turkey that support the new joint bachelor's programme in Fire Engineering. It is implemented with Sakarya University, and the training begins in the academic year 2026/2027.
During an official working visit, the Rector Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD and Sen. Asst. Prof. Nadie Adem, PhD presented the programme to heads of fire departments from key Turkish cities. Prof. Hakan Soyhan - Director of the Centre for Fire Research at Sakarya University also participated in the meetings. Specific agreements were reached to attract active firefighters, develop practically-oriented training and popularise the programme among professional circles.
Representatives of the two universities participated in a national seminar of firefighting organizations in Daradja, Kocaeli province. Prof. Petar Hristov, PhD and Prof. Hakan Soyhan presented the concept and curriculum of the programme, as well as the professional opportunities for future engineers.
The discussion focused on the needs of firefighting services for specialists with higher engineering education, the relationship between academic training and operational work, practical training and career development opportunities. The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Turkey and the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate AFAD, as well as managers and experts from firefighting services in Kocaeli, Izmir, Trabzon, Kayseri, Balıkesir and Konya.
The joint bachelor's programme builds on the 25-year experience and traditions of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" in training specialists from the fire services of the Republic of Turkey. The foundations of the cooperation were laid after the devastating earthquake in Izmit in 1999. In the following years, the partnership developed through the training of engineers and doctoral students, practical internships, academic exchange and mobilities in a real professional environment.
The accumulated experience finds a natural continuation in the Fire Engineering programme, which unites the academic and practical potential of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" and the University of Sakarya. The training is conducted in Turkish - two years in Varna and two years in Sakarya. The programme provides an opportunity to acquire a European engineering diploma and is intended both for young people who are choosing their professional path, and for active employees in fire structures who want to upgrade their qualifications.
Among the important results of the visit is the agreement with the Chairman of the Turkish Firefighters Association TİBDER Murat Olcay Bal. The organization will assist in promoting the programme and attracting candidates for training.
In Istanbul, Prof. Hristov spoke with the Director of the Fire Service, Remzi Albayrak. The needs for academically prepared personnel, the role of higher education in the development of the sector and the opportunities for joint educational initiatives were discussed. The management of the service expressed its readiness to present the programme to the firefighters in Istanbul.
The director of the fire department in Konya, Latif Erdogan, and his deputy, Emre Yilmaz, also expressed a specific interest in the training. The structure they lead employs about 1,000 firefighters, 350 of whom have completed a two-year college education. During the meeting, significant potential for continuing their education in engineering was noted.
The director of the fire department in Tekirdag, Cengiz Celik, a graduate of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar", also expressed support for the programme. The working meeting was attended by employees from the operational staff, who were introduced to the training model, the opportunities for upgrading their qualifications and the prospects for acquiring higher engineering education.
The visit also included a meeting with Murat Zortul, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zortul Medya Group. The media group unites regional television channels, radio stations, print and digital publications with an audience in the European part of Turkey. The working visit and the new programme received wide coverage in the regional media and social networks.
The agreements reached create a sustainable basis for attracting the first groups of active firefighters, conducting joint training and practical initiatives and expanding academic and professional exchange in the field of fire engineering. Thus, the 25-year partnership of Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" with the fire structures in Turkey enters a new stage - training engineers with an international educational perspective and knowledge directly related to the real professional environment.
