Varna Free University is a key partner in a Chinese - Bulgarian Educational Alliance

30 Април 2025

On April 24th, 2025, the founding conference of the Alliance for Cooperation in the Field of Education and Culture between China and Bulgaria was held at the University of Nantong, China.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eleonora Tankova, Vice-Rector of Varna Free University, was an official guest of the event, along with Grigor Vladimirov – Chairperson of the Bulgarian Foundation for Education for All, Yan Ming – Secretary-General of the Alliance, and Lou Sara – Secretary-General of the Bulgarian-Asian Sports, Culture and Tourism Association. Over 40 representatives from key Chinese higher education institutions participated.

The goals of the Alliance are related to academic and cultural exchange, as well as educational cooperation. The main emphasis in the partnership between VFU “Chernorizets Hrabar” and the Chinese universities, members of the Alliance, will be the training of Chinese students in master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as language training. The establishment of the Alliance is the result of long-standing good relations between Varna Free University and its Chinese partners – relations based on respect, mutual support and open dialogue, in which education is a space for cultural exchange and joint development.

“VFU “Chernorizets Hrabar” was recognized as the main and only Bulgarian university included in the Alliance, in which some of the largest and most authoritative Chinese universities participate,” commented Assoc. Prof. Tankova after her return from Shanghai, where she was welcomed extremely warmly.

During the inaugural conference, Assoc. Prof. Tankova presented Varna as a significant educational, cultural and innovation center and emphasized the importance of cooperation with Chinese academic partners. She introduced the participants to the vision of Varna Free University for sustainable and innovative higher education, aimed at international mobility, joint programmes and scientific exchange.

The event was attended by rectors of some of the most prestigious Chinese universities, with which Assoc. Tankova held workshops:

Nantong University – one of the oldest and most established public universities in Eastern China, with over 40,000 students and high academic positions. The university has over 100 bachelor's programmes and is in the top 1% of ESI world rankings in nine scientific fields, including medicine and engineering.

► Guilin Tourism University – the most significant Chinese university in the field of tourism and hospitality, a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Asia-Pacific Tourism Association. The university educates over 11,000 students, maintains active relations with international tourism organizations and has contracts with over 160 key companies, including Hilton and Marriott.
► Wuhan East Lake University – a modern university in Hubei province, with programmes in the fields of information technology, engineering and applied sciences. An established center for innovation and entrepreneurial education.
► Wuchang Polytechnic College – a vocational college with a practical focus and strong ties to industry. It educates over 24,000 students and has over 200 internship and practical-applied programmes with a high degree of graduate realization (over 95%).
► Wuhan University of Arts and Sciences – an academic institution with a focus on the arts, social sciences and business management. The university develops active scientific activity and maintains ties with international educational networks.
► Nantong Vocational College of Science and Technology – a state vocational college in the city of Nantong, with over 700 scientific and educational projects. It is recognized as a key institution in applied education, with distinctions in the field of innovation and engineering technology.
► Shanghai Jian Qiao University – a private university in Shanghai with over 24,000 students, recognized as one of the strongest private universities in China. It has 14 faculties, including the College of Arts and Design, the College of Business and the College of Technology, and is a partner of universities from the USA, Germany, the UK and Japan. In 2022 ranked third among private universities in China according to the Chinese Alumni Association.

Currently, VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" is training doctoral students from Chinese universities - members of the Alliance, and in the near future it is planned to expand admission and activate joint academic projects.

Varna Free University is strengthening its position as a key international educational partner of China and creating a stable academic bridge between the two countries - based on mutual respect, long-term planning and a strategic vision for development.