VFU "CHERNORIZETS HRABER" ENTERED THE FOURTH DECADE IN ITS HISTORY

26 September 2022

The academic year 2022 / 2023 at Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" was opened today with a solemn ceremony. Smiles and excitement accompanied the festive day. It was special for first-year students who are entering a new orbit in their development. "Over the past few years, the admission of students at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" has been stable - about 1,500 young people," said the rector of the university, Prof. Dr. Petar Hristov to the media earlier. "They are trained in 60 bachelor's and master's degree majors. Varna Free University is preferred by young people from more than 15 countries around the world, and this year we have students from Ukraine, Russia, Luxembourg, South Korea and Nigeria.

The opening of the academic year at the university was honoured today by the mayor of Varna, Ivan Portnih, the chairperson of the Appellative Court, Vanuhi Arakelyan, the honorary consul of Italy in Varna, Antonio Tarquino, the head of the Regional Department of Education - Dr. Irena Radeva, mayors of municipalities and districts, representatives of diplomatic missions, universities and scientific institutes, principals and representatives of secondary schools and vocational high schools, partners of the university, chairmen and members of branch boards for the professional areas, many representatives of the business, the non-governmental sector, public figures. Cellarer Yasen Kerchev and priest Venceslav Georgiev - church fathers from Varna and Veliky Preslav Diocese blessed the students and teachers with holy water.

The president of Varna Free University, Prof. Dr. Krasimir Nedyalkov, addressed the students, teachers and guests of the celebration with powerful words. VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar stands out on the map of higher education in our country and in Europe with its innovative profile. We are a modern educational and research center with priorities in the development of the most significant areas for the society, which consistently follows the high-tech line of creation and development of the new educational model," he said, recalling that the last two years of trials and challenges made everyone at the university more mature, stronger and wiser. "We have understood that health, freedom and peace are priceless and irreplaceable. We realized that we live in unique times, in which the unlimited possibilities of digitization, artificial intelligence and communications enter and transform every sphere of life, especially education," said Assoc. Prof. Nedyalkov. He wished the students not to give up when they face problems. "Do not agree with other people's opinion, which is useful to some, but not to all. Show strong character by being demanding enough of yourself, but also dialogical enough with others. Remember that knowledge and arguments are the only weapons with which you can enter into an equal dialogue."

The Rector Prof. Petar Hristov emphasized in his speech that students will be faced with the challenge of changing their professions at least four times in the next four decades. "The most important thing is to learn to learn," he said, adding that the purpose of universities is to transmit the wonder of scientific knowledge. "As a free university, we follow the principles of free education - we provide our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their personal goals," said the rector.

The president of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" awarded the first-year students admitted with the highest score in the various majors. On behalf of the students spoke Daniela Nikolova, a graduate of the 1st English High School, Burgas, who graduated with honours. She is already a student in Architecture.

Nicolas Le Piccolo - a student from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, who chose to study under the "Erasmus+" programme in the Informatics and Computer Sciences at Varna Free University, talked about the opportunities for educational mobility. VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" is a partner of more than 100 of the best European universities.

The students and guests experienced a special festive surprise prepared by the Academic Dance Theater of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar".
Later that day, the first-year students got to know the university and the professors during the introduction day, which will be held by faculties and departments.

VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" started the academic year with six new master's degree programmes, developed in partnership with other universities in our country. The intersectoral master's programmes 3D Technologies for Design and Production and Eco-technological Systems in Industry will be implemented jointly with the Technical University in Varna and the Paisiy Hilendarski University of Plovdiv. Young people will also be accepted in the programmes Artificial Intelligence in Biomedicine and Artificial Intelligence in Health Care, which are the result of the partnership with the Medical University - Varna. VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" also works on two programmes in the field of law and security. They were developed together with the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy.

More photos from the opening of the academic year on the university's Facebook page ►

On the occasion of the holiday, congratulation letters were received from:

Mario Smerkov - regional governor of the District with administrative center Varna,
Elena Yanakieva - chairpersonof the Administrative Court - Varna,
Acad. Prof. Latchezar Traykov, MD, DSC - Chairperson of the Council of Rectors and Rector of Medical University - Sofia,
Prof. Dr. Valentin Ignatov - rector of Medical University - Varna,
Flotilla admiral Boyan Mednikarov, Prof. DSc.M.Sc. - Rector of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy Varna
Prof. Dr. Eng. Vencislav Valchev - Rector of Technical University - Varna,
Prof. Dr. Evgeni Stanimirov - rector of the University of Economics - Varna,
Lilia Hristova - Director of the "Education and Youth Activities" Directorate - Municipality of Varna,
Petya Prodanova - Mayor of the "Primorski" region,
Georgi Nedev - Mayor of the "Odessos" region,
Hristo Hristov - Mayor of Mladost region,
arch. Marin Velchev - Chairman of the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria - Varna Regional College,
Albena Pavlova - headteacher of Geo Milev Secondary School Varna,
Emil Gruev - headteacher of the National High School of Humanities and Arts "Konstantin Preslavski" - Varna,
Elena Koseva and Ivelina Kancheva - Shaban - executive directors of "St. St. Konstantin and Elena Holding" AD,
Emil Tsankov - Chairman of the Board of ICT Cluster - Varna

You can watch a recording of the ceremony: