Academy of Music and Dance Art - Plovdiv

The Academy of Music and Dance was founded in 1964, initially as an affiliate of the Bulgarian State Conservatory in Sofia. The idea for an outpost in Plovdiv was put forward by the eminent Bulgarian musician Prof. Assen Diamandiev and was met with enthusiastic support by Prof. Vladimir Avramov and Prof. Alexander Neinski, Rectors of the Bulgarian State Conservatory. In the next eight years the Plovdiv outpost grew substantially and 1972 became an independent institution under the name of Higher Institute of Music and Music Pedagogy. In the same year, degrees in Bulgarian folklore music were introduced into the curriculum, making the Institute the first and only school of higher learning in Bulgaria to offer such degrees. Prof. Assen Diamandiev was appointed as the Institute’s first Rector.Training in Bulgarian folklore choreography was introduced in 1975, but it took twenty years before in 1995 the Institute was formally renamed to Academy of Music and Dance. Visual arts were introduced in the mid-90-ies completing the range of art degrees offered. Prof. Nedyalcho Todorov (1979-83), Prof. Gheorghi Kunev (1983-89, 1997-99) and Prof. Ivan Spassov (1989-96) succeeded Prof. Assen Diamandiev as Rectors. Prof. Anastas Slavchev has been the Academy’s Rector since 1999. Following the political and social changes in 1989, the Academy of Music and Dance was one of the first Bulgarian institutions of higher learning to receive full state accreditation (1998). Since 1964 more than 5 000 students have graduated from the Academy.

The University offers the following programs:

A. Bachelor’s Programs

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Ballet Education
2. Bachelor’s Degree in Bulgarian Folklore Choreography
3. Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Instruments
4. Bachelor’s degree in Folk Instruments / Folk Singing
5. Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts Education
6. Bachelor’s degree in Music Education
7. Bachelor’s degree in Set and Costume Design

B. Five-year Master’s Programs (Bachelor’s + Master’s in one degree)

8. Master’s degree in Folk Ensembles Conducting
9. Master’s degree in Composition
10. Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology

C. One, Two and Two-and-a-half-year Master’s Programs

11. Master’s degree in Ballet Education
12. Master’s degree in Ballet Directing
13. Master’s degree in Bulgarian Folklore Choreography
14. Master’s degree in Folk Ensembles Conducting.
15. Master’s degree in Classical Instruments
16. Master’s degree Folk Instrument / Folk Singing
17. Master’s degree in (classical) Voice
18. Master’s degree in Composition, two and a half years
19. Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, two years
20. Master’s degree in Visual Arts Education
21. Master’s degree in Music Education
22. Master’s degree in Set and Costume Design
23. Master’s degree in East Orthodox Religious Painting
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Agricultural University of Plovdiv - Plovdiv

In 1921 the Faculty of Agronomy at the University of Sofia was officially founded. The admittance of 67 students marked the beginning of the higher agricultural education in Bulgaria. In 1945 the University of Plovdiv was inaugurated by a Decree of the Regents’ Council of August 4, promulgated in the State Gazette of August 20, structured in two Faculties: of Medicine and of Agriculture and Forestry. In 1905 the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry split as a separate higher education institution – “Vasil Kolarov” Higher Institute of Agriculture.

During the first decade of its history the Higher Institute of Agriculture gradually developed as an educational institution of authority and prestige, the staff gained competence. The teaching process improved and the areas of research broadened. The number of teachers holding an academic degree increased. In 1950 there were 7 professors, 9 associate professors, 26 assistant professors, 5 of the latter holding PhD degrees. The teaching staff included prominent scientists of world importance such as Hristo Daskalov, Pavel Popov, etc. The Institute had a clearly defined structure. Three Faculties have been formed: of Agronomy, Technology and of Horticulture with Viticulture. The Departments, laboratories, supporting units – field centre, library, etc. - had a well-established structure.

The building up of the Institute as a separate independent higher educational institution has led to significant qualitative changes in the educational area, research and administration. As early as 1960 specialized courses for post-graduate qualification were offered and for ten years only they were attended by over 1300 agricultural specialists. At the same time “Georgi Dimitrov” Higher Institute of Agriculture was also functioning in parallel with the Institute in Plovdiv. Decree No. 3 of the Council of Ministers of 1977 announced the Higher Institute of Agriculture in Plovdiv as the only one higher school preparing agriculturists in Bulgaria.
“Vasil Kolarov” Higher Institute of Agriculture entered a new stage of its development. Curricula and study programs were improved in compliance with the issues for training engineer-agriculturists in Agronomy, Horticulture with Viticulture, Plant Protection, Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture. Post-graduate qualification courses are further developed. The forms of study were enriched and diversified;
the equipment and teaching aids were modernized. The teaching staff grew in number and improved the quality of education. For the period 1970 – 1989 about 104 PhD and 34 Doctor of Science theses were developed and defended. In 1984 the Institute had a staff of 58 professors, 69 associate professors and 118 younger teachers without an academic degree. At that time 23 persons of the teaching staff were holders of DSc degree and 138 – PhD degree. High scientific achievements have been reported in the area of biological, chemical, physical, mathematical and agricultural sciences.
The political changes after 1989 imposed a new structure of the Institute. After the successful institutional accreditation in November 2000 the Higher Institute of Agriculture was restructured in the Agricultural University – Plovdiv by a Decision of the 38th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, adopted on April 4, 2001.

More than 19000 Bulgarian and more than 1500 foreign students have graduated from the university.

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American University in Bulgaria - Bulgarian Universities

AUBG is a private American-style liberal arts university located in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. The University has assumed a unique and critical educational role in the dynamic region of Southeastern Europe through its emphasis on preparing students for leadership, community involvement, careers, and advanced study. The liberal arts education encourages students to develop critical thinking and creative problem solving. AUBG is accredited both in the US and in Bulgaria, and academic credits are fully transferable in Europe and in the United States.

AUBG students are energetic, enthusiastic, and highly intelligent. The multicultural student body includes 30 nationalities. Diversity is honored, tolerance is demanded, and academic excellence is always the intellectual goal. Courses are taught by a high-quality, international faculty experienced in teaching in a multicultural, learner-centered environment. The interactive teaching found at AUBG fosters the development of intellectual reflection, effective communication, personal initiative, individual self-expression, and civic responsibility.

Many AUBG graduates continue their education at prestigious universities in the United States and Europe. Others have already made an important mark in the private and public sectors in the region. Educated in the spirit of the liberal arts tradition, AUBG graduates become competent professionals with a broad and integrated vision of contemporary society that enhances their capacity as citizens and future leaders of the region.
In September 1991, the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) opened its doors with a first-year class of 208 students and sixteen full-time faculty members. The first American-style, undergraduate liberal arts educational institution in Eastern Europe, AUBG is a unique cooperative venture established with the support of the U.S. and Bulgarian governments, the Open Society Institute, and the University of Maine. Today, the University has grown to 1100 students and 70 faculty members.

The AUBG experience is characterized by close student-faculty interaction, classes in English, a diverse student body, and in Blagoevgrad a residential experience in U.S.-style dormitories.

AUBG is a privately funded, not-for-profit institution. Tuition and private donations, as well as grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Open Society Institute, finance its educational activities.

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Bourgas Free University - Bourgas

Faculty for Legal Studies :

The Faculty for Legal Studies is the first unit in the structure of Bourgas Free University and the second of its kind established in Bulgaria after the Faculty of Law of St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University. It was constituted in 1990 on the initiative and with the cooperation of prominent scientists from the Institute of Legal Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Science and the Faculty of Law of St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

At present there are over 1,300 full-time and part-time students at the Faculty of Law. In 1995 the first alumni graduated the Faculty;
until now there are eight batches of graduates of the Law Program.

Within the structure of the Faculty of Law there are the following program councils: ‘Public Law’, ‘Private Law’ and ‘Theory of Law and Public Studies’.

The Faculty of Law is the only one in the country that gives priority to the training in Public Law and International Law Studies. The Faculty offers an internal specialization in Refugees Law. It has signed a long-term program for cooperation with the Bulgarian Association of International Law and the Institute of International Law – Sofia. The Faculty of Law has developed cooperation scientific activities with legal faculties of the Universities in Cambridge, London, Brussels, Gratz, Helsinki and Amsterdam. It has been a project-partner in the TEMPUS-PHARE JEPs “Logic of Democracy”, “Establishment of a Local Government Training Network”, “Introducing Alternatives to Imprisonment” together with universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Ireland.

Faculty for Business Studies:

The Faculty for Business Studies is a basic unit of the structure of Bourgas Free University. It comprises majors in the field of economics and business administration and trains specialists for the needs of industry, trade, banks and the other economic spheres, as well as for the needs of government institutions.

The Faculty for Business Studies is the biggest one in the structure of Bourgas Free University. At present there are 2,300 students trained in bachelor’s degree and master’s degree programs on the majors of Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Management and Tourism, which prepares specialists for the needs of industry, trade, the financial sector, services and government facilities. The curricula and programs of study are in compliance with the state requirements. The organisation of the educational process and the teaching methods conform to the ones applied in the leading universities in Western Europe and the USA.

The Faculty for Business Studies has signed agreements for cooperation and has been working on joint projects together with the following universities: the American University Huron in London, the University of Barcelona, the University of Liverpool, the Technical University of Chemnitz, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Cork in Ireland, the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation, the International Business Academy – Moscow, and Trakya University in Edirne. The international contacts and the participation in joint educational projects, financed by the European Union, give the possibility for part of the students in the Faculty to continue their training abroad.

Faculty for Engineering and Computer Science Studies:

The process of studying at the Faculty for Engineering and Computer Science Studies is organised in compliance with the international standards for specialists reading for their bachelor’s and master’s degrees and reflects up-to-date trends in higher education. Training is conducted by teams which are guided by lecturers with academic rank from Bourgas Free University, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and local universities where students are trained in the same subjects. The curricula conform to the By-law for the unified state requirements for acquiring higher education.

All students have free access to internet at the computer classes and specialised laboratories. Courses providing the opportunity for system administrators to obtain international certification are held within CISCO academy at the Faculty. While studying or after their graduation the students from the Faculty for Computer Science, Engineering and Natural Studies can acquire qualification pedagogy in the respective subject.

Faculty for Humanities:

The Faculty for Humanities provides training for students and prepares specialists with humanitarian orientation – school teachers, such as kindergarden teachers, primary school teachers, teachers in Bulgarian Language and Literature and in West-European languages, journalists, image-makers (specialists in Public Relations), social workers, speech therapists, interpreters/translators, etc. The main goal of the Faculty is to provide students and teaching staff with good conditions for preparation, qualification and research that are equivalent to the standards of leading universities.

Students in all majors at the Faculty for Humanities can apply for the optional profiles “Journalism” and “Library Studies”.
Specialists in mass media are trained in the Journalism Department. Subjects on theory and history of communication, public relations, basic methods and thematic profiles are included in the curriculum. One-month summer practice in the press, the radio and the television is also envisaged. Specialists in “Library Studies” acquire specialised and managerial knowledge and skills in the field of publishing. Students from Bulgarian Philology Major can acquire a second Journalism Major.
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Bourgas University - Prof.Dr.Asen Zlatarov - Bourgas

Bourgas Prof. Assen Zlatarov University is a state institution, founded in 1963 as Higher Institute of Chemical Technology. It was transformed into Bourgas Prof. Assen Zlatarov University in 1995.

Students are trained in 27 subjects in 3 faculties and 3 colleges and obtain Specialist (3 years of study), Bachelor (4 years of study), Master (5 years of study) and PhD (3 years of study after Master) degrees.

A staff of high skilled professionals works in the University, including 86 professors and 120 PhDs. The University has a foreign students training section, a postgraduate qualification department and research centres.

The University has at its disposal 2 teaching corps, 3 students hostels, 1 gym, 1 canteen and a medical centre. The university library has over 160 000 volumes in different languages.

FACULTY OF TECHNICAL SCIENCES:

Departments - Organic chemical technologies, Technology of inorganic substances and silicates, Chemical engineering, Water technology, Material science and technology, Biotechnologies, Basic chemical technology
Specialties - Organic chemical technologies, Inorganic chemical technologies, Chemical engineering, Material science and technology, Biotechnologies
Professional qualification - Chemical Engineer, Biotechnologist Engineer, Technologist Engineer

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES:

Departments - Economics and management, Marketing and accountancy, Production technologies, Computer and information technologies, Pedagogy and psychology, Social and natural sciences, Bulgarian language
Specialties - Business management, Marketing, Industrial management, Tourism, Social pedagogy, Psychology, Pre-school and primary school pedagogy, Primary school pedagogy and foreign language, Pre-school pedagogy and foreign language

FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES:

Departments - Analytical chemistry, Ecology and protection of the environment, Mathematics, Inorganic chemistry, Organic chemistry, Physics, Physical chemistry
Specialties - Ecology and protection of the environment, Chemistry

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Bulgarian Airforce Academy - Dolna Mitropolia

Aviation Faculty is a main educational and scientific unit of the NMU (National Military University) “Vasil Levski”. It teaches highly qualified aviators and other air-force personnel. The Faculty is a successor of a couple of other Bulgarian Aviation Schools. The first one was founded in 1914. After that, other Aviation military schools were founded as well, but they did not function on a regular basis due to the wars at that time and the peace contracts. In 1945 in Vrazhdebna, near Sofia, the National Air-force School was created, which was later moved in Dolna Mitropolia. The Air-force Academy was a part of “Georgi Benkovski” Military Air-force University, which in 2002, became a faculty of the National Military University “Vasil Levski”.

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High Medical Institute - Pleven - Pleven

The Pleven Medical University, one of the five medical Universities in Bulgaria, was established in 1974, expanding the horizons, size and reputation of the City Hospital, founded in 1865. Today, combining traditions of the past with the present possibilities, it incorporates educational and therapeutic facilities, contemporary pre-clinical base, Institute Hospital with more than 1000 beds with clinics in all major medical fields, as well as a large number of specialized clinics and research units with modern diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. These are efficiently used to treat patients, train students, trainee doctors, post-graduates and for research work.

The instruction courses in the Pleven Medical University are carried out in 2 faculties and one college:

1. FACULTY OF MEDICINE with the specialty of MEDICINE:
2. FACULTY OF PUBLIC HEALTH with the following specialties:
• MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH CARE;

• MEDICAL REHABILITATION AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY;

• HEALTH MANAGEMENT;

• NURSIN;

• MIDWIFERY.
3. MEDICAL COLLEGE – PLEVEN with the following specialties:
• MEDICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANT;

• RADIOLOGY LABORATORY ASSISTANT;

• SOCIAL WORKER.

The University has all theoretic, pre-clinical and clinical departments required for the higher medical education. More than 6000 Bulgarian and foreign students from over 30 countries have graduated from the University until now. The current number of students is 2044. 275 of them are foreign students, including 78 of Indian nationality – the biggest community of foreign students at the university. Other international students are coming from the following countries: Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, Greece, Turkey, Nigeria, Albania, Cyprus, Congo, Syria, Algeria, USA, Japan, Great Britain and France. 835 young doctors from Bulgaria and abroad are taking postgraduate courses at the different specialized clinics of the University Hospital. The current number of PhD students is 53.
Highly qualified lecturers with comprehensive academic experience are employed. The course of instruction is carried out in 24 departments by more than 60 professors and around 300 assistant professors. Most of them are members of national and international scientific and medical societies and authors of research studies.

The academic year traditionally begins in the middle of September and ends in the end of May next year. It has two semesters of 16 weeks each, including 1-week holidays for Christmas and Easter. Because of the long terms necessary for processing of documents /especially visas/ of international candidates, the Academic Council of the University decided that the academic year for international students, English-language course of training, will start in the middle of February and end in the end of December. Since the year 2006-2007 the University started to organize a preparatory course in English language for international students coming from non-English-speaking countries, wishing to join the English language medical course.

Current monitoring and assessment of the students' knowledge in each subject is done by assistant professors, who are responsible for the students' group instruction during the semester. Examinations are conducted in all required subjects of instruction after each semester within the examination session, which lasts 45 days. Final assessment of knowledge acquired by the students after accomplishment of their full course of study is given by the State Examination Board at a comprehensive theoretical and practical examination.

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Higher Institute for Officer Training and Research at the Ministry of the Interior - Sofia

The Academy of the Ministry of Interior is the only higher education institution in the Republic of Bulgaria for training of state officials in response to the needs of the Ministry of Interior. The Academy is a recipient of the best traditions of specialized education in the field of security and public order. Through the years, the traditions in police education were developed and strengthened through the activities of the Higher institute, established in 1987, and the Higher Institute for Police Officers Training and Scientific Research at the MoI – (VIPOND - MoI), established in 1991. With a Resolution of the National Assembly on June 14th, 2002 VIPOND – MoI was transformed into a University with the name Academy of MoI. Three faculties were set in the Academy: “Security”, “Police”, “Fire and Emergency Safety”;
and four centers for specialization and professional training.
The “Security” faculty prepares officials for the security services of the Republic of Bulgaria. Specialists for the acquiring of the following academic degrees are trained there: “Bachelor of Arts”, “Master of Arts” and “Doctor of Philosophy”. The faculty organizes courses for protection of classified information for employees of other state institutions. The “Police” faculty trains officers for the National service “Police”, National service “Organized crime combating”, National service “Border police” and National service “Gendarmerie”. Specialists for the acquiring of the following academic degrees are trained there: “Bachelor of Arts”, “Master of Arts” and “Doctor of Philosophy”. The faculty organizes courses for raising the qualification and retraining of regular, senior officers and specialist from the Ministry of Interior as well as courses for employees of other state institutions like the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, etc. The “Fire and Emergency Safety” faculty is a successor of the first on the Balkan Peninsula State Firefighting School, founded in 1947. It prepares officers for the National service “Fire and Emergency Safety”. The faculty organizes courses for raising the qualification and retraining of regular, senior officers and specialist from the National service “Fire and Emergency Safety”. The Academy also organizes various national and international conferences, seminars, and working meetings. Within the International cooperation department of the department “International cooperation” a “Regional Anti-drug Center” (CEREFAD) is created. The Centers for Specialization and Professional Police Training in the cities of Sofia, Varna and Kazanlak are responsible for the initial training and retraining of sergeants for the police services of the Ministry of Interior. The Center for Specialization and Professional Fire and Emergency Safety Training in the city of Varna is responsible for the initial training and retraining of sergeants for the National service “Fire and Emergency Safety”. The Academy of the Ministry of Interior also carries out extensive scientific research.

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Higher Institute of Food and Flavour Industries - Plovdiv

The University of Food Technologies (UFT) in Plovdiv has a semi-centennial history and rich traditions. It is the successor to the Higher Institute of Food and Flavour Industries (HIFFI) founded in 1953 as an education and science centre in the area of food technology, the only one of its type in the country and on the Balkan Peninsula. Following its successful accreditation in January 2003, the HIFFI was transformed into a university pursuant to a Decision of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The UFT now offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs in the technology, engineering and economics of the food, flavour and biotechnological industries. At the beginning of the new 21st century, the University of Food Technologies employs an impressive, highly qualified scientific and teaching staff and provides training in modern and up-to-date programs. Thus, it can meet one of the greatest challenges to mankind: achieving quality of life through safe and healthy food. It is our firm belief that this can be guaranteed by the young specialists who receive outstanding training at the UFT.

The University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv (UFT) was established officially on 10-th June, 1953 by the decree No 230 of the President of Parliament according to which the UFT-Plovdiv became an independent higher educational establishment. The first Rector of the newly founded Higher Institute of Food and Flavor Industries - Prof. Ilyia Pavlov, was appointed on July 31, 1953. At the beginning some of the departments (Electrical Engineering, Wine -Making Technology, Technology of Milk and Milk Products, Technology of Fruits and Vegetables) were situated in the building of the ex French College. The Dean’s Office and the Departments of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Technology of Meat and Fish, etc. occupied the reconstructed tobacco store house "
Draganovs` Brothers"
situated in the near neighborhood. The Department of Technology of Tobacco and Tobacco Products was situated in tobacco store house "
Tomasjan"
, in 24 "
Veliko Tarnovo"
street, and the Department of Vegetable Oils, Soaps and Essential oils - in 8 "
Cyril and Methodi"
street. The official opening ceremony of the building, where the UFT has been accommodated by now was on February 10th, 1963. During the years 1963 - 1967 the Sports and Recuperative Center on the dam of Batak was established, and during the years 1972 - 1976 the Sports Complex on the banks of the Maritza River was opened.

During the years of its development, the UFT-Plovdiv had developed versatile international contacts and an active international activity. In 1965 the first bilateral co-operation agreements were signed with the Moscow Institute of Food Industry, Russia and the Polytechnic Institute of Galatz, Romania. During the period 1927-1978, bilateral co-operation agreements were signed with the Moscow Technological Institute of Meat and milk Industries (now the Moscow State University of Applied Biotechnology), the Kiev Technological Institute of Food Industries, the Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute - Russia, the Humboldt University - Berlin, Germany, the Chemical and Technological Institute - Prague, Czechoslovakia, universities in Szeged, Hungary.

In 1979 - 1990 the international co-operation was extended and agreements with the Agricultural University - the Athens, Greece, the Leningrad Technological Institute of Refrigeration Industry, the Odessa Technological Institute, the Moscow Institute of Refrigeration Machine building, the Kutaj Technological Institute, Russia, the Agricultural Academy - Poznan, Poland, a bilateral co-operation with the Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute, Russia and with the Technical University - Berlin, Germany, to which the Faculty of Food Technology of the Humboldt University had joined, were signed. Some new agreements were signed with the Moscow State University of Applied Biotechnology - Russia, the Kuban State University - Krasnodar, Russia, the Agricultural University of the Habei Province of China.

Since 1994, the Institute was included in the educational research projects financed by the EC on the programs, respectively TEMPUS and COPERNICUS, and an active international exchange programs were implemented, as follows: in 1998 the UFT-Plovdiv participated in 17 projects. During the period of 1994-1998, in TEMPUS projects 162 lecturers had participated, and in COPERNICUS project - 52 ones. Lecturers from the UFT-Plovdiv visited different European universities in order to be able to prepare new lecture courses and to improve their own lecture courses. More than 10 students also had taken partial training abroad.

Today, the UFT-Plovdiv is a prestigious national center for food science, technology and education. The University has adopted the three level structure of training - Bachelor - 4 years, Master – year and a half and PhD - 3 years.

TECHNOLOGICAL FACULTY:

- Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry
- Department of Analytical Chemistry
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Microbiology
- Department of Technology of Beer and Wine
- Department of Technology of Grain, Bread and Fodder Products
- Department of Technology of Milk and Milk Products
- Department of Canning and Refrigeration Technology
- Department of Technology of Meat and Fish
- Department of Technology of Tobacco, Sugar, Vegetable and Essential Oils
- Department of Biotechnology

ENGINEERING FACULTY:

- Department of Technical Mechanics and Mechanics
- Department of Processes and Apparatuses
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Department of Industrial Heat Engineering
- Department of Machines and Equipment for the Food and Flavor Industries
- Department of Automatics, Information and Control Technique
- Department of Computer Systems and Technologies

ECONOMICS FACULTY:

- Department of Economics and Management
- Department of Catering, Tourism and Foreign Languages Training
- Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- Department of Informatics and Statistics
- Department of Physical Education and Sports
- Center of Computer Technologies and Communications

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Higher Medical Institute Plovdiv - Plovdiv

The Medical University – Plovdiv, more popular until recently under the name of VMI (meaning Higher Medical Institute), was established in 1945. It includes the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Care, a Medical College and a hospital of its own with a capacity of 2000 beds. All departments, considered as indispensable for higher medical education according to modern standards, are available - theoretical, pre-clinical and clinical, as well as laboratories, clinics and other units with modern equipment for diagnostics and treatment, research activities and training of medical and dental students. The Central University Library offers the students more than 170 000 volumes in field of medicine in many languages as well as an Internet hall and a local net system (with Medline and Micromedex available). The Medical University issues its own journal called Folia Medica, which is exchanged with more than 326 specialists from over 54 countries included in Medline. Every year over 3800 Bulgarian and foreign students are trained at the Higher Medical Institute - Plovdiv.
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Higher Transport School - Todor Kableshkov - Sofia

The foundation of the State Railway School as a secondary school was officially announced through the law Opening Railway and Telegraph and Post School and Decree No 60 of Tsar Boris III in 1922.

After a number of transformations, in 1958 the school was turned into Railway College with the Ministry of Transport. Four years later its status was equaled to that of a military academy with the Ministry of Defense. In 1967 the college was named after Todor Kableshkov, the hero of the April Uprising and the legendary author of Blood Letter. In 1984 the college was transformed into Todor Kableshkov Higher Military School of Transport. It soon became a united center of training specialists for the needs of transport and military troops in the Republic of Bulgaria. Since September 1, 2000 the school has been demilitarized and renamed as Todor Kableshkov Higher School of Transport.
Nowadays it carries out ambitious teaching and research activities, as a result of which it has been awarded institutional accreditation and a certificate for the implemented and functioning system of quality in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 standard.

The normative documents kept to and applied in the process of teaching and research by the Todor Kableshkov University of Transport (UT) are as follows: Law of Higher Education, Law of Academic Degrees and Ranks, Rules for Structure and Activities of Todor Kableshkov UT, Instruction for Students' Admission at Todor Kableshkov UT.

Faculty of Equipment, Technology and Management in Transport:

The faculty trains students in the following programs:
• Technology and Management of Transport
• Transport Machines and Technology
• Engineering Logistics and Construction Machines
• Industrial Management

Faculty of Transport Infrastructure:

The faculty trains students in the following programs:
• Telecommunications
• Transportation Engineering
• Power Engineering and Electrical Equipment
Transport College:

The Transport College trains students in the following Programs:
• Transport Machines and Technology
• Technology and Management of Transport
• Transportation Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Engineering Logistics and Construction Machines
• Power Engineeringand Electrical Equipment
• Accountancy and Auditing

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Lyuben Karavelov Higher Military School Of Construction Engineering - Sofia

The Higher School of Civil Engineering “Lyuben Karavelov“ - Sofia is a successor of the specialized military engineering school established with His Majesty Tsar Boris III's Decree № 22 on 18.10.1938 for the needs of the Army Corps' Engineers (Labor service, Labor Army Corps). With a Decree of the Council of State № 1815/16.08.1973 the School was reorganized into Higher Military School of Construction Engineering “Gen. Blagoy Ivanov“ (VNVSU “Gen. Blagoy Ivanov“). The education was performed on the subject “Industrial and Civil Engineering“ with two departments: building constructions and technology of the construction.

During the period from 1938 to 2000 in the School have been prepared many management specialists not only for the Army Corps' Engineers and the Construction filed but also in the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Ministry of Transport and other authorities. The School became attractive educational centre not only for the young people in our country but also for the people from many other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As a result of some intergovernmental agreements, at the School have been educated cadets and officers from Tanzania, Mozambique, Cuba, Laos, Yemen, Vietnam, Mongolia, Syria and others. In 1991, with a Decree of the President of Republic of Bulgaria the School was renamed into Higher Military School of Construction Engineering “Lyuben Karavelov“ (VVISU “Lyuben Karavelov“). In August 2000, with a Reorganization of the Construction Military Corps, the Military Corps of the Ministry of Transport and the Military Corps of the Committee of Post and Telecommunications into State Companies' Act (Official Gazette, issue 57/14.07.2000), the School was demilitarized and renamed into Higher School of Civil Engineering (VSU) “Lyuben Karavelov“ with statute of state higher specialized school.

FACULTY OF CONSTRUCTION: Department “Mathematics and Physics”;
Department “Mechanics”;
Department “Low-rise Construction”;
Department “Building Structures”;
Department “Construction Technology &
Mechanization”

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE: Department “Architecture”;
Department “Informatics and Communications”

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Medical University - Sofia

Medical University of Sofia is the oldest institution for higher medical education in Bulgaria. His Majesty King Ferdinand founded it by a decree at 1917 as a Medical Faculty of Sofia University. Special merits of its foundation and worthy to be remembered are Dr. M.Russev, Dr. St. Vatev and Dr. P. Orahovatz who prepared Alexandrovska hospital’s departments for the needs of future clinics and organized training of teaching stuff. One of the first professors by medicine in Bulgaria are Prof. V. Mollov, Prof. P. Stojanov, Prof. St. Kirkovitch, Prof. Iv. Kiprov (first Dean), Prof. R.H. Kann, Prof. T. Petrov, Prof. Pashev, Prof. At. Teodorov etc. In 1942 a Dentistry department opened the doors in Medical faculty and its founders were Ass. prof. Sl. Davidov, Аss. prof. G. Stiljanov and Prof. Al. Stanishev.

In 1950 Medical Faculty was set apart from Sofia University and became independent structure as Medical Academy with two faculties - medicine and dentistry. Later on, at 1951 a Pharmaceutical faculty was associated. Next decades several administrative transformations took places - Higher Medical Institute (1954-1972), Medical Academy (1972-1990) and again Higher Medical Institute. Since 21 of May 1995 according to the decision taken by the National Assembly, the Higher Medical Institute became a Medical University. Today, Medical University Sofia has leading positions as educational, scientific and health care institution in Bulgaria and it’ level corresponds to the world medical standards. High level of theoretical and practical training of students, post-graduate students and specialists is organized according to the requirements of government standards of education and health care politics but with a sufficient academic independence.

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Military Academy - G. S. Rakovski - Sofia

Rakovski Defense and Staff College is the oldest higher military institution in Bulgaria. It was founded with an Act of the 15th National Assembly of March 1, 1912.

The College has a unique contribution to the foundation of the Bulgarian Officers Corps, as well as to the establishment of the new Bulgarian State, and to the influence of the European values upon the Bulgarian nation. Today it is a national institution for higher education, qualification, and scientific research on issues of national security and Defense. The mission of Rakovski Defense and Staff College is to prepare military leaders and civilian personnel in all spheres of establishing and using the Armed Forces in peacetime, in conflict solving and crisis management, and in wartime focusing on strategic and operational level. It is the main educational institution concerning issues of international and national security, civil-military cooperation, military art, and interoperability with NATO armed forces. The College is accredited as a high institution by the state authorities. Rakovski Defense and Staff College Academic And Research Units are: National Security and Defence Faculty, Command and Staff Faculty, Interoperability Faculty and Defence Advanced Research Institute . The education includes 8 accredited Master's specialties and many courses of post-educational qualification. The annual number of trained officers and civilian personnel is about 1500. Rakovski Defense and Staff College is a member of the Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes under PfP. 157 highly qualified lecturers and researchers, officers and civilian personnel, work in Rakovski Defense and Staff College.

Rakovski Defense and Staff College offers education for acquiring Master’s Degree in seven accredited specialties:

At the National Security and Defense Faculty:

-National security and Defense
-Security and Defense Management
-Security and Defense Logistics
-Population and Critical Infrastructure Protection
-Security and Defense Communicational and Informational Systems and Technologies
-SCIS and Technology in the Field of Security and Defense

At the Command and Staff Faculty:

-Organization and control of operational and tactical Land Forces formations
-Organization and control of operational and tactical Air Force formations
-Organization and control of operational and tactical Navy formations
-Organization and management of logistic support in operational tactical formations
-Organization and management of communication and information systems in operational and tactical formations
-Logistics of Security and Defense

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Military University - Shumen

The University is founded in 1948 in Sofia by the Parliament's decree 1967 from 27.11.1948. In the fall of 1951 it is resituated in the town of Shumen and from 1959 becomes a school of higher education. During 1990 it is named: "
Higher Education Military School of Artillery and Air-Defence."

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National Academy of Arts - Sofia

The National Academy of Art was founded in 1896 as a State School of Drawing, on legislation suggested by three outstanding Bulgarian public figures, the artists Ivan Mrkvicka and Anton Mitov, and the historian Dr. Ivan Shishmanov. The buildings of the National Academy of Art house numerous lecture halls, studios, laboratories, workshops, a museum, a computer centre, and a library with two branches;
administration premises, a gymnasium and cafes. The academy has nearly 1000 students in different profiles in visual arts, history of art and design. The academy also has 130 foreign students and 35 Bulgarian and foreign doctoral students. The National Academy of Art has two departments, of Visual Arts and of Applied Arts. The chairs in both departments are responsible for teaching and research, and for the development and implementation of the curricula in the following fields where students acquire professional university degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts.

In Fine Arts :

Painting: BA, MA
Mural Painting: BA, MA
Sculpture: BA, MA
Graphic Art: BA, MA
Book and Printed Graphic Design: BA, MA
Poster and Visual Communication BA, MA
History of Art MA only (a five-year course)

In Applied Arts:

Woodcarving BA, MA
Ceramics BA, MA
Stage Design BA, MA
Textile BA, MA
Metal BA, MA
Industrial Design BA, MA
3D (Spatial) Design BA, MA
Porcelain and Glass BA, MA
Design of Children’s Environment BA, MA
Fashion BA, MA
Restoration . MA only (a five-year course)

The curricula of all disciplines incorporate History of Art, Aesthetics, Philosophy, Drawing, Anatomy, Perspective, Foreign languages, Sports. The students willing to qualify as teachers, study the additional disciplines of Pedagogy, Applied experimental psychology of visual arts, Psychology, Mapping, Pedagogical practice and Methodology of visual arts (those are taught by members of the chairs of Art and Pedagogy, Drawing and Comprehensive disciplines). Each chair guarantees specializations and doctoral studies in all abovementioned subjects. Through its chairs, courses and curricula, the National Academy of Art aims at the best professional and comprehensive education of its students.

The academic year has a winter, and a summer term, both ending in examination periods. The winter term begins in September/October and ends in May. The exams take place approx. in the second half of January-beginning of February;
as well as throughout June, with reprieve sessions in February and September.

BA degree can be obtained following a four-year course of study while MA requires 18 months (exception is made in the case of History of Art and Restoration that only offer MA courses, with a 5-year course of study).

Teaching at the Academy focuses on individual disciplines, with ECTS for each discipline calculated in number of hours per term or per academic year. The courses in each of the disciplines end with exams, the evaluation is done on the six-mark scale. Educational tasks for the students during their course of study, seminars, course diploma works, defence of diploma works and projects, alongside with the exams in theory of the subjects, form an integral and important part of the education.

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National Academy of Theatre &
Film Arts - Krustyo Sarafov - Sofia

The National Academy for Theatre &
Film Arts (NATFA) is Bulgaria’s premier tertiary school and one of the top training European institutions in the fields of Stage and Screen Arts. It was founded in 1948 and remains the only state-funded such educational institution in the country.It is located in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.

The National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts aspires to give a first-rate professional and academic education to each of its students, to foster their creativity and to broaden their cultural horizons. The academic staff consists of distinguished practising artists, critics, researchers and educators in the field of Stage and Screen Arts, with a deep commitment to their work. The process of applying theory to professional practice is essential to our educational philosophy. The graduates of NATFA acquire a wide range of creative, critical, performing and productive skills and qualifications. Many of them build rewarding careers in Bulgaria and abroad.

Every year NATFA admits approximately 120 students out of which 20 are foreign students.

The Stage Arts Faculty was established in 1948 and since then has contributed enormously to the development of Bulgarian theatre. It is a dynamic and innovative faculty with an intensive and balanced curriculum, providing training for successful professional careers in the sphere of theatre productions and also fostering the individual creative vision and originality of its students. The philosophy and practice of the Stage Arts Faculty recognizes that the training of actors, directors, designers, playwrights and critics needs to occur within an atmosphere in which investigation and learning go hand in hand. The faculty’s teaching staff includes some of the most talented and internationally known practicing directors, actors, theatre critics and scholars. The policy of NATFA also requires all visiting professors to be of the highest caliber and to represent all aspects and genres of performance, thereby giving students access to meet leaders in all fields of the Stage Arts. Students are expected to develop individual and autonomous working methods for their future professions as performance makers and performers. Conceptual development is also an important value in the training and students are expected to investigate their craft intellectually as well as practically.

The Screen Arts Faculty’s initial degree programs were opened in 1973. The curriculum in the faculty combines professional training with studies in the liberal arts. Students are provided with a variety of creative experiences, from basic to advanced, in both the conceptual and production phases of film, TV and video products, classical and computer animation. Electives in the liberal arts are required of all students to ensure that they have the background necessary for participation in a profession that influences attitudes, opinions and ways of thinking in every aspect of human experience. The Screen Arts Faculty is an active member of CILECT and has a representative in its Executive Council. The teaching staff features the most outstanding Bulgarian directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, editors, designers, photographers and critics, having numerously demonstrated their high artistic achievements both in the country and abroad. They not only share their experience but develop their own curricula in the subject areas they teach, providing an individual artistic and methodological approach.

International co-operation at all levels of academic and artistic exchange has always been among the top priorities of NATFA. Its outstanding graduates’ achievements are recognized through yearly participation in more than 80 students’ and professional festivals, workshops, seminars, congresses, conferences and symposia.NAFTA is actively engaged in many international projects in the field of theatre and film arts. Since 1982 NATFA has been a full member of CILECT (Centre International de Liason des Ecoles de Cinema et de Television), since 1990 it has been a full member of ELIA (The European League of Institutes of the Arts). NATFA is also a member of UNIMA (The International Puppeteers Association) and ITI (The International Theatre Institute). It has established long-term contacts with universities and art academies all over the world. We are an active partner in projects developed through ERASMUS, TEMPUS, SOCRATES and other educational programs.

At present NATFA occupies three neighbouring buildings situated in the heart of Sofia. It is surrounded by the National Palace of Culture, the National Drama Theatre, the National Opera House and the National Puppet Theatre. At a walking distance one can also find the biggest open-air book-market in the Balkans, a huge variety of shopping outlets, more than ten modern cinema halls as well as Sofia’s most famous theatres.

The Drama Training Theatre (440 seats). It had its first premiere in 1957 and has functioned since then as a repertory theatre, with six performances per week and at least ten different shows per school year. In addition there are several small stages, used for new and experimental forms and genres, and open to the general public.

The Puppet Training Theatre (80 seats). It opened its doors for audiences in 1966 and since then it has won wide recognition for its innovative works in the field of puppet art. A specially designed puppet workshop is available to students who would like to make their own puppets, guided by professional artists.

The Film and Video Screening Hall (80 seats) has contemporary projection equipment for 35 mm, 16 mm, Beta SP and DVD films. It allows students from all fields to regularly watch classic movies as well as to get acquainted with the latest achievements in the field of audiovisual arts and to meet their authors at workshops and seminars.

The Training Audio-visual Complex includes the Training Cinema Studio, the Training TV Centre and the Digital Multimedia Centre. The Training Cinema Studio has a motion picture studio, a photo studio, a workshop for motion picture equipment, a lighting equipment workshop, a sound recording studio and a video recording studio. The Training TV Centre has two air-conditioned and sound-proof studios (one of them of 150 sq.m. and the other of 50 sq.m.), fully equipped with lighting, round-horizon, green box, with possibility for multi-camera shooting. There is a digital post-production studio and a sound booth for linear editing. The Digital Multimedia Centre consists of 10 specialized stations with computer and audio-visual equipment.

The NATFA Academic Information Centre, has 60 000 volumes of Bulgarian and foreign books. Here one can also find the country’s unique complete catalogued archive of Bulgarian theatre which contains all kinds of printed material (posters, photos, programs, brochures, newspaper and magazine clips, etc.) dating from 1879 to the present. 24 hour Internet facilities are also available there.

Accommodation of all students is possible at reasonable prices in the NATFA hostel situated on the premises of the Sofia Students’ Campus. The campus never stops living and its infrastructure includes sports’ facilities, a wide variety of restaurants, recreational and entertainment centers, a specialized polyclinic hospital, shopping areas, children’s playgrounds and nursery-schools, low-price students’ diners and a convenient transport network.

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National Sports Academy - Vassil Levski - Sofia

The National Sports Academy has 42 Olympic titles, 150 silver and bronze Olympic medals, 90 world champion titles, 120 silver and bronze medals from world championships, which are won by the university’s graduates.

1942 – His Majesty King Boris III founds with a decree the Higher school for physical education
1953 – The Council of ministers approves with a decree the name Higher institute for physical education and sport
1967 – The Sport-pedagogical faculty and the Faculty for mass health and healing physical culture are differentiated
1973 – The Scientific council of Theory and methods of the physical education and sports training (including methods of remedial gym) is founded. It awards the scientific degrees Doctor and Doctor of science, approbates the attainment of academic ranks
1974 – The specialized training for highly qualified sportsmen is introduced
1991 – The Linguistic center for language preparation of foreign students and post-graduate students is founded
1995 – With a resolution of the National Assembly the Higher institute for physical education and sport is renamed in National sports academy. A new, modern school building is opened
1999 - With a resolution of the National Assembly the name National sports academy “Vasil Levski” is legalized

COACHES FACULTY:

Departments: Theory of sport training, Wrestling and Judo, Technical and ice sports, History and management of sport, Football and tennis, Heavy athletics, boxing, fencing and sport for all;
Physiology and biochemistry

TEACHERS FACULTY:

Departments: Anatomy and biomechanics;
Basketball, volley-ball, handball;
Track-and-field athletics;
Psychology, pedagogics and sociology;
Theory of the physical education

KINESITHERAPY FACULTY:

Departments: TM of the kinesitherapy, Kinesitherapy and rehabilitation, Gymnastics TAO and skis, Aquatic sports, Sports medicine

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Good grief Ashley this is a list and a half and I take it there is more to come since this is part 1

FANTASTIC Job Ashley Well done !! I am now getting all the email address and emailing them to see if they will help with our 'Christmas Box' idea in Bulgaria. Fingers crossed

Oddy

I bet the young lady who wants to become a teacher in Bulgaria will love you for this