site.btaPresident Iotova: Bulgarian Universities On Par with European Counterparts

President Iliana Iotova gave a speech Tuesday at the ceremony for the presentation of the tenth Academic Oscars awards - distinctions for the universities that top the rankings of universities by professional field for 2025. "Bulgarian universities are on a par with their European counterparts, and I am certain that young people, students, lecturers, professors, associate professors, and assistants - all of them - must work to develop their alma mater so that we can be among the leaders in our European family," she said. 

The ceremony was held at NV Tower in Sofia and was organized by 24 Chasa. 

"Seven of our universities are already part of the European university network, which provides opportunities for contacts and joint projects, for development with over 650 other higher education institutions in Europe," Iotova added.

The President congratulated outgoing Education Minister Krasimir Valchev for the will to introduce changes in Bulgarian higher education and for his commitment "to work with the right people -academic leaders - so that we do not end up with yet another reform that we pin on our lapels like a brooch, only to find that it does not work."

The ceremony was also attended by the outgoing Education Minister, European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Head Yordanka Chobanova, Council of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions in Bulgaria Chair Miglena Temelkova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences President Evelina Slavcheva, National Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation Chair Eliza Stefanova, National Sectoral Trade Union for Higher Education and Science Chair Lilyana Valcheva, Bulgarian News Agency Director General Kiril Valchev, former education ministers, rectors and business representatives.