Academic Oscars ceremony
![Education Minister Says Higher Education Needs Recognition]()
![Education Minister Says Higher Education Needs Recognition]()
Outgoing Education Minister Krasimir Valchev at the Academic Oscars award ceremony in Sofia, January 27, 2026 (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
![„Академичните оскари“ - награди - церемония]()
site.btaEducation Minister Says Higher Education Needs Recognition
Higher education institutions and the higher education system as a whole need recognition, outgoing Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev said on Tuesday at the tenth official ceremony for the presentation of the Academic Oscars awards - distinctions for the universities that top the rankings of universities by professional field for 2025.
Valchev said that the higher education system is not one that merely consumes resources, but one that needs support and should be supported, because investing in education offers the greatest chance for prosperity. He noted that the system has supported reforms, with many university rectors over the years backing difficult reforms that sometimes had negative effects on their own institutions, while trade unions also stood behind those changes. According to him, all education ministers over the years have built on previous efforts and implemented policies aimed at improving the prestige of the system, which is now reflected in measurable results.
The Minister pointed to a doubling of foreign students over the past five years, noting that Bulgaria ranks first in the European Union in terms of foreign medical students per million inhabitants, but not only in medicine. He added that an increasing number of applicants with excellent academic records and winners of international Olympiads are choosing to pursue higher education in Bulgaria, including at Sofia University, but not only there. He expressed hope that business representatives would also believe in this progress and rely more on Bulgarian students.
At the ceremony, Valchev presented an award to Prof. Georgi Valchev, Rector of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, as the university holds the highest number of first-place rankings by professional field in the 2025 national higher education ranking system, with a total of 22.
Among those attending the ceremony were President Iliana Iotova, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova, Chair of the Council of Rectors Prof. Miglena Temelkova, President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Evelina Slavcheva, Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Kiril Valchev, former education ministers, university rectors and business representatives.
/DS/
Additional
news.modal.image.header
news.modal.image.text
news.modal.download.header
news.modal.download.text
news.modal.header
news.modal.text