site.btaSofia University to Elect Rector to Serve until November 2027

The General Assembly of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is expected to elect a rector on Tuesday to complete the remainder of the 2023-2027 term following the appointment of former rector Georgi Valchev as Minister of Education and Science, the university said.

The closed-door meeting begins at 9:30 am in the university's Rectorate building. At the start of the session, the General Assembly is expected to decide whether media representatives will be allowed to attend the rector election.

The General Assembly, the university's highest governing body, comprises 400 representatives of the academic staff, administrative and support personnel, students and doctoral candidates.

By an order of the Education Minister issued on May 15, Parvan Parvanov was appointed acting rector until a new rector is elected, but for no longer than six months.

Three candidates are running for the post: Georgi Rainovski, Eliza Stefanova and Milen Zamfirov. They presented their programmes for completing the current rector's mandate before the university's academic community in June.

Prof. Zamfirov has pledged to ensure institutional stability, maintain financial discipline, safeguard staff incomes and continue ongoing infrastructure projects. Prof. Stefanova has prioritized strengthening research, digitalization, support for young academics and expanding the university's international partnerships. Prof. Rainovski has proposed improving remuneration, accelerating investment projects, enhancing the role of the university as a research institution, advancing digitalisation and increasing student participation in university governance.

The newly elected rector will serve until the end of the current mandate in November 2027.