site.btaBTA Signs Cooperation Agreement with College of Tourism – Blagoevgrad

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev signed a cooperation agreement with the Chair of the Academic Board of College of Tourism – Blagoevgrad, Prof. Dr Vasil Zhechev, at BTA's press club here on Monday.

Valchev pointed out that on the first working day after World Tourism Day (September 27), BTA expanded its circle of partners among universities with the third higher education institution in Blagoevgrad. He added that this is the 47th agreement signed by the national news agency with a Bulgarian university and stated: "By the end of the year, we expect to have partnership agreements with all 51 universities in the country."

The agreements have two main goals: to systematically present the work of all Bulgarian universities with materials provided by the higher education institutions, and to offer internships at BTA to students interested in journalism. Valchev pointed out that BTA translates some of its article into English and distributes them to its partners – 50 national news agencies from around the world.

Regarding the internships offered by BTA, Valchev noted that candidates from universities with a more specialized profile are particularly valuable, "because Bulgarian journalism needs specialized journalists." Students in Blagoevgrad have the opportunity to do their internships in Blagoevgrad, which hosts one of BTA's largest press clubs in the country.

Upon signing the cooperation agreement, Valchev presented Zhechev with news items related to the college published by the agency over the years. Among them is the first news item from October 18, 2003, about the opening of a private college of tourism announced by the then minister of education and science Igor Damyanov. BTA's archives also contain photographs related to the College of Tourism, the first of which is from June 12, 2010, when the then prime minister Boyko Borissov presented diplomas to the college's graduates. Valchev also presented Zhechev with a copy of the BTA-published LIK magazine that was dedicated to 130th anniversary of organized tourism in Bulgaria.

Around 700 students are enrolled at the College of Tourism. They include Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Greeks, and students from the Republic of North Macedonia. Most of their education is focused on practical skills.