At the third award ceremony "The Best universities in Bulgaria" were awarded 25 higher education institutions, which have shown the highest results in the past year. Their rectors received diplomas and were awarded personally by ministers and high-ranking individuals of the business. The first award was received by the Sofia University "St. "St. Kliment Ohridski". It was presented by the Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev.
"I am honored for another year to receive this sign, for the fact that Sofia University is the first in a large part of the professional directions", said the rector of Alma Mater Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov. "I'm glad I'm going to take that sign tonight. Thank you to "24 hours" magazin, to the "Open Society" and the Ministry of the education for this event.
"The education and upbringing of the future generation is the thing to unite everybody", said Ognyan Zlatev.
After that on the stage was Prof. Ivan Markov – the rector of the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy. He received the award of the university by the mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova. "I congratulate the Rector of the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy. This is the university that produces the architects and engineers we need. I wish you to continue to keep this position and climb up, because that means we will have engineers to renew and revive our city. I wish to thank you Venelina Gocheva and Borislav Zumbulev for maintaining this initiative. Only with educated young people can we attract investors and thus improve the infrastructure of our city ", said Fandakova.
„Thanks for the high score in the rating system. Thank you also to the Ministry of Education and Science. Being at the first place traditionally it does make us continue to educate our “outcome” more and more – our smart students."- accepted with a gratitude Prof. Markov.
"I am proud to be one of the graduates of this worthy Alma Mater. They trained leaders to guide our national army. I wish to all students, scholars and the management to gain a lot of knowledge and support the development of our defense system ", with these words the Chief of defense General Andrey Bozev handed the recognition to the deputy head of the Military Academy "Georgi Sava Rakovski" - Colonel Associate Professor Dimitar Tashkov.
The operative director of "Dundee Precious Metals" Irena Tsakova gave the award to the University of Mining. "I congratulate you on the stuff you educate. We, people from the business, can only support you. Where the university prospers, the business is also developed. Thanks to our partnership with the university we managed to recruit only Bulgarian staff and one fifth of these young people were before abroad and are now in their native region in Krumovgrad. Thank you “24 hours” magazine. We need such support in the universities and in the business", said Tsakova. In turn the rector of the University Prof. Lyubomir Totev added that unfortunately in the recent years, the number of the students was decreasing.
The Minister of Agriculture Rumen Porojanov greeted all universities for the preparation of the staff who will be working in the future on the programs for bio development and agriculture of Bulgaria. He handed a diploma to the rector of the Agrarian University in Plovdiv and the Thracian University.
"This initiative has really become an incentive for the development of the Bulgarian universities", said the rector of the University of Forestry – Prof. Ivan Ilchev.
He received the award from the president of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Acad. Julian Revalski, who stressed that without well-educated students from the Bulgarian higher educational institutions there will be no Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Among the top performers is the biggest economic university in Bulgaria – University of National and World Economy. HR director of "Kaufland-Bulgaria" - Viktor Fachev, presented the diploma to the rector Prof. Stati Statev. "I am glad that" Kaufland "can accept many students who could start their career path with us," said Fachev. "Obviously someone has let it out that we were doing for the last 2 a general program, and this initiative is an advertisement for higher education that no one can do to us. Even all universities together ", explained the rector of the University of National and World Economy.
The president of the American University, Steven Sullivan, said that the prize of the "Best universities in Bulgaria" is the biggest award that the American University has received so far in Bulgaria. He received a diploma from Tsveti Mincheva-a member of the board of UniCredit Bulbank”. The successful careers happen in a successful business. In the 21st century, people are still the key factor, not just technology and innovation. We have to have the right people in the right places, "noted Mincheva.
"Technical University is the temple of the Bulgarian engineering education in 6 directions. So far, it's given nearly 100 thousand engineers who have sworn to serve the industry. This rating system is a mirror in which all of us could see our mistakes. "With these words the rector of the Technical University in Sofia Prof. Georgi Mihov accepted the award by the CEO of Kaolin AD, who said that the success of his company is owing to the cadres that are being formed in the universities and in particular in the Technical University.
"Here we reward that part of the population that knows and can do. Regarding the Academy of Ministry of internal affairs- this is the place where those people who with their bodies interfere with the destructive forces that are against the development of society, said from the stage the Minister of internal affairs Milko Berner. He gave a diploma to the rector of the Academy of Ministry of internal affairs Nedelcho Stoychev.
The Rector of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Prof. Mitko Georgiev stressed that the people who work in this industry give 17% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. He received the award of the educational institution by the Executive director of "Chidrostroi" Jivko Nedev. This award listed last year the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy with 400 places ahead in the international rankings.
The great volleyball player Lubo Ganev presented the award to the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski". "This is the academy, where the greatest sports teachers and coaches are educated. They are the ones who can light the love for sport in children ", he said." Do sports, because sport is health and because the sport could raises even the rating," added the rector Prof. Pencho Geshev, who liven up the audience.
The director of the National Theatre presented the diploma to 2 of the universities – National Academy for Theater and Film Arts and the National Academy of Music. "Thank you Mr. Krasimir Valchev for the support of the Bulgarian education. Under your guidance, it evolves in the right direction. Thank you Mrs. Fandakova also for the care towards Sofia universities. In regards of the last 70th anniversary, the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts was chosen by 4 world associations to host the World Congress of all Arts schools. This will happen on May 24th. I did not accidentally choose this date ", praised the rector of National Academy for Theater and Film Arts Prof. Stanislav Semerdjiev and the Rector of the Music academy Prof. Dimitar Tsanev noted that the rating system is a powerful tool for directing the prospective students.
The rector of the National Academy of Arts Ognian Zdravchev received his honors from Prof. Ognyan Gerdzhikov. "We have 120 years of history with a contribution to Bulgarian and European fine arts. Many of the awarded thanked. All who have an interest in fine art are the users of our work and our educational purpose ", said Prof. Zdravchev.
Deputy Minister of Education Petar Nikolov presented the diploma to the Rector of the University of Rousse Prof. Hristo Beloev and the chief editor of "24 Hours" magazine bestowed the honors of the rector of the University of Veliko Tarnovo Prof. Hristo Bondjolov.
"I have recently reread Orhan Pamuk's speech about his Nobel Prize. He says he writes because he wants to be happy. I encourage you to educate young people to be happy ", said at the ceremony Silva Zourleva from the board of directors of Nova TV. She distinguished Dr. Vladimir Dimitrov, deputy Director of the New Bulgarian University.
Albena Aleksandrova from Plovdiv University received the award from Mr. Yovchev from the BI TI VI. The Bulgarian deputy health minister Boyko Penkov gave the plaques to the medical universities in Sofia, Pleven and Varna, and Petya Kabakchieva from the National Agency for Accreditation – to the Medical University in Plovdiv.
The author of the rating Georgi Stoychev closed the ceremony by distinguishing the Deputy rector of the University of Food Technologies in Plovdiv Prof. Nikolay Menkov.
Photo and text: "24 hours"
