Working together towards the removal of legislative and administrative obstacles

The European Reform University Alliance, New Bulgarian University and the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science will work together towards the removal of legislative and administrative obstacles for Bulgarian universities to participate in joint programmes and award joint degrees. This was agreed yesterday at a meeting of ERUA’s Secretary General Mrs. Bruna Vives and Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science Prof. Dr. Galin Tsokov.

Mrs. Bruna Vives highlighted the importance of deepening transnational cooperation in the European Education Area and the role of European Universities in boosting the quality of higher education and research across the board. She welcomed the European Commission’s blueprint for a European degree, but underscored that it is up to national governments to ensure favourable conditions for their universities’ worthwhile participation in the European Universities initiative.

Prof. Dr. Galin Tsokov related that the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science has already started the process of discussing the necessary legislative changes which would enable Bulgarian universities to participate in joint programmes and award joint degrees. He committed to hosting further meetings with representatives of the Bulgarian National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency as well as the National Centre for Information and Documentation – the body responsible for recognition of qualifications and diplomas. He also agreed to consider the possibility for launching a new national programme to provide systemic funding to Bulgarian participants in the European Universities initiative.

Mrs. Bruna Vives and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Gochev – Vice Rector for International Relations of New Bulgarian University – pledged to support the Ministry by collecting and sharing experience and know-how from the other universities in the alliance.