site.btaEducation Minister, Bulgarian Community Head in Taraclia Discuss Transition of Taraclia University to Ruse University

Head of the Bulgarian community in Taraclia Region Ivan Paslar met with Minister of Education and Science Galin Tsokov to discuss the process of transforming the Taraclia State University "Gregory Tsamblak" into a branch of the Ruse University "Angel Kanchev". The dialogue took place in early August, according to the official Facebook page of the Bulgarian community in Taraclia.

"Ivan Paslar raised a number of issues that concern the Bulgarian community in the Taraclia region. Among the most important questions, which have not yet been answered, are: when the process of transformation of the university will be completed; will its teachers continue to work; what form of education will be in the new branch; will the education be only online; how will the branch be financed; will the university preserve its curriculum.

According to the members of the public organization, the answers to these questions are important for the development of the university. They said that the minister indicated that he fully understood the concerns and added that discussions were ongoing.

"The main goal of the ministry and of the whole transformation of Taraclia University is to create a modern and sustainable educational institution in Taraclia for the Bessarabian Bulgarians. This educational institution must meet all modern requirements and at the same time take into account the specificities of the region. The ministry will do its best to allay the concerns of the Bulgarians in Moldova," the release says.

The university's rector, Assoc. Prof. Maria Paslar, told the local online publication tuk.md that in the new academic year 2024-2025, Taraclia University will continue to function as a Moldovan higher education institution, as all procedures for the transition to a Bulgarian affiliate have not yet been completed. The University continues to recruit students for its current programmes.

Currently, Moldova is conducting an application campaign, the second stage of which will end by August 20. This year, enrolment for the first cycle of studies in Moldova's higher education institutions is online.