site.btaUniversities in Bulgaria and Macedonia Step Up Cooperation

115 POLITICS - BULGARIA - MACEDONIA - UNIVERSITIES

Universities in Bulgaria
and Macedonia Step Up
Cooperation


Veliko Turnovo, Northern Bulgaria, August 7 (BTA) - The University of Veliko Turnovo in Bulgaria and the International Slavic University in Macedonia signed two annexes to their 2016 cooperation agreement, the Bulgarian institution reported on Tuesday.

One of the annexes stipulates joint training of undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral candidates under common programmes. The other one envisages that the International Slavic University in Macedonia will provide its premises and facilities in Sveti Nikole and Bitola for use by the University of Veliko Turnovo, which is planning to establish a branch in Macedonia.

The University of Veliko Turnovo has applied for accreditation in Macedonia for an initial set of three correspondence courses towards a master's degree: English linguistics, regional development, and applied computer sciences. The project will also be submitted to the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science for approval. Student recruitment will begin after the project is approved by both governments. The programmes are expected to attract not only Macedonians but also citizens of other Balkan countries.

If everything goes according to plan, the University of Veliko Turnovo will become the first Bulgarian university to set up a legitimate branch abroad. It is noteworthy that the branch will be in Macedonia, a neighbour whose relations with Bulgaria have deepened and improved substantially over the last year. The University of Veliko Turnovo and the International Slavic University in Macedonia want to contribute to this upward trend in bilateral relations and Balkan ties in general, the press release said. SN/VE
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