More than 15,000 students are studying at Ovidius University in Constanta, which makes it the largest higher education institution in the EU on the Black Sea, said Prof. Igor Sirodoev during a cross-border conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project. The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Tuesday.
He noted that the university benefits from the advantages of international cooperation, but also faces challenges, such as the development of intercultural competences among students, the harmonization of the education systems between Bulgaria and Romania, as well as the mutual recognition of diplomas.
Sarodoev pointed out that the Ovidius University cooperates with higher education institutions from Bulgaria under the Erasmus+ programme. Among the partner universities are the Trakia University in Stara Zagora, Shumen University, as well as the Technical University in Varna.
Joint projects are also being implemented under several programmes with other organizations, including the Institute of Oceanology in Varna, the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Strandzha Nature Park.
Ovidius University was a partner in five projects under the cross-border programme between Romania and Bulgaria in 2007-2013, Sirodoev said, adding that during the 2014-2020 programming period the university implemented three projects in the field of economic and sustainable development. He also said that the goal is to expand cooperation in other specialties, such as Agriculture, Biology, Geography and Environmental science.
BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy, local achievements, and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities. The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024. The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gabrovo, Dobrich, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Svishtov, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Troyan, Targovishte, Haskovo, Shumen, and Yambol. Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade, Bosilegrad, Bucharest, Edirne, Skopje, and Thessaloniki. The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects, implemented by BTA in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
/MR/
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