site.btaSofia University Top-Level Delegation Visits Japan on Academic Exchange Mission

A delegation of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia visited Japan with an aim to promote academic exchange with traditional and new partners. The guests held over 15 working meetings, participated in a Bulgarian studies conference at Osaka University, met with Japanese studies undergraduates from Bulgaria and members of the Bulgarian community in the Far Eastern country, and shared in initiatives organized by the Bulgarian Embassy in Tokyo, the administration of Bulgaria's oldest university reported on Tuesday.

The delegation was led by Rector Georgi Valchev and his deputy Madlen Danova, and also comprised heads of faculties and senior staff of the Japanese Studies Department.

In Tokyo, the visiting academics met with the management of Soka, Seijo, Sophia (Jochi) and Kanda universities. They discussed the possibility to sign new agreements, organize joint study courses and exchange students and teaching staff.

In Kyoto, the delegation visited the University of Foreign Studies for talks about launching Bulgarian language courses.

The guests' itinerary further included a meeting with representatives of the Nichibunken International Research Center for Japanese Studies in Kyoto and the Japan Foundation (Kokusai Koryu Kikin) in Tokyo, the latter of which is a longtime research partner to the Japanese Studies Department at the University of Sofia.

The visiting academics attended the annual meeting of the Japanese-Bulgarian Friendship Association, held at the residence of Bulgarian Ambasssador Marieta Arabadzhieva.

The visit of the University of Sofia delegation to Japan was a milestone in the development of Bulgarian studies in Japan and Japanese studies in Bulgaria, the press release said. It noted that the support provided by government institutions in the two countries is crucial for achieving lasting results.