With a special ceremony Varna University of Management marked the 10th anniversary of the strategic academic collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

For a decade now this collaboration allows Bulgarian and international students to receive innovative education following the British standards here in Bulgaria. As a leading business school in Eastern Europe, Varna University of Management has the exclusive privilege of educating students in programmes leading to not only a Bulgarian but a British higher education diploma as well, without the need for students to travel to the UK.

To celebrate the occasion, Varna University of Management organized a special event attended by a delegation of Cardiff Metropolitan representatives, officials, lecturers, representatives of the business and VUM Alumni community, celebrating the successes of the past decade. Greetings were made by the President of Varna University of Management Assoc. Prof. Todor Radev, the Vice Rector (Research) Prof. Stanislav Ivanov and the Link Tutor of Cardiff Metropolitan University Mr. Nigel Jones. Among the guests were Mr. Krasimir Simov – Honorary Consul of Indonesia and Mrs. Radka Todorova – Head of the Youth Activities Department in Varna Municipality. Greeting addresses were received by Prof. Krassimir Metodiev, MD, PhD, DSc  – Honorary Consul of Israel, Prof. Krasimir Ivanov, MD, PhD, DSc – Rector of the Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov “- Varna and Flotilla Adm. Prof. Boyan Mednikarov, DSc – Rector of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy.

Undoubtedly, the most attractive guest of the event was the robot Nao, who greeted the guests, presented some moments of the development and successes of the cooperation between the two universities and then sang the student anthem Gaudeamus Igitur under the applause of the audience. Unfortunately, he failed to taste the specially crafted cake, which was symbolically cut by Prof. Radev and Mr. Theodore Koukouravas, Head of the Parnership Office at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

The partnership between Varna University of Management and Cardiff Metropolitan University started on June 15, 2009, when the agreement for academic cooperation was signed. Over the years, it has evolved and expanded, delivering tangible results, namely nearly 700 highly educated professionals who are developing dynamically and achieving remarkable professional success worldwide. It is no coincidence that this successful collaboration is recently included as a good practice example in the report of the British Council on the topic of The Shape of global higher education, international comparisons with Europe.

In connection with the 10th anniversary of establishing academic cooperation with Cardiff Metropolitan University, Varna University of Management will also announce a scholarship campaign.