Varna University of Management (VUM), represented by Vice President Vanina Valcheva, took part in the Cardiff Metropolitan University Partner Conference 2026, held in Cardiff on 10–11 September.
VUM and Cardiff Metropolitan University have been partners since 2009, with their cooperation developing over more than 15 years through joint academic provision, quality assurance, and continuous collaboration between academic and administrative teams.
This year’s conference was held under the theme ‘Innovating Through Collaboration: Building Trust and Strengthening Cross-Border Partnerships’. The event brought together representatives of Cardiff Met’s international partner institutions to discuss current topics and challenges in transnational education.
Discussions addressed key issues in contemporary transnational education (TNE), including equitable international partnerships, workforce development, trust in TNE, digital transformation, student belonging, and navigating different educational and quality assurance systems.
Working Meetings and Opportunities for Further Partnership Development
As part of the conference, working meetings were held with the Cardiff Met team responsible for international partnerships, including its collaboration with VUM. Discussions focused on ongoing activities between the two universities and opportunities for the further development of their long-standing partnership.
The conference also offered an opportunity to exchange experience with representatives of Cardiff Met partner institutions from different countries and to discuss common challenges and developments in international higher education.
‘Our partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University has developed over many years, and direct communication between our teams remains extremely important. The Partner Conference was a valuable opportunity both to discuss our ongoing cooperation with Cardiff Met colleagues and to exchange experience with other international partners,’ said Vanina Valcheva, Vice President of VUM.
The conference concluded with remarks by Prof. Rachael Langford, President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, highlighting the importance of strong international partnerships and continued collaboration across Cardiff Met’s global network.
