Bulgaria and Morocco to Strengthen Cooperation in Higher Education and Science

Bulgaria and Morocco will strengthen their cooperation in the field of higher education and science, including by expanding the exchange of students and lecturers between the two countries. The issue was discussed at a meeting between Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Acad. Nikolay Vitanov with the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Morocco, Prof. Azzedine El Midaoui, in Rabat, the Bulgarian Education Ministry reported Friday. 

The meeting was also attended by the Rector of “St. Kliment Ohridski” Sofia University, Prof. Georgi Valchev, the Rector of the Thracian University in Stara Zagora, Prof. Dobri Yarkov and the Vice Rector of the Medical University in Plovdiv, Prof. Veselina Goranova. They announced their desire to expand the exchange of students between the two countries, and the issue of recognition of partial studies in the other country was raised, similar to the model in the Erasmus programme. The three Bulgarian universities are also exploring opportunities for study abroad. Currently 17 students from Morocco are studying in Bulgarian universities.

From the Moroccan side, it was emphasized that many Bulgarian teachers have worked successfully in Morocco in the past, especially in mathematics and science, as well as in the field of vocational education. A wish was expressed to restore this cooperation in the future.

Acad. Vitanov conveyed an invitation from the Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science, Krasimir Valchev, to his Moroccan counterpart to visit Bulgaria. Minister Azzedine El Midaoui accepted the invitation with gratitude and said that he would organize a visit to Bulgaria, and will include in his delegation rectors and vice-rectors from the largest universities in Morocco. The country has 12 public universities and as many private ones, which educate about 1 million students, the Moroccan Education Minister said. He also invited Minister Krasimir Valchev to visit Morocco at a time convenient for him.

During its visit, the Bulgarian delegation visited two of the most prestigious universities: the Mohammed V University and the International University of Rabat, as well as the CNRST Academic Centre. Both universities have impressive scientific achievements and a significant number of patents.

The meetings of the Bulgarian delegation were also attended by the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Morocco, Plamen Tsolov, the Director of the Information Centre for Higher Education of Bulgaria in Rabat Dimitar Tsikandelov, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the Medical University in Plovdiv Prof. Elena Firkova and the coordinator of the activities of Bulgarian universities in Morocco and former rector of Sofia University Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov.

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