The General Assembly of the University with a term of office 2024-2028, was held on 21 March at MU-Varna, under the following agenda: Report by the Rector comprising the period March 2024 - March 2025, presentation of the statement of the Control Council on the implementation of Budget 2024 and Draft Budget 2025 and the Report on the activities performed at MU-Varna, the Annual Report of the Academic Ombudsman, update of the composition of the Academic Council and election of a new Chairperson of the Control Council. The meeting was held pursuant to Art. 28, para 1 of the Higher Education Act, Art. 45, para 1 of the Regulations on Educational Affairs at MU-Varna and Decision of the Academic Council of 3rd February 2025.
The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Raykov reported excellent indicators in the academic activities - growth of the enrolled Bulgarian and foreign students for the academic year 2024/2025, successful fulfilment of the state admission places under a very high competition for the most desired programmes of study. A total of 6 630 students are trained at the University in 32 programmes in Bulgarian and four programmes in English. The Bulgarian students are 4 711 (71%), while the foreign students are 1 919 (29%) from 53 countries.
During the new academic year MU-Varna welcomed the first classes of the new Master's programmes Kinesitherapy, Electronic and Information Technologies in Health – in Bulgarian, and Artificial Intelligence in Biomedicine and Artificial Intelligence in Health – in English. First-year students from South Korea and Brazil have joined the large multinational academic community of the University for the first time. A total of 1 335 alumni in a variety of programmes graduated from the University Class of 2024, including 269 international graduates from 19 countries.
“MU-Varna has been developing as a leading educational, research, technological, expert and socially responsible centre among the higher education institutions in Bulgaria," emphasised Prof. Raykov. “Modern technologies have been applied in the process of education, such as electronic virtual microscopy, modelling by 3D scanner and 3D printer, robotic surgery for training students and postgraduates, real-time video links between the operating and training rooms, simulation training. The University continues to develop information-communication and innovative educational technologies. The website of MU-Varna has been completely updated - through a new mobile version, virtual tour, modernisation of the applicant's electronic platform, three-language student admission platform, courses and entrance exams in an electronic environment, new software for tracking the academic and career development of undergraduate and doctoral students."
The Rector reported sustainable financial indicators. In 2024 the subsidy from the state budget amounted to BGN 48 794 695, for maintenance of education – BGN 42 817 526, own incomes, grants and donations – BGN 44 695 906, scholarships paid to undergraduate students – BGN 1 358 600, to doctoral students – BGN 2 211 998. The University employs 1 494 lecturers and non-academic staff. The average gross salary is BGN 4 299. The basic monthly remuneration in 2024 was increased as follows: in May (effective as of 1st January 2024) – by BGN 290 for the academic staff and by 12 % for the non-academic staff; in September (effective as of 1st April 2024) – by BGN 202 for those holding the academic position of Assistant Professor. The scholarships paid to undergraduate and doctoral students amounted to BGN 3 570 598. For the first time MU-Varna launches doctoral programmes in English in ten specialisations from autumn 2025. Six new ones in Bulgarian are to be launched as well.
Prof. Raikov underscored that the capital investments for 2024 amounted to BGN 6 666 320, and they were implemented in new highly specialised equipment, modernisation of the material and technical facilities, renovation of the educational and practical facilities, research laboratories, etc.
Twenty-one projects are ongoing within the Project Activities direction. They are implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Operational Programme “Science and Education for Smart Growth", the European Commission, the “Education 2021-2027" Programme, the Research Fund, with proceeds amounting to BGN 6 246 387. The number of ongoing projects under the Science Fund is 89. Twenty-five project proposals have been approved for funding, 15 doctoral projects have been subsidised as a priority. Nineteen researchers were financially supported under the programmes of the Ministry of Education and Science “Young Scientists and Post-doctoral Fellows -2". 263 authors of 271 scientific publications have been funded under the programme aimed to induce the publication activity of the scientific research staff and increase the number of scientific publications in authoritative scientific journals, referenced or indexed in the global databases Web of Science or Scopus.
The involvement in programmes such as Erasmus+, EU4Health and Horizon Europe has been successfully implemented through projects in the field of Oncology, Dental Medicine and Biotechnology. MU-Varna is now an associate member of the European Brain ReseArch INfrastructureS (EBRAINS), which enables the University to support research in the field of Neuroscience, Rare Diseases, Genetics and Oncology.
Throughout the reporting period, MU-Varna, in the face of numerous scientists, lecturers and students, has won prestigious awards and recognition in the fields of Humanities, Medicine, Public Health and Sports.
Prof. Raykov concluded his report by expressing gratitude to the entire academic, administrative and management team of MU-Varna for their good work and professionalism.
The General Assembly adopted the Report of the Rector by a full majority. The statement of the Control Council on the implementation of Budget 2024 and Draft Budget 2025, and the Annual Report of the Academic Ombudsman were also adopted. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Dobrilov is the new Chairperson of the Control Council. Furthermore, new members of the Academic Council were also elected.
