Former Vice President of Sofia University Visits GDUFS

On the morning of March 7, Maria Stoicheva, former Vice President of Bulgaria’s Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, visited Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). Vice President Shen Minghao welcomed her in the VIP Hall of the Administration Building of the Baiyun Mountain Campus. The discussions focused on strengthening higher education cooperation, cultural exchanges, and academic research.

Discussion Highlights

Vice President Shen introduced GDUFS’s educational philosophy and internationalization efforts, highlighting the development of the Bulgarian language program. He noted that the program, launched in 2024, is the first undergraduate program of its kind in South China approved by the Ministry of Education, aiming to cultivate high-caliber, interdisciplinary talent. Shen also introduced the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies (GIIS), emphasizing its role in supporting national strategies and regional cooperation. He recalled the longstanding partnership between GDUFS and Bulgarian institutions, which began in 2016 with a Memorandum of Understanding. Since then, both sides have collaborated on faculty exchange, joint research, and student programs. Shen proposed expanding cooperation in faculty exchange, cultural studies, and academic research while strengthening academic ties with leading European universities, including Sofia University, to provide intellectual support for Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area’s high-quality development.

Maria Stoicheva noted Sofia University is Bulgaria’s oldest and largest university and has maintained a long-standing partnership with GDUFS, and expressed great anticipation for future collaboration between the two universities. She praised GDUFS’s Bulgarian language program for its contribution to language and cultural exchanges. She also introduced Sofia University’s Chinese Studies programs, hoping to build on the foundation to deepen collaboration and elevate Bulgaria-China educational and cultural exchanges to new heights.

Group Photo

Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and GIIS were also present at the meeting.