New Horizons of Cooperation with Leading Schools of European Universities
During the spring holidays, Associate Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Natalia Em, visited Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in Bulgaria ( https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university ) as part of the Summit Program for Supporting the Mobility of Academic Staff. The purpose of the visit was to establish cooperation with the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology of the university. She was welcomed by the faculty members, led by the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Gergana Petkova.
Sofia University: Bulgaria’s Leading Educational Institution
Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is the oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in Bulgaria. It was founded in 1888 and named after St. Kliment Ohridski, a patron of education and enlightenment in Bulgaria. Located in the heart of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, it is recognized as one of the country’s leading educational institutions.
The university has international recognition and accreditation, making its diplomas and qualifications widely acknowledged across many countries worldwide.
Strengthening Academic Cooperation Between KazNU and Sofia University
The Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology at Sofia University shares many similarities with the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Both faculties offer courses in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Arabic, and other Eastern languages. Additionally, the accreditation process at Sofia University aligns with the criteria of accreditation agencies that KazNU collaborates with.
As a result of the visit, agreements were reached regarding doctoral and master’s programs in “Oriental Studies” and “Foreign Philology: Eastern Languages”. During the meeting, joint master’s degree programs in Turkish language studies were also discussed and agreed upon.
Furthermore, an Al-Farabi Center has been established at Sofia University, and the introduction of Kazakh language courses is planned. In this regard, a series of events aimed at promoting the Kazakh language in Bulgaria is scheduled.
Future Cooperation and Initiatives
As part of this collaboration, the following initiatives have been launched:
Summer and winter schools for students;
Virtual platforms for scientific seminars for master’s and doctoral students;
Events to promote the Kazakh language in Bulgaria.
The exchange of experience and new prospects for academic cooperation received strong support from a broad audience during meetings at the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
