South-West University "Neofit Rilski"

Information about the organisation: 
South-West University “Neofit Rilski” is a state-owned higher education institution, established and functioning by virtue of property and an annual state subsidy secured by the government. The University operates in compliance with all state regulations. It was established in 1975 as an affiliate of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. In 1983 it was officially decreed as an autonomous higher education institution under the name Higher Education Pedagogical Institute. In 1995 with an Act of the Bulgarian Parliament it was given the status of a university under the name South-West University “Neofit Rilski”. Currently, the University has 9 faculties providing modern education in 71 Bachelor Degree Programs, 97 Master Degree Programs and 71 Doctoral Degree Programs in the following areas of higher education: Education; Humanities; Social sciences, Economics and Law; Natural sciences, Mathematics and Informatics; Technics and Engineering; Public Health and Sports; Art; Security and Defence. More than 14 000 students pursue their studies at the South-West University (more than 800 of them are foreign students). The number of the teaching staff and researchers is more than 500. The University has developed and applies an Educational Quality Evaluation System, aprroved by Decision of the Academic Council of the University. The South-West University actively participates and implements projects within educational and research national and international programs –Erasmus+, EEA Grants, Fulbright, COST, Horizon 2020, European Territorial Cooperation Programs, EU Structural Funds, etc.
Contact person: 
Prof. Ivanka Vlaeva
E-mail: 
vlaeva@swu.bg
Telephone: 
0889108717
Priority: 
2.1 Enhancing the tourism potential of the region through cooperation initiatives in better preservation and sustainable utilization of natural and cultural heritage
Short description of the project idea: 
• Restoration of 2 monuments of the tangible cultural heritage - one in Macedonia and one in Bulgaria • Research, documentation, revitalization and reconstruction of the intangible cultural heritage, training and know-how exchange • Field research of the tangible heritage: valuable architectural buildings, frescoes, carvings and sculptures in the cross-border region • Establishment of a network - an electronic platform, aimed at creating sustainable effect in the field of tourism • Sustainable use of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage • Presentation of some traditional practices as a tourist product - through performances, reconstructing traditional cultural practices (revitalization and upgrading rituals); creating tourist attractions • Achieving a direct overall cross-border sustainable impact in the field of tourism