Stand up for your autonomy and independence - both yours and that of the universities. With these words, the Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Sergey Ignatov, addressed the participants in the General Assembly of the National Representation of Student Councils in the Republic of Bulgaria. The Forum is the highest body of the organization. It puts an end to the 2024-2026 mandate and outlines the direction of development of the student representation for the period 2026-2028.
“The foundations of the country's public life are laid in universities. We can even say that the state of society depends on the activity of universities and the young people in them“, said Prof. Sergey Ignatov. In his words, public life in higher education institutions is even more important than education in them. “Part of the meaning of being at a university is to have this civic activity and to be part of a whole“, he emphasized and added that the protection of university autonomy is the most important long-term priority.
Prof. Ignatov thanked for the invitation to be part of the students' forum and added that he had always strived to have an active dialogue with them - both as a university lecturer and as a minister. “During my previous mandate, together with the National Student Council, we organized a number of discussions throughout the country and their proposals were enshrined in the largest legislative changes in the system. So we have made all the significant reforms together and in active dialogue“, he added. The minister emphasized that the activities of student councils also have a direct impact on the quality of education and called on them to be active, demanding and upholding their principles. “You will hear that the young people do not understand anything, but do not forget that the world belongs to the young“, Prof. Ignatov addressed them.
The Rector of the National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Krassimir Petkov, congratulated the students and emphasized that the doors of the Academy are always open for their national meetings. He emphasized that the higher education institution works in close coordination with student organizations and called on them to demand and defend their position with arguments and facts.
The Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences, Angel Stoykov, thanked for the trust in the past years and emphasized that the foundations of important changes have been laid, which will be built on in the coming months.
The report on the activities of the National Academy of Sciences for the past term 2024-2026 will be presented during today's meeting, as well as the report of the Control Council, which will provide a comprehensive assessment of the results achieved, the implemented initiatives and the policies pursued. The election of a new chairman of the NPSS, as well as members of the Executive and Control Councils for the term 2026-2028, is planned.