The CMS Collaboration awarded its annual prizes for outstanding contributions to young scholars for the implementation of the 2017 research program. Amongst them are two representatives of Sofia University – Todor Ivanov and Petur Tsrunchev.

The person in charge of the Ruling Body of the Science and Education for Educational Growth 2014-2020 Program approved the report of the evaluation commission for the appraisal and the rating of project proposals subject to selection BG05M2OP001-1.001 “Building and Development of Centers for Top Achievements”.

At a ceremony organized by 24 Hours daily for the second time the awards to the best universities were presented. They were chosen on the basis of their position in the Rating System of the high academic institutions in this country.

A renown scholar in the field of conflict analysis, communal identities, violence and terrorism, an exceptional person and a precious friend of Bulgaria, Prof. Ted Robert Gurr, passed away in late 2017 at the age of 81. Distinguished University of Maryland Professor Emeritus, Prof. Ted Robert Gurr is the author of the award-winning books, Why Men Rebel (Princeton, 1970, 40th anniversary edition 2010); and Violence In America (Bantam Books, and Praeger, 1969; Sage Publications, 1979 and 1989 eds.). He is the Founder and consultant to the Minorities at Risk project (1985), and the Polity project (late 1960s); and Collaborator on the START project Turning to Terrorism: Ethnic, Religious and Extremist Organizations.

The Erasmus + Program was presented at Sofia University. In the Central Foyer the students had the opportunity to visit stands where they obtained information about partnering universities.

Sofia University Confucius Institute is amongst the 25 establishments awarded the honorary prize of “Excellent Institute for the Year of 2017” out of 525 institutes worldwide.

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” comes first in 23 out of 27 subjects taught to students in the seventh consecutive edition of the Rating System of the High Academic Institutions in Bulgaria which included updated information for 2017. Alma mater is positioned first in the subjects of Economics, and Administration and Management. For its first year the University is placed first in Health Care.

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” has kept its position among the best universities in the 2017 CWUR (Center for World University Rankings) released on 16^th October, 2017 and of the 2018 QS EECA Region University Rankings.

The academic 2017/2018 year of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was officially opened with a solemn ceremony at the Aula magna. Following tradition, at the beginning of the celebration, the Rector and the Academic Council laid flowers to the monuments of the donors, Evlogi Georgiev and Christo Georgiev.

Guest of the official opening of the academic year was the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Roumen Radev.

Patent № 7/ 31.07.2017 of the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria was issued for Invention № 66590 “Content for the Production of Construction Materials”. The invention has been made by a team from the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy at Sofia University led by Alexander Lenchev.

In an article published in one of the most prestigious scientific journals, Nature Materials, scientists from the University of Caen, France, and from Sofia University report on the synthesis and the comprehensive characterization of zeolites devoid of any structural defects through the introduction of tungsten.

Professor Dr habil Anastas Gerdzhikov says: “The book will disappear us when our appreciation of letters leaves our hearts.“

On May 19^th, on the initiative of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), in Beijing a Memorandum for the establishment of a Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities was signed.

Since April, 2017, Bulgarian language has been included in the bilingualism syllabus of Illinois, USA. Administering the examinations for the students attending the Bulgarian Sunday schools was delegated to the Department of Language Teaching at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

Professor Dr Todor Dudev and Professor Dr Ivo Grabchev are this year’s winners as distinguished scholars in the domain of the natural engineering sciences. Professor Dudev holds the Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Applied Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy and Professor Grabchev is the head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physiology and Pathophysiology at the Faculty of Medicine of Sofia University.

The Philology Library hosted the presentation of the third expansion phase of the Zograph digital scientific and research library. The new acquisitions of the library include six digitalized manuscripts from the St. Dionysius Monastery on Mount Athos and 20 manuscripts from the Troyan Monastery. The event was organized by the University Library and was part of the traditional Sofia University May Days programme.

Professor Thierry de Montbrial was conferred Doctor honoris causa of Sofia University “St. KLiment Ohridski” at a solemn ceremony at the Aula magna of the University.

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” hosted the biggest EU Central and Eastern Europe Moot Court Competition. The final phase of the competition was in Lecture Theatre 272 of the Rectorate and consisted of two parts – preliminary written submissions and oral pleadings. The first place went to our Alma mater’s team including Zlatina Gadzheva, Mariela Bogdanova, Ana Petrova and Alexander Leshev. Their coaches were Stilyana Ivanova and Tsvetelina Bayraktarova.

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” hosted the Third Annual Conference of the Association of Balkan Universities. The organization, set up in 2008, includes 59 high academic institutions from all Balkan countries. Professor Ivan Ilchev, former Rector of Sofia University, 2007-2015, in 2016 took over the chairpersonship of the Association for a year.

Sofia University Rector Professor Dr. Habil. Anastas Gerdzhikov met the Director General of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Professor Fabiola Gianotti. Professor Gianotti is currently on a visit to this country on the invitation of the Minister of Education and Science Professor Nikolay Denkov.

The Aula Magna of Sofia University hosted a special meeting dedicated to the 30ieth anniversary of the establishment of the Erasmus Program. The event was organized by the Human Resources Development Center jointly with the Council of Rectors.

Sofia University Faculty of Law students won second place in the prestigious pleading competition on the European Human Rights Convention. The Sofia University team won the prize for the best written statement on behalf of the defendant government as a response to a complaint lodged with the European Court of Human Rights.

A newly-discovered mineral K-Mg arfvedsonite, recently discovered by Dr Momchil Dyulgerov, Senior Assistant Professor at the Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Ores and Minerals at the Faculty of Geology and Geography, was presented at the Museum of Mineralogy, Petrology and Ores and Minerals at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The event was part of a series of occasions marking the 125^th anniversary of the Museum which is to be celebrated in 2017.

The Te(a)chIn Sport Project, financed by the Erasmus + SPORT at the EC Program, was launched with Sofia University being a leading institution in it. The project was presented at a conference held at Alma mater. Its objective was to stimulate the practising of sports on a large scale byamongst students and youngsters, to enhance their informational awareness, the use of new technologies and their participation in volunteers’ initiatives.

The National Agency Evaluation and Accreditation Agency gave a positive grade of the distance learning environment at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The Information and Communication Technology in Education Masters’ Program, run by the Faculty of Education, was also accredited. The two-term MA Program of distance learning will commence students’ admission in the autumn of 2017.

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is included in the listing of yet another prestigious international ranking of the top research academic institutions. In the ranking released late last night by the Times Higher Education, the 2017 BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings rate the most highly reputable Bulgarian higher academic institution in the 201-250 position cohort. Earlier in the year Sofia University was included in the World University Rankings for the first time by the Times Higher Education (THE).

The new academic year 2016/2017 was officially opened at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. According to tradition, at the beginning of the solemn ceremony the Rector of Sofia University and the members of the Academic Council of Alma mater laid flowers at the monuments of Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev.

It is the first time in the history of the prestigious THE rating that Sofia University has been included. Sofia University is among the top 800 in the "801+" group, and is the only Bulgarian academic institution to be part of the list.

For fifth consecutive year the oldest and most reputable high academic institution in this country has kept its position among the most prestigious universities of the world. Alma mater is the only Bulgarian high academic institution, which has been listed in the prestigious rating since 2012.

Georgi Boshev, a native to the town of Nesebur and a VIth form student at the Geo Milev Burgas English Language School, scored first in the Microsoft Office World Wide Championship, 2016, held in Orlando, Florida, 7 -- 11 August, 2016. He won in the competition with 400 000 participants from more than 130 countries.

A students’ discussion on the topic “Bulgaria and Germany – Partners in Europe” was held with the Presidents of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Bulgaria, Joachim Gauck and Rosen Plevneliev, at the Aula magna of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridskki”. The event was organized as part of the state visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Joachim Gauck, to this country.

The Student Number One of the Year Winners of Sofia University were awarded their prizes at a solemn ceremony at Aula magna of Sofia University.

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission for 2004 – 2014, delivered a public lecture on “The Digital Citizens of Europe and the World” at Aula magna of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

On the invitation of the Students’ Council of Sofia University and the Students’ Club of the Political Scientist the Bulgarian head of state participated in a discussion held at Sofia University.

At a solemn ceremony held at the Aula magna of the University Professor Dr Habil Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, conferred a Doctor honoris causa degree of the University of Sofia “St. Kliment Ohridski” on Mr Yohei Sasakawa, Chairperson of The Nippon Foundation.

In a solemn ceremony at Aula magna of Sofia University Professor Donka Minkova of UCLA, USA, was conferred a Doctor honoris causa degree by Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

On the day of the feast of the holy brothers S.S. Cyril and Methodius the Philological Library opened the enriched with 164 Slavonic manuscripts digital research library “Zographos”. 120 new, uncatalogued Slavonic MSs were presented by the Zographos Monasery of St.George Library, and the National Museum of History presented its own collection of 44 Slavonic MSs.

Professor Timothy Rice was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor honoris causa at a solemn ceremony at Aula magna at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The proposal for conferring the honorary title by the oldest and most prestigious high academic institution in this country came from the Faculty of History at the University.

The President of the Republic of Croatia Her Excellency Ms Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović delivered a public lecture on “All We Must Be United at the Table of Solidarity” at the Aula-magna of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

The President of Croatia is on an official visit to this country on the invitation by the President of Bulgaria.

A solemn ceremony was held at Aula magna of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in which Professor Giuseppe Consolo was conferred a Doctor honoris causa degree. The proposal for the conferral of the honorary degree by the oldest and most prestigious higher academic institution in this country came from the Faculty of Law.

The official opening of the TV studio complex, built with the financial support of Georgi Vasilev and “Studia Transmedia”, took place at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

Aula magna of Sofia University hosted a public lecture on the topic of “the Seven Pillars of the Revolution of Knowledge” delivered by Dr Ismail Serageldin, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Earlier, he had a meeting with Professor DHabil. Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of Sofia University. Dr Serageldin expressed his joy at the possibility of visiting the oldest high academic establishment in this country and said that it was an honor for him to give a lecture at the University.

The annual celebration marking the Chinese New Year took place at the Confucius Institute at Sofia University. According to the Chinese tradition the year of 2016 is the year of the Red (fiery) monkey and it formally starts on 8^th February.

Aula magna of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” hosted the ceremony of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event was attended by Professor DHabil. Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of Sofia University, Mrs Tsetska Tsacheva, Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr Roumen Alexandrov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Mrs Irit Lilian, Ambassadress of the Republic of Israel to this country, members of the diplomatic corps, faculty and students.

Professor Anastas Gerdzhikov, Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and Ms Ivelina Vasileva, Minister of Environment and Water, signed an agreement for cooperation in the domain of conservation of plant species and plant genetic resources.