Year 2022 at Varna University of Management

Another year has passed… festive decorations, joyful songs, aroma of ginger cookies and hot chocolate… and a time for a year-end review.

Traditionally, at the end of each year, we look back to note what has been done, to celebrate the success, but also to set the new year goals.

For all of us, 2022 was a dynamic year, filled with accomplishments and challenges, with new opportunities and surprises. And counting down the hours to the coming New Year, let us remember to greet each other for the good work and recall some of the most valuable achievements.

As one of the best business schools in Eastern Europe we were continuously developing and meeting the standards of the global higher education. VUM was the only university from Varna and rated 4th place in Bulgaria in the QS EECA University Rankings.  According to Eduniversal Best Masters, the MSc International Hospitality and Tourism Management programme of VUM was ranked 14th worldwide in the Tourism Management field, and the MBA Programme of VUM went up to 3^rd place in Eastern Europe for full-time MBA programmes. This year, VUM was also included in the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities (the Shanghai Ranking), where it was placed in the top 300 of the world’s universities in the field of “Hospitality and Tourism Management”.

This was also the year in which VUM was placed on top by the Ranking system of the higher education institutions in Bulgaria in terms of research in the “Tourism” and “Administration and Management” fields and our Vice Rector (Research) Prof. Stanislav Ivanov for a second consecutive year made us proud with his positioning among the TOP 2% of scientists in the world by the Stanford University ranking. Among all public and private universities in Bulgaria, VUM was ranked 2^nd in the “Administration and Management” field and 3^rd in the field of “Tourism”.

The realization of VUM’s graduates in the “Administration and Management” field is also a reason for pride. The Bulgarian rating shows formidable indicators and excellent positions compared to the average results for the country, namely – according to the criterion “Unemployment among graduates” – 0.45% for VUM compared to 2.36% average value for the professional field in the country, and for “Taxable income of graduates” – BGN 3,748 for VUM compared to BGN 1,903 average value for the professional field in the country.

Just a few days ago, our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University was awarded the prestigious People and Planet’s Green League 2022/23 University of the Year Award for sustainability, which made us extremely proud of our successful collaboration. For 13 years now, this partnership allows Bulgarian and international students to receive innovative education following the British standards here in Bulgaria and gives VUM the exclusive privilege of educating students in programmes leading to not only a Bulgarian degree but a British higher education degree as well, without the need for students to travel to the UK.

In 2022, VUM acquired a new member of its professional team – the humanoid robot Profy. It will be used to train students from various majors – Software Systems and Technologies programme, International Business and Management, International Hotel Management and Hospitality and Culinary Arts.

At the end of September, we started the new academic year welcoming full-time and mobility students from 27 countries on 5 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America). Thus, the international VUM family reached more than 50 nationalities.

And while some were just starting their student’s life, others have successfully completed one of the most important stages in their lifetime. With a formal ceremony, VUM graduated Class of 2022 – the 24^th class of graduates of Varna University of Management and 12th consecutive class of graduates with a second degree by Cardiff Metropolitan University. Among the 2022 graduates, there were representatives from Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Indonesia, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA.

In order to provide an even wider range of educational opportunities to its current and graduated students, in 2022, VUM launched a PhD Programme in the field of Tourism. The term of the doctorate is 3 years for full-time and independent form of study, and 4 years for a part-time form of study. The training can be either in Bulgarian or in English language.

The year was also marked by the outstanding achievements of the Chef instructors and students of Culinary Arts Institute at Varna University of Management. Once again, the young culinary talents impressed the professional jury of the National Culinary Cup of Bulgaria 2022. The CAI students grabbed the first places in the categories “Best Culinary Team” and “Veal” for the “Perfecto” Trophy. The cup for a “Best Culinary Team” was uncompromisingly awarded to the “Gastronomy and Culinary Arts” students – Krassimir Banaliev, Ivan Saramandov and Ivaylo Gaserov with coach Chef Kaloyan Kolev. In the “Veal” category, the Perfecto Cup won Andonia Filumena Tsarvenkova – a 1^st year student in the “Gastronomy and Culinary Arts” programme, with coach Chef Hugues Boutin.

The professionalism of the Chef instructors and the high quality of education provided for students impressed even the world famous Chefs Gianfranco and Anna Chiarini – owners of the first and only restaurant in Bulgaria, contender for the prestigious Michelin star. The Dieci Boutique Chefs were our exclusive guests in January 2022 and together with the CAI team presented a unique 10-course menu, touching the palate and senses like never before… They served for personalities like the Emir of Kuwait, a number of presidential and royal families and other prominent figures in politics and secular life, participated in the opening and management of boutique hotels and restaurants, as well as in the development of over 200 restaurant concepts found in nearly 115 countries, and now they chose to visit us again for three new dinners in February 2023.

So, day after day, step by step, victory after victory, 2022 has passed. The balance points to progress, commitment and willingness to take on new horizons in the coming 2023.

As the Chinese philosopher and politician Confucius said, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” We, the team of Varna University of Management, assure you that we will not stop developing, we will work even more actively and professionally to achieve more and more success together.

We wish you a warm and bright holiday and a successful New Year for 2023!