International Participations of Bulgarian Studies Students from NKUA in Academic Forums and Meetings (April 2026) | Academic Initiatives in Italy and Bulgaria
Over the past two weeks, a group of 17 students from the Department of Russian Language and Literature and Slavic Studies, and the Foreign Language Teaching Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), on the initiative and under the guidance of the lecturer in Bulgarian language, literature, and culture Gentcho Banev, carried out an extensive series of academic events in Italy and Bulgaria. All activities are connected to the GraecoBulgarica project, in which the students actively participate, and which was officially presented during the academic meetings.
The group included undergraduate students, one Master’s student (an alumnus of our Department), one PhD candidate, and one PhD holder. Special recognition goes to the Master’s student and the PhD candidate, who are jointly preparing for the highest language proficiency level – C2 – at the NKUA Foreign Language Teaching Center (Didaskaleio).
First Stop: "Bulgaria in Museums" Seminar in Rome (April 18 – 19)
The beginning of this rich program took place in the Italian capital. Five of our students had the honor of attending as special guests at a seminar bringing together scholars and experts from Italy and Bulgaria. Within the panel "Bulgarian-Greek Cultural Bridges - Edu Programs & Games", the group presented their original educational resources, focusing on the philosophical and historical conceptualization of freedom. The core idea was developed across three thematic axes connecting Bulgarian and Greek history:
* The freedom to choose compatriots – explored through the story of Hadjichristos the Bulgarian in Nafplio.
* The freedom to love the Other – viewed through the prism of diplomat and writer Dimitar Shishmanov in Athens.
* The freedom to seek the truth – through the history and monuments of Epidaurus.
Main Highlight: Erasmus+ (BIP) Program in Bulgaria (April 20 – 24)
The next stage of the trip encompassed the intensive mobility under the program Language Policy and International Diplomacy, in which the entire group of 17 students participated. The project was implemented in close cooperation with partner teams from the University of Craiova (Romania), Gelişim University in Istanbul (Turkey), and Chouaib Doukkali University in El Jadida (Morocco).
The event was hosted by Veliko Tarnovo University, where the group received an exceptionally warm welcome from the Vice-Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boryana Bratanova (the main driving force behind the initiative), the Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polina Tsoncheva, and Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Vesela Todorova. As part of the academic program in Veliko Tarnovo, lecturer Guentcho Banev delivered a lecture and conducted a workshop titled "The Bulgarian Language Lectureship in Athens in the Context of Cultural Diplomacy".
The concluding part of the seminar took place at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, under the leadership of its Director, Ms. Tanya Mihaylova. The students attended specialized lectures by Ambassadors Emilia Kraleva, Yanko Yordanov, and Angel Orbétsov. They actively participated in the discussions and had the opportunity to converse personally with Ambassador Kraleva, who possesses an excellent knowledge of Athens and Greek-Bulgarian diplomatic relations.
Special Visit to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA)
Outside the scope of the Erasmus+ program, on their own exclusive initiative, the group organized and carried out a highly constructive visit to the BTA. The meeting was made possible thanks to Director General Kiril Valchev and the agency's correspondent in Athens, Ivan Lazarov. The students were warmly received by Deputy Director Evgenia Drumeva, while Desislava Sevova guided them through the agency's rich documentary archives. The discussion with colleague Petar Kadrev from the "Balkans" Directorate, which was also conducted in Greek, practically highlighted the importance of communication and linguistic bridges in neighborly relations.
Scientific Conference in Plovdiv: 150 Years Since the April Uprising (April 20 – 21)
Parallel to the mobility program, the academic presence of the University of Athens was strongly represented at the major national conference with international participation, "1876 – Bulgaria's Phoenix Year," hosted by Plovdiv University. The forum brought together 58 participants from more than 15 universities and research institutions from a total of 8 countries.
During the international scientific conference "1876 – Bulgaria's Phoenix Year" held in Plovdiv (April 20 – 21), the team participated remotely with three independent papers followed by an academic discussion. Lecturer Gentcho Banev spoke on the rescue of Bulgarian children in 1878, PhD candidate Stylianos Kapatos examined the April Uprising through the lens of Greek historiography, and Konstantina Ksiarchou analyzed the Greek translation of the novel "Under the Yoke." It was particularly valuable for the young researchers to present their studies before the international academic community.
Cultural and Nature Program
Alongside their academic commitments, the students experienced Bulgarian art and nature firsthand. In Veliko Tarnovo, they attended a performance of "The Gerak Family" by Elin Pelin (produced by the Ruse Theatre), an author from their curriculum. The play left a profound impact on them, sparking engaging discussions. The hosts also organized a wonderful tour of the historical landmarks of Tarnovo, Tsarevets Hill, and the picturesque village of Arbanasi. The program also included a hike to the "Golden Bridges" on Vitosha Mountain, where they held a literary reading in the heart of nature, featuring works about the mountain and texts by Bulgarian writers (Ivan Vazov, Dimitar Shishmanov, Hristo Fotev, and others).
~~~
This multifaceted activity not only enriches the students' academic profiles but also firmly establishes the role of the Lectureship in Bulgarian Language, Literature, and Culture at NKUA as a dynamic hub and an active participant in the international scientific, diplomatic, and cultural dialogue.