This article is based on the experiences from the INVEST and INVEST4EXCELLENCE project trip to Plovdiv, Bulgaria in June 2024. It gives a special highlight to Karelia University of Applied Sciences’ Bulgarian partner University of Agribusiness and Regional Development (UARD). The article introduces UARD as an organisation, the regional characteristics of Plovdiv and presents the current collaboration goals and activities in education and RDI in INVEST and INVEST4EXCELLENCE projects.
INVEST and INVEST4EXCELLENCE projects
From the beginning of 2024, the INVEST European University Alliance is on its second ERASMUS+ project funding period lasting 4 years. The INVEST alliance constitutes seven partner universities: Slovak University of Agriculture (SUA) in Nitra, Slovakia, the University of Agribusiness and Rural Development (UARD) in Plovdiv, Bulgaria the University of Thessaly (UTH) in Volos, Greece, Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Joensuu, Finland, the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) in Reims, France. the University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB) in Milan, Italy, and the University of Cordoba (UCO) in Cordoba, Spain.
The three strategic pillars of the consortium include enhancing regional transformation, ecosystems and entrepreneurship, fostering flexible education and work-based pedagogy, and establishing the Centre of Excellence in RDI. The consortium strives to reach high quality and excellence in education and research by strengthening the link between education, research and innovation, facilitating effective knowledge transfer internationally and regionally and encouraging mobility. Through international collaboration, it focuses on regional transformation by fostering the knowledge, skills, and attitudes supporting sustainable development.
INVEST4EXCELLENCE is a 3-year project funded by Horizon2020 Science with and for Society Programme (SwafS). It focuses on expanding the RDI capacity of the alliance by establishing joint strategies and practices for RDI collaboration. The project is in its finishing phase and will be completed at the end of September 2024.
UARD – Agriculture and Regional Development
UARD is one of the largest private universities in Bulgaria. It was established in 1992. The project meetings were arranged on the campus of UARD which features a green campus garden. At the time of our meeting, the campus area was under construction to receive a new administrative building in the future.
As a university, UARD is specialised in educating students in agribusiness and rural regional development. As an institution, it is has been involved in international and regional exchange in the thematic areas of sustainable regional development, ecological and organic agricultural production, management and entrepreneurship, organic food retailing, ecological plant and animal food production and transfer of innovative technologies for SMEs (small and mediums sized enterprises). Within the INVEST alliance, UARD’s expertise in agriculture and food production provides significant advantages to the partners in the advancement of both RDI and education.
Plovdiv and its surrounding area
UARD is located in Plovdiv, southern Bulgaria. It is the second-largest city in Bulgaria located on the river Maritsa and surrounded by foresty hills. As one of the oldest still habited cities in Europe, it holds a rich and diverse ethnic and cultural history dating back to 6000 BC. The centre of the city has a modern façade that meets the excavations of historical ruins along the main pedestrian street. The city boasts with a great variety of museums that provide access to the history of the city from different eras. As a hub for educational life, Plovdiv is a vibrant student city with a wide higher education sector encompassing eight universities.
As part of the project meeting program, UARD organised a regional excursion to the city of Asenovgrad and Bachkovo monastery. The orthodox monastery is situated in the hilly area 30 kilometres from Plovdiv and represents one of the area’s culturally and religiously significant attractions.
Living Labs and Regional Collaboration in RDI
Within RDI, UARD fosters long-term and innovative stakeholder relationships that involve local businesses, consumers, government, research associates, UARD personnel and students. Under the INVEST initiative, UARD has launched a regional Living Lab in the South-Central Region. By investigating regional challenges and opportunities, it aims to provide solutions promoting the quality of life, business, entrepreneurship, tourism, regional information exchange, public regional services, regional sustainability and preservation of the natural and cultural heritage in the Plovdiv area.
In the context of regional development and Living Labs, UARD co-operates closely with the regional business development agencies. As an example of this, the I4E meeting program included a guided tour to RDA BSC SMEs (Regional Development Agency with Business Support Centre for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Plovdiv, Bulgaria). The centre is in the industrial area of Plovdiv and provides local companies with business advisory and consulting services and organises training, exhibitions, seminars and conferences. It collaborates with UARD and regional stakeholders to develop the regional Living Labs. As an example of a living lab, The Virtual Laboratory for Family Business and Family Business Transfer and Succession focuses on the inheritance and transfer of family farm businesses specialised in organic production.
INVEST and INVEST4EXCELLENCE Steering Committee Meetings
In June 2024, the team members of INVEST and INVEST4EXCELLENCE projects gathered in Plovdiv, Bulgaria at the University of Agribusiness and Regional Development (UARD) for steering committee meetings. INVEST Steering Committee meetings were attended by INVEST local coordinators, work package leaders and other key administrative personnel from six partner universities. The I4E project meeting was led by the coordinator Slovak University of Agriculture. At the meeting, representatives from three partner universities were present.
For the INVEST 2.0 project, the two-day meeting agenda included progress reports from each work package, discussions on the advancement of governance structure and collaboration, quality assurance processes and INVEST educational programs. The meetings covered planning of upcoming INVEST summer and winter schools and the Rectors’ Assembly meetings. The coordinator and partner universities also addressed administrative and budgetary matters with scheduled bilateral consultations.
For the INVEST4EXCELLENCE project, the steering committee meeting’s goal was to review the status of project outputs for each partner and to provide instructions for the final reporting tasks of the project. Additionally, the UARD presented the initial proposal of Science4Regions network aiming to widen the collaboration opportunities with other university alliances in Europe. The network will be planned further and launched during the autumn of 2024.
For both projects, the event programme outside meetings incorporated social gatherings at local restaurants which involved informal discussions and networking among the participants.
Author:
Tiina Muhonen, Project Specialist, Karelia UAS
References:
Bachkovo Monastery. 2024. Homepage. http://www.bachkovskimanastir.com/en/
INVEST European University Alliance. 2024. Homepage. https://invest-alliance.eu/
INVEST. 2024. Quality Assurance Within the European University Alliance “Invest” – A Key Aspect for Success and Sustainability. https://www.invest-alliance.eu/en/Home/NewsInfo?link=94-quality-assurance-within-the-european-university-alliance-invest—a-key-aspect-for-success-and
INVEST. 2024. The international joint programs of the European University INVEST are discussed at a meeting in UARD. https://www.invest-alliance.eu/en/Home/NewsInfo?link=97-the-international-joint-programs-of-the-european-university-invest-are-discussed-at-a-meeting-i
INVEST4EXCELLENCE. 2024. Homepage. https://www.invest4excellence.eu/
Plovdiv Municipality. 2024. Homepage. https://www.plovdiv.bg/en/
University of Agribusiness and Regional Development (UARD). 2024. Homepage https://uard.bg/en
Visit Plovdiv. 2024. https://www.visitplovdiv.com/
Witteveen, L., Fliervoet J., Eweg R., Arabska, E., Van de Maas, P., Lazarov A., Iatrellis O., Bania, A., Lančarič, D. & Puhakka-Tarvainen H. 2022. Position paper for partner universities on employing a transdisciplinary view on Living Lab approaches. INVEST4EXCELLENCE project deliverable 3.1. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101035815/results