On behalf of Sofia University, the document was signed by the Head of the Department, Prof. Dr. Simeon Evstatiev, and the Dean of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, Prof. Dr. Gergana Petkova. On behalf of the Diplomatic Institute, it was signed by its Director, Ms. Tanya Mihaylova.

During the meeting, both parties underscored the importance of academic partnership for the development of the diplomatic service and expressed their satisfaction with the establishment of cooperation.

The agreement forms part of the Department’s strategic vision to provide students with opportunities for practical training and internships. It aims to support the acquisition of hands-on experience and to broaden students’ understanding of career prospects in the diplomatic sphere.

This vision aligns with the efforts of the Diplomatic Institute to offer students from the BA Program in Arabic Studies and the MA Program “Middle Eastern Studies with Arabic” opportunities to gain first-hand insight into diplomatic practice and to apply their linguistic competences and knowledge of social, political, and cultural dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa. The agreement also opens up opportunities for student participation in the Diplomatic Institute’s internship program.

The cooperation will also include the exchange of lecturers, as well as the organization of joint seminars and expert discussions focusing on issues related to the Middle East, the Arab world, and Islam.