From June 16 to 20, 2026, faculty members from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University visited Schiller International University—Heidelberg Campus. 
The group was led by Prof. Dr. Veselina Vulkanova, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication. The group, which carried out the exchange as part of the SUMMIT project (SUMMIT Sofia University Marking Momentum For Innovation and Technological Transfer), included Prof. Dr. Nikolay Mihaylov, Vice Dean and member of the project’s Steering Committee; Prof. Dr. Simeon Vasilev, Head of the Department of Communication and Audiovisual Production, Prof. Dr. Efrem Efremov, and Prof. Dr. Teodora Petrova. 

At Schiller University, modern, innovative teaching methods, implemented by an international faculty, are combined with the centuries-old academic traditions of one of Europe’s oldest university centers - the University of Heidelberg. Schiller University was founded in 1960 as a multi-campus university and has developed a global network of campuses in Paris (France), Tampa, Florida (U.S.), Madrid (Spain), and Heidelberg (Germany).

The educational model allows students to study at various campuses and earn credits on a semester basis in an international academic environment. The university offers bachelor’s and master’s programs (BA, MBA, MA) designed to attract and educate international students in the fields of international business, communication and diplomacy, marketing, and computer science analysis. Schiller University is considered a modern university with an innovative educational approach and an interdisciplinary profile that sets it apart not only in Germany but also in a global context.

Schiller University’s mission is to use modern, innovative teaching methods to foster an international, multicultural community of alumni who go on to pursue successful careers around the world. The university enjoys high prestige among students and in ranking systems, and its enrollment increases every year. Some of its alumni already hold leading government positions and run successful businesses in various countries, which further solidifies its reputation as a global educational institution.

Faculty members from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University held a meeting with the director of the Heidelberg campus, Prof. Saib Otman; Prof. Jane Rosell, director of “General Education”; Prof. Dr. Krasimir Todorov, director of the Faculty of Business; and Dr. Manuela Toteva, a lecturer in the “Science and Society” course, an alumnus and Ph.D. graduate of the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication. During the academic discussions, the role of universities as innovative educational centers and the importance of their participation in international scientific networks were emphasized. Several potential areas for cooperation were identified: in the fields of education, knowledge exchange, joint research, and opportunities for joint publications between faculty members from both universities.

During the visit, the FJMC faculty team also visited Heidelberg University, a center for the development of higher education in Europe. The university museum preserves the history of the development of individual disciplines at the university’s research centers, the autonomy of the faculties, and respect for the university institution and the Dean’s mace. In the university museum, one can even see the so-called “student cell,” where students who had committed offenses were briefly detained. 

The visit by the faculty team from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication to Schiller University—Heidelberg Campus—is a continuation of the faculty’s strategic initiative to build a network of partnerships with innovative foreign universities. Previous contacts were established with the International Hellenic University—the largest university in Thessaloniki, which operates a network of satellite campuses in Thessaloniki, Serres, Katerini, and Kilkis and is distinguished by its modern educational practices for Greek and international students.

Another long-term goal of the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication within the framework of the project is to use these academic contacts to build a sustainable network of universities where alumni of the faculty’s doctoral program—such as Dr. Manuela Toteva (Schiller University, Heidelberg), Dr. Athanasios Gounas, and Dr. Konstantinos Ageloy (International Hellenic University—Thessaloniki). This promotes the transfer of knowledge and creates conditions for their inclusion in joint educational and research initiatives.