On 23 January 2026, an official delegation comprising representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria and leading Bulgarian universities paid a formal visit to the city of Bethlehem. The visit took place at the invitation of the Mayor of Bethlehem, Mr. Maher Nicola Kanawati, as well as rectors and representatives of higher education institutions from the region.

The Bulgarian delegation included:

• Mr. Veselin Delchev, head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ramallah, Palestine;
• Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, Ambassador of Bulgarian higher education abroad;
• Prof. Georgi Valchev, Rector of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”;
• Prof. Boryana Ivanova, Rector of the Agricultural University of Plovdiv;
• Prof. Sotir Sotirov, Rector of Burgas State University “Prof. Asen Zlatarov”;
• Prof. Veselina Goranova, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the Medical University of Plovdiv;
• Prof. Svetla Yancheva, Secretary General of the Agricultural University of Plovdiv;
• and Dr. Anastas Dimitrov, representative of Inter HECS – Study in Bulgaria Ltd. 

During the meetings, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on opportunities for academic cooperation between Bulgarian and Palestinian higher education institutions. Particular emphasis was placed on the development of joint educational programs, student and academic mobility, and initiatives aimed at recruiting international students to pursue higher education in Bulgarian universities. The discussions highlighted Bulgaria’s strong academic traditions, modern educational infrastructure, and growing international engagement in the field of higher education.

The visit marked an important step toward strengthening international academic partnerships, fostering intercultural exchange, and expanding access to quality higher education through collaborative programs between universities in Bulgaria and the region.

The event was also covered on the official website of Al-Quds Open University, which published information about the meetings and discussions held with the Bulgarian delegation regarding prospects for academic cooperation and exchange.