Background

Each Bulgarian carries parts of the majesty, beauty, history and inevitable feeling of pride, when mentioning the Old Bulgarian capital of Veliko Tarnovo. Tarnovo has kept everything that brings national dignity and therefore we identify it as a spiritual capital of Bulgaria. The local citizens accept and hold the past, but are very positive and entrepreneurial-like as for the creation of the future. The University of Veliko Tarnovo is the second major academic institution in the country. The people and the mayor are extremely proud of the fact and the mayor announced for the first time on December 8th 2000 the idea for establishing a special annual award for best and most successful graduate.

Practice

Most of the local government officers at the municipal adiministration are graduates from the University of Veliko Turnovo. Some of the experts are part-time lecturers there. The tradition is to set up different internships for the students and to offer them a serious further career within the municipality.

After one year of negotiations and discussions with the Rector of the University, the Academic Council, lecturers and students, and with the top management of the municipality, the result is setting up an Academic Award of Veliko Turnovo Municipality.

Goal: The award is given in order to stimulate and support young specialists in the dawn of their careers, as well as approving the city as an attractive scientific and educational centre.

- The Award is granted annually on December 8th Official celebration for Bulgarian Students
- The Award amounts to 5 000 EURO (its BGN equivalent)
- Funds are provided by the Municipality budget
- Municipal Council adopts a decision for the awarding with a special session shortly before the student celebration
- The Award is given by the Mayor of the Municipality on an official ceremony at the University
- The Chairman of the Municipal Council grants the written copy of the Council decision for the Award on an official ceremony

Nomination criteria:
The Award is granted to a university graduate a full time student meeting the following requirements:
- age up to 30
- graduated in the last academic year in a Master program
- showing excellent grades during semesters and with highest grades from his/her diploma thesis and state exams
- various research projects during education
- no administrative offences during education.

Nomination procedure:
All applicants for the Award are presented on relevant Faculty Councils:
- Individually;
- by their tutors.

The nominations (not more than 5 applicants, according to criteria) are discussed by the annually appointed Commission for the nomination including:
- three representatives from Academic Council, selected by the Academic Council
- two representatives from the Municipality, selected by the Municipal Council

For the period of three weeks until the official ceremony, the commission nominates three students for the Award; the Academic Council is to approve one of them and to present its official written decision before the Municipal Council, with detailed argumentation. This should be done up to two weeks before giving the Award.

Results

In 2001 the Award was granted for the first time and we all believe in its positive future development and in the stimulus it would give to many young professionals, who would try to compete for it through hard work and extensive knowledge. The opportunities and the chance granted by this Award, would be an extremely important factor for their high merits and responsibilities. Thus they will feel the need of helping and supporting the society they belong to.