Agraren Universitet Plovdiv​​

The Agricultural University of Plovdiv (AUP) is established in 1945 as a national centre for agricultural science and education in Bulgaria. The AUP is the leading institution in proving comptences in agricultural business, science and education. The AUP provides education for obtaining BSc, MSc and PhD academic degrees as well as postgraduate Lifelong Learning (LLL) for enhancing qualifications of professionals. Bulgarian and foreign students enroll both as full-time and part-time students in degree courses of agronomy, plant protection, animal husbandry, agroecology, horticulture and viticulture, agricultural economy, agro- tourism, etc. The University research policy involves implementation of R&I programmes and projects focused on knowledge-based advancement of Bulgarian agricultural development, tourism and the country’s integration into the European Research Area (ERA). The AUP provides expertise to agri-business through research and development centres, e.g. a Demonstration Centre for New Technologies in Agriculture, a Centre for integrated management of plant diseases, an Agroecological Centre (R&D in organic agriculture), and Centre for

Professional Education (post-diploma courses for agricultural professionals), etc. The AUP modern Laboratory Complex for analyses on environmental pollutants, monitoring of soil quality; agricultural products and products of the food and flavour industries. The AUP participates in few EU programmes, e.g. TEMPUS, PHARE, Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus, etc.