Prof. Ivan Kralov on the specialization "Aerospace Engineering": The business has great interest!

Admissions for bachelor's programs have begun at the Technical University of Sofia. One of them is the "Aerospace Engineering" program.

Professor Ivan Králov, Deputy Rector for Academic Affairs at the Technical University, told BNR more about this training: 

"This program is in English. It started last year, when we had 16 students enrolled. As of now, there are 6 applicants in 3 days, but enrollment is ongoing. This is one of a series of new programs created by the Technical University. They are broad-profile, interdisciplinary. In the first two years, fundamental engineering disciplines are studied, after which we move on to specialized ones. We have conducted our research, and the business sector is looking for such specialists." 

As of now, there are 992 foreign students at TU-Sofia, Professor Králov pointed out, clarifying that 11 of the students in their second year of this program are foreigners, while 5 are Bulgarians. 

According to him, the business sector has great interest. "It's not just about space technologies. This also involves transport, logistics, communications, organization of various activities, starting from transportation, observations, research, measurements, prevention of various crisis situations, etc., and leading to more specialized applications," the university's deputy rector clarified and emphasized that this is the present day.

"We strive to build basic knowledge that will allow the development and transfer of these technologies from science to society, business, and regions. A very large part of them have extremely important civil applications, and the future lies in them."

According to him, the program offers opportunities for future career development and good conditions for young people. In his opinion, the demand for such specialists will increase tremendously in the near future. 

"All engineering programs have their own characteristics. We do not yet have a program that includes the design of spacecraft, orbital mechanics, or structures. We have prepared. Not only are there textbooks and educational facilities, but we are also building new modern equipment that is almost non-existent in Europe. This concerns clean and white rooms, production and testing of spacecraft, nanosatellites, etc., and communication activities," he explained in the broadcast "Horizon until noon". 

We have a huge number of international mobilities - for both faculty and students, Prof. Králov further emphasized and was categorical:

"We have enough faculty and researchers. We have expertise". 

In order to stay in Bulgaria, young people first need to go abroad, see what the conditions are there, and convince themselves that the education here is no worse, Prof. Králov commented and is convinced that students will start to return. 

Tuition fees for higher education are set - we raised some of them slightly compared to last year, we are around the minimum possible, the Vice-Rector also pointed out.

Listen to the entire interview by Yuliana Kornazheva with Prof. Ivan Králov and Violeta Borisova's survey in the "Horizon until noon" show in the audio file. 

 23.06.2025

bnr.bg