1. DANUBE RECTORS’ CONFERENCE Conference on the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Budapest 25.02.2010

2. DANUBE RECTORS’ CONFERENCE regional network from the Black Forest to the Black Sea founded in 1983 (Rectors of the Universities of Ulm, Linz, Vienna and Budapest) members: 50 higher education institutions (13 countries)

3. MEMBERS Austria (7) Bosnia and Herzegovina (2) Bulgaria (2) Croatia (6) the Czech Republic (7) Germany (2) Hungary (8) Romania (4) Serbia (3) Kosovo (1) Slovakia (5) Slovenia (2) Ukraine (2)

4. MEMBERS

5. DANUBE RECTORS’ CONFERENCE Objectives: to raise the level of academic performance; to promote mobility, to reduce drop-out rates and to lower the cost of tertiary education.

6. ANNUAL ASSEMBLY - 2006

7. ANNUAL ASSEMBLY - 2007

8. ANNUAL ASSEMBLY - 2008

9. ANNUAL ASSEMBLY - 2010

10. NEXT ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

11. 6 th DRC Summer School “Regime Change and Transitions across the Danubian Region: 1989 – 2009” Budapest, July 5-12, 2009

12. 1 st DRC Regatta Budapest, May 5-7, 2009

13. We call for: ▪ intensive networking and cooperation among all universities in the Danube Region ▪ intensifying cooperation between the universities and national, regional political institutions, and municipalities, as well as industrial, social, cultural, environmental bodies in the Danube Region

14. We express the highest interest in: ▪ contributing to the development of the EU Danube Strategy, ▪ in formulating parts of the EU Danube Strategy concerning research, education, technology transfer and cooperation with the society, ▪ implementing the EU Danube Strategy by intensifying research, developing and enriching study programs, stimulating mobility, stimulating innovation and technology transfer. ▪ active participation in the next Conferences on the EU Danube Strategy.

17. III.A Values and heritage protection The boost the Danube identity and co-operation: The protection of values and heritage i.e. the propagation of common European values like tolerance, democracy and the protection of minorities, the protection, reconstruction and accessibility of the built intellectual and factual heritage. Connection: The European Agenda for Culture: cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; May, 2007

19. III. Strengthening regional identity and co- operation in the Danube Area III.CEducational co-operation Promoting experience and knowledge transfer Development of education and research networks and educational programs in the Danube area Improvement of environmental consciousness Connection: Lifelong Learning Programme

20. DANUBE RECTORS’ CONFERENCE President for 2011 Rector Prof. DSc Hristo Beloev Bulgaria Angel Kanchev University of Ruse Website: http://uni-ruse.bg

21.  Info data on the University 8 basic and 2 affiliated faculties in the towns of Silistra and Razgrad  Students Full time and part time students more than 10 500  PhD students 223  Foreign students about 500 from 17 countries About the University of Ruse

22.  Academic Staff Total of 498 staff members, including 14 DSc degree holders, 26 full professors and 324 Assoc. professors and PhD degree holders  Specialties 44 Bachelor Degree Programs (BSc) and 72 Master Degree Programs (MSc)  Joint International Degree Programs 2, one with France & Romania, and Russia  Annual turnover 15 212 516 euros About the University of Ruse

23.  Implemented programs and projects LLP (ERASMUS, COMMENIUS, LEONARDO da VINCI) – 95 CEEPUS – 3 FP6 & FP7 – 12 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Partnerships

24.  Implemented programs and projects COST NATO DAAD Cross border cooperation INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Outgoing student mobility

25. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION  Implemented programs and projects Structural funds – 5 Others - 12 (Germany, Austria, U.S.A., Japan, Russia, Norway) Financial input – 750 000 euros Meeting of the European ERASMUS Thematic Network for Doctoral Education in Computing

26. RESEARCH  Fields & Technologies  Vacuum & nano technologies;  Robotics and expert systems for the automation of production;  Rapid prototyping, risk management and automation;  Resource saving technologies;  Ecological agriculture

27. RESEARCH  Fields & Technologies  Computer and Information Technologies;  e-Learning & Distance Learning;  Environmental Protection;  Machine-engineering Technologies;  Systems and Technologies for Agricultural Production

28.  Fields & Technologies  Energy saving technologies and renewable energy sources ;  Artificial intellect RESEARCH  Centres, Institutes, Laboratories  Technology Transfer Centre;  Innovation Centre;  Career Development Centre;  Research & Scientific Centre for Vacuum Technologies and Systems;  Centre for Sustainable Agriculture;  Institute of Scientific Instrument Development;  Robotics and Automation Laboratory

29. DRC – BEYOND 2010  Tuning and harmonization with the European Danube Strategy of the European Commission  Further development of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation partnerships in the field of science & education  Initiatives for the establishment and development of an International Centre of Excellence within the DRC potential  New initiatives and activities, involving academic and research staff in the Danube Academy  New initiatives for mutual exchange of students, professors and administrators, focusing on cultural and social life

30. Thank you for your attention! Prof. DSc. Hristo Beloev & Assoc. Prof. Nicolay Mihailov