“Heritage in Action: Revive&Thrive2BG”

International Meeting Celebrates Cultural Heritage and Academic Collaboration

The international event “Heritage in Action: Revive&Thrive2BG”, organized by the Center for International Relations and Mobility (CIRM) at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) was held from 16 to 20 May 2025 in Sofia. The initiative, aimed at students and academic staff, focused on exploring cultural heritage and sports as interrelated components of contemporary education.

The event was attended by professors and students from Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (Portugal) and Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Germany), both members of the European university alliance BAUHAUS4EU, of which UACEG is also a participant. For the first time in Bulgaria this gathering included representatives from the Ecole Nationale d’Architecture de Rabat (Morocco), an associated partner in the Alliance. This visit continued the fruitful cooperation initiated with UACEG the previous year.

On May 17, coinciding with the official Day of Sport, attendees enthusiastically joined the university-organized marathon, “Students Run with UACEG”. Notable among the top finishers were Matteo Werner (Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco) and Gustav Steck (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar), both securing top three positions with impressive results.

That day also featured “Games from our Childhood” – traditional Bulgarian games handed down through generations. This activity offered participants a vivid experience of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage recreating chilhood pastimes cherished across geenrations. A memorable highlight was the group name “Kralyu Portalyu,” performed simultaneously in participants’ native languages – a moment that served as a powerful expression of cultural diversity and shared experience.

The program included a one-day cultural trip to Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest and most significant cities. Participants explored its rich architectural and historical heritage, fostering intercultural dialogue and informal communication in a diverse context.

The BIP also featured a series of educational sessions and lectures on various architectural topics, both academic and practice oriented. The architectural workshops covered multiple directions, including a project for the revitalization of Knyazheska GArden. These sessions encouraged collaborative development of proposals by mixed teams from UACEG and partner universities. The resulting projects will be showcased in a forthcoming exhibition.

An exciting workshop in Bulgarian folk dance and singing brought a cultural dimension to the academic schedule. Led by renowned choreographer Yordan Stanimirov from the “Slavey” Folk Song and Dance Ensemble and featuring celebrated folk singer Svetla Karadzhova and children from the ensemble’s youth group, the session concluded with a captivating live performance of traditional Bulgarian folk songs.

A formal gala dinner honored the event’s participants, opened with a welcoming address by the Rector of UACEG, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arch. Gichka Kutova-Kamenova. Distinguished guests included H.E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Bulgaria, and Mr. Jamal Najib, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Syrian Arab Republic to Bulgaria.

The “Heritage in Action: Revive&Thrive2BG” event successfully blended academic exploration, cultural immersion, and international collaboration. It strengthened institutional partnerships, fostered intercultural dialogue, and laid the groundwork for future joint initiatives in cultural heritage and education.