Solemnity overwhelmed Sofia University President Boyan Biolchev (front left) and UNDP envoy Marta Ruedas as they opened a salvaged faculty building. The university could not afford to repair it for years. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (novinite.com)
The Sofia University saw at last the building of its Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communications reinforced against collapse.
After years in which the faculty's management sounded alarm about the dangerous condition of the gorgeous building, it was renovated under a project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to reopen on Monday.
The inauguration ceremony featured Sofia University President Boyan Biolchev, UNDP Resident Representative Marta Ruedas and Bulgaria's Social Minister Lydia Shuleva as the faculty building has turned into a symbol for Bulgaria's poverty-hit higher education.
Following the fall of communism, the Sofia University that is the most prestigious higher education institution in Bulgaria lacked cash to renovate the crumbling building. The management of the journalism faculty started a campaign to find sponsors but in spite of the large publicity secured, the faculty house has remained shored up by a scaffold for years. The salvage came as the UNDP project Beautiful Bulgaria took over the renovation works in 2003.
The building was the first to host the Sofia University when it was created towards the end of the 19th century.