Branches of twelve foreign universities operate illegally in Bulgaria., the Ministry of Education announced. These branches operate illegally as the Higher Education Act does not allow foreign universities to open branches in Bulgaria. Under this law, the establishment of Bulgarian-foreign joint ventures within the national education system must be envisaged in international agreements. The Icom-Intellect company issues graduation diplomas on behalf of Cook's Institute, US. Slav Culture and Education OOD provides training and diplomas on behalf of the International Slav Institute of Moscow through branches in Bulgarian cities. Other Bulgarian-based companies provide courses and diplomas of the Slav University of Kiev and its branch in Odessa, Ukraine. The International Educational Centre issues diplomas of the International University of Moscow. Courses of the University of Portsmouth, UK, are taught at the International University College. Bulgaria is also home to unlicensed branches of the Economics and Law Academy of Odessa, and the Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics in partnership with the European Academy of Economics, Administration and Law. The list is further expanded by the International University of Karlovo (Central Bulgaria), which operates within the system of the International Academy of Sciences (AIS) San Marino. The Sofia-based Distance Learning Centre issues diplomas on behalf of City University, Seattle, US.