At a solemn ceremony in the oldest Korean university Sungkyunkwan in Seoul Head of State Rosen Plevneliev was awarded the honorary title Doctor Honoris Causa in public administration of the prestigious university. In the almost 60-year-old history of the university, the honorary title was conferred to a head of state for a second time.

“There is no doubt that Bulgaria is facing a lot of challenges. But we also know how to succeed: being innovative, being focused, planning and acting beyond national borders,” President Rosen Plevneliev said after being awarded the grand title. “We believe in our potential. It is an important task for Bulgarian politicians to unlock this potential. Progress is an ongoing process. Prosperity cannot be a gift, it has to be worked for,” the Bulgarian Head of State said in his address to the academic community of the university.

The President highlighted four key factors for our country’s economic development – education, efficient institutions, clear priorities and focus on quality, not quantity. In the Head of State’s words, our country has an enormous potential for growth and innovations. However, adaptive education, support for technologies and innovations, coupled with strong institutions that produce results are necessary to this effect.

“I thank you, for your given hand and a strong will to cooperate and build up the future,” Head of State Rosen Plevneliev said in his solemn statement.

The Sungkyunkwan University is an academic center, established more than 600 years ago and is the oldest Korean university. Since it was founded in 1398 during the Joseon dynasty, it has become a synonym of deep and comprehensive learning. In Korean, the name of the university means an institution for “building a harmonious society of excellent human beings.” Today the university is made up of 16 colleges and 58 faculties. More than 27,000 students from 76 countries study at the university and 1,400 lecturers teach there.