For the fifth consecutive year, Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv celebrated the end of its international students’ academic stay with the traditional ecological initiative Green Graduation. The event, organized by the International Relations Office, brought together Erasmus+ students and members of the academic and administrative staff for the shared cause of expanding the unique Erasmus Garden, part of the University’s New Campus.
This year, the green space was enriched with a tulip tree (liriodendron). Young people from nine countries – Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, France, Poland, Cameroon, Romania, Italy, and Turkey – who are finalizing their mobility took part in its planting.
The event was opened by Assoc. Prof. Boryan Yanev, PhD, Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinator and Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Public Relations. He welcomed the students, thanking them for choosing this educational institution and wishing them successful careers in their chosen professional fields.
On his part, Dimitar Karamitev, PhD, Head of the International Relations Office, emphasized the symbolism of the chosen tree species. He noted that the tulip tree embodies nobility and adaptability – qualities inherent to Erasmus+ students, who successfully overcome the challenges of a new academic and cultural environment, finding a way to leave a lasting and positive mark on the university’s history.
The event concluded with an informal gathering during which the international students reflected on the past academic year. They exchanged impressions of their studies, shared precious memories of their stay in Plovdiv, and highlighted the importance of the long-lasting friendships they had formed.
