The Faculty of Medicine at Trakia University from Stara Zagora, Bulgaria held its first international conference, “Global Connections: Collaborative Learning Across the Borders,” between 23th–24th April 2026, with the participation of over 150 students from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, faculty members, and international partners.
This event strengthened the academic partnership with “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Bucharest, Romania. Visiting lecturers, Assoc. Prof. Iuliana-Raluca Gheorghe and Prof. Ovidiu Popa-Velea from Bucharest played a central role in the conference’s academic program, an involvement organizers say, reaffirmed the strong ties between the two institutions.
A highlight of this collaboration was the workshop, entitled “Bridging the Digital Gap: Electronic Health Literacy Essentials in Practice”, facilitated by Assoc. Prof. Iuliana-Raluca Gheorghe of “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest. The workshop addressed the topic of electronic health literacy for Medical students and allied health students, which directly aligned with the conference’s focus on cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. The workshop was also a part of the dissemination activity of the eHELPED-iT project’s results, the eHL Handbook and the eHL Web Platform.
At the opening ceremony, Trakia University’s Rector, Prof. Miroslav Karabaliev, emphasized the importance of cross-border academic exchange: “Borders are not a bad thing. We are different, but it is precisely these borders that connect us. The most important thing is to have channels of communication through which we can exchange knowledge, ideas, and experience.” Prof. Julian Ananiev, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, supported this, describing the gathering as a glimpse of “the future of healthcare — global, connected, and united by the pursuit of knowledge and Medicine.”
During the two days, students presented research across Clinical Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, and Innovation, alongside the electronic health literacy workshop and other sessions with faculty speakers. The program closed with a celebration of cultural diversity, reflecting a student body from more than 50 countries, including traditional dress, food, and performances from around the world.
Following the conference’s success, the Organizing Committee has announced it is preparing the next edition and looks forward to welcoming colleagues from Bucharest once again, with plans to expand international participation further.
The participants would like to express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Miroslava Petkova and Assist. Prof. Yavor Georgiev for their invitation.
