On May 25th, 2018, Ambassador Tihomir Stoytchev held a meeting with Mrs. Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
They discussed possibilities for deepening the cooperation between Bulgaria and the USA in the field of education and culture.
Ambassador Stoytchev highlighted the work of the Bulgarian-American Working Group “Education and People-to-People Contacts”, established within the framework of the Strategic dialogue between our countries. He stressed the important role the US Peace Corps had held by sending US volunteers to support the implementation of projects in different areas in Bulgaria for 22 years.
A special emphasis was put on marking the 25th anniversary of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission, which has made significant contribution to the exchange of students, teachers, scholars and researchers.
The role of the Bulgarian-American Commission for the Preservation of Bulgaria’s Cultural Heritage was also discussed as a key factor in the development of tourism.
During the conversation, Ambassador Stoytchev pointed out the benefits of student exchange programs, incl. “Work and Travel,” which gives about 8,000 Bulgarian students a year the opportunity to work in the United States and learn about the American way of life.
Ambassador Stoytchev and Assistant Secretary Royce discussed the possibility of including Bulgaria in the FLEX program (Future Leaders Exchange Program), which provides scholarships for Bulgarian high school students to learn in American high schools through accommodation in a host family.