We were happy to welcome two PhD students from the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov, Bulgaria, to the University of Primorska for a short-term international research exchange. Georgi Mladenov is pursuing a PhD in Finance, while Kateryna Petrovska is a PhD student in World Economy and International Economic Relations with a research focus on tourism. This was their second exchange at the University of Primorska. After a successful CEEPUS exchange last year, they returned to work on their theses and build up their academic network, respectively with Erasmus+ and CEEPUS.

During their mobility, Georgi and Kateryna worked on their doctoral theses, collaborated with academic staff, and exchanged ideas with researchers and PhD students from different disciplines. They shared that they appreciated the modern university facilities, especially the library, which provided an excellent environment for research and study, especially on the unusually hot days in June this year. The students found the whole exchange experience smooth from the very beginning thanks to the welcoming and highly efficient university staff that managed every step of the process very professionally and were always ready to help.

"We are especially grateful to Professor Štefan Bojnec, who supervised us during our exchange. He is an experienced researcher, very welcoming and supportive, always open to a productive dialogue, and willing to share his knowledge and advice. Plus, we all share a passion for traveling and learning new things. We truly appreciated the inspiring discussions with him and his openness to future academic cooperation. We are also very grateful to Ms. Marisol Pribac who solved quickly and efficiently any issue that we encountered during our exchange.” they shared, reflecting on their academic experience.

The students also enjoyed discovering life outside the university: "Koper is a wonderful city - it has a rich history, beautiful architecture, many cultural events, and plenty of interesting places to explore. It is very safe and clean, and has a lot of facilities for various sports and outdoor activities. The city is very well developed for its size, and it offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and services. Locals are relaxed and easy to approach so we felt at ease asking questions about the city and even found several potential partners. Also, the university has an international community, so we had a chance to meet students from different countries and build new connections. Moreover, there are many other beautiful places to discover nearby, such as Izola, Piran, Portorož, Strunjan, and the Škocjan Caves."

After spending another productive period at the University of Primorska, Georgi and Kateryna reflected: "Coming back for a second exchange was very beneficial. Once again, we had a great experience, both academically and personally. We strongly recommend the University of Primorska to other students looking for an international exchange, and we hope this won't be our last visit to Koper."

At the University of Primorska, we believe that international exchanges bring more than studies or research. They bring people together, create new ideas, and often become the start of long-term academic collaborations and friendships. We look forward to welcoming more PhD exchange students in the future.