Varna University of Management (VUM – former International University College – Albena) is an international business school located in Bulgaria where students from over 40 countries receive education in Business and Marketing, IT, Computer Sciences, Tourism and Hospitality Management and Gastronomy and Culinary Arts.

VUM offers Bachelor’s and Master’s double-degree programmes, taught entirely in English, in cooperation with universities in countries such as the UK, Switzerland, France, Norway and the Netherlands, as curricula are aligned with the partnering institutions and students have to meet up the same high standards in examinations in order to graduate with degrees from both - the partnering universities and VUM.

The university extends across the globe through powerful partnerships with international universities such as Cardiff Metropolitan University and University College of Birmingham, United Kingdom; Stenden University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands; Business and Hotel Management School, Switzerland and numerous collaborative efforts with more than 1 renowned universities elsewhere in Europe, as well as in Asia and South America.

The university ranks high for student internships and international orientation on a European level, and ranks as the number one Bulgarian business school according to prestigious educational rankings such as U-multirank, Best-masters, Eduniversal. VUM maintains excellent relationships with businesses and can boast of a long-standing success in providing its students with opportunities for work placement experience with top employers within the USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and many more.

University’s reputation for scientific achievements around the world also continues to grow. VUM is known as the Bulgarian university with the highest number of publications and references within social sciences according to Social Science Research Network (SSRN). Varna University of Management is also recognized for its reinforcing international influence by the Palme of Excellence Classification for Eastern Europe. Its reach extends into the European industry through a large number of high-profile connections including partnerships with leading companies in the fields of Software Development, Business Process Outsourcing, Marketing, Finance, etc.
Varna University of Management is also a member of AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - association of educational institutions, business, not-for-profit, and government organizations devoted to the advancement of higher education in business.

International College Ltd. is a reputable institution for youth and adult education. It uses innovative teaching methods and information technologies, based on established experience and traditions. IC is a leading VET provider for the tourism and culinary sectors in Bulgaria, with in-depth expertise and experience in curricula development, skills recognition, elaboration of methodological guidelines and development of study paths across VET and higher education, as throughout the years the institution has educated over 6000 trainees in Restauranteering, Food&Beverage and Culinary Arts.

The mission of International College Ltd is to work for the modernization of vocational and adult education in Bulgaria and to promote better understanding of the interconnections between the labor market and formal, non-formal, vocational, higher and other forms of education and learning.

International College Ltd. offers programs in 40 professions/80 majors in the fields of Economy, Tourism and Agriculture as well as courses for beginners and advanced learners in English, German and Spanish. The IC VET center is in the National Alliance of Licensed VET Centres and a member in a network of over 40 profit and non-profit legal entities, including the Business and Culture Center. International College Ltd. is a training provider for the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, and State Agri Fund.

Since 2010 International College has been registered with the Bulgarian Employment Agency as a provider of vocational training services and training in key competencies for unemployed and employed individuals under the Human Resources Development Operational Programme and the support schemes “I can”, “Adaptability”, “Development”, “First Job”, “Support for Entrepreneurial Bulgarians”. Further, the VET Center at International College has been approved by the Maritime Administration Executive Agency of the Republic of Bulgaria as the only education institution in the country eligible to conduct training for the acquisition of an internationally recognized certificate of professional competence “Chief (Ship) Cook”.

ADRAT strives to promote the improvement of the living conditions of a region marked by rurality, stem the loss of population, promote and value the resources and potential and provide the people with higher levels of social and economic well-being, and to create wealth, raise the quality of life of the population, while preserving the specificities and cultural identity of the Alto Tâmega Region.

ADRAT's main activity is the promotion, coordination and dynamization of important projects for the Region, providing financing and skills to carry out the most diverse types of actions. The association seeks to make significant investments in basic infrastructure and in the areas of employment, culture, leisure and the environment. Moreover, ADRAT stimulates and carries out actions aimed at strengthening the ties of the Region with its people, its history and its culture.