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Source: East-Asian studies in Bulgaria, by Boyka Tsigova, Department of East Asian Studies, St. Kliment Ohridski, University of Sofia, Bulgaria (2009). See the original text here&#160;SHORT HISTORYMuch research has been conducted on Asia and the Pacific in Bulgaria since the beginning of the 20th century. Most studies have focused on understanding the Eastern world and to introducing various Eastern cultures (Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Arabic) into Bulgaria. In 2007, the Confucius Institute was opened in Sofia at Saint Kliment Ohridski University, which is financed and supported mainly by China. This centre for eastern language studies is the main institution for research on Asia and the Pacific in Bulgaria, with four departments and 10 majors.The first degree programmes of the centre began in 1984 in the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology. Since then, the centre has grown and is today the largest national unit for study and research on Asia in Bulgaria.The department for East Asian Studies is the largest at the centre and in the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology. It was established in 2000 and comprises programmes for Japanese, Chinese and Korean studies.PRESENT ORGANISATION AND FUNCTIONING- Main institution:Sofia University Saint Kliment Ohridski (Centre for Eastern Languages and Studies).1504 Sophia, 15 Tzar Osvoboditel BlvdRector: Professor Ivan Ilchev, Dr HabilTel: +359 2 946 18 15- Other institutions where Asian and Pacific studies are undertaken:University of Veliko TurnovoD.A. Tsenov Academy of EconomicsNational Academy of ArtBulgarian Academy of SciencesVarious research institutesFIELDS STUDIED-        Language and culture of East Asia (Japan, Korea, China), and also of India, Pakistan, Iran and Armenia. Also Caucasian, Arabic and Semitic languages and culture, and Turkish and Altaic languages.-          Linguistics, literature, ethnology, arts, religion. Social and economic life.-         Degrees offered at the centre:BA, MA, and doctoral programmes.Language coursesAsian culture courses ABOUT THE STAFF -         Staff at the centre:43 full-time lecturers and approximately 73 part-time lecturers per yearIn the department of Eastern Studies: 16 full-time lecturers 13 part-time lecturers and 6 guest lecturers.In the Japanese studies programme: 6 full-time lecturers and 3 part-time staff plus 2 guest lecturers from Japan.Total number of students: 450 in 2009-2010. -          Education is free at the University, except for Government fees.  Scholarships for studying abroad are also available.-          Research is one of the responsibilities of scholars at the University.-          Researchers who work in institutes outside the University are full-time researchers engaging mainly in scientific work. They are not required to teach, except when their scientific field requires it. Professors are responsible for the quality of the teaching; they also supervise PhD students and participate in various forms of the university administration.-          Many students have found successful career development in the fields of science, education, translation, journalism, diplomacy, public administration and private business.PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITES-          Bulgarian Oriental Studies, Centre for Eastern Languages and Studies.-          Series Oriens, Centre for Eastern Languages and Studies.-          Yearbook of Saint Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology.-          Contrastive linguistics, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology and Faculty of Slavic Studies.Annuaire de l’Univerité de Sofia Saint Kliment Ohridski, Faculty of History.&#160;Normal021falsefalsefalseFRX-NONEX-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Tableau Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}