POSITION OF VFU "CHERNORIZETS HRABAR": TRUE QUALITY IS PROVEN WITH DIGITAL MATURITY, NOT WITH ESCAPE FROM TECHNOLOGY
06 july 2026
At a time when part of the academic community in Bulgaria is restoring mandatory in-person exams for students in a distance learning mode, justifying their decision with doubts about the objectivity of the digital environment, Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” (VFU) takes a categorically opposite position.
VFU will not compromise with the digital transformation. The university does not envisage a general return to in-person exams. On the contrary – we continue to develop and expand our model of electronic distance assessment, proving that modern higher education requires a high standard of control, not a retreat from it.
Distance assessment is not synonymous with a lower standard
For VFU, the distance mode and examination procedures in an electronic environment are not a “necessary evil” or a temporary measure. This is an established, accredited and technologically protected educational format that requires a high degree of organization, transparency and responsibility.
The university has the full regulatory and technical ability to conduct distance examinations not only for students in a distance learning mode, but also for disciplines in a full-time and part-time mode, when this is provided for in the educational organization. In this way, we provide greater flexibility for students, without allowing a retreat from academic standards and requirements for objective assessment.
Four Pillars of Academic Security at VFU
Our e-assessment model is based on four irrevocable pillars that ensure that technology serves quality, not replaces it:
1. Technological security and automated control (Proctoring)
Written exams with remote access are conducted through an automated electronic proctoring system, which ensures: strict student identification, real-time video surveillance, recording of behaviour and automated detection of risky situations. If necessary, secure browsers are also used to block unauthorised access to external resources.
2. Artificial Intelligence with human supervision and protection of rights
VFU is among the few higher education institutions in the country with a comprehensive “Artificial Intelligence Policy” that regulates the ethical and lawful use of AI systems. Algorithms help prevent fraud, but never issue verdicts on their own. Data from proctoring systems does not lead to an automatic sanction. In case of suspected violation, the student is notified of the collected evidence, has the right to a written explanation, and the final decision always lies in the hands of the lecturer or the examination committee. The requirements for the protection of personal data and academic ethics are fully complied with.
3. Uncompromising academic standards
Technology is only a tool; content and assessment are the true value. VFU applies a strict “Standard for conducting an examination procedure in a test form”, which regulates the structure of the test, question types, difficulty, duration and assessment scales. The results are subject to subsequent analysis, ensuring that the assessment is objective, comparable and academically reliable.
4. Prepared teachers and flexibility for students
VFU’s teaching staff has undergone specialised training to work in a digital environment. Their skills in using electronic platforms, distance learning systems and proctoring are kept up-to-date through constant internal methodological and technological support. This turns electronic exams into a sustainable and routine academic practice, rather than an extraordinary test for students, who often combine their studies with active professional development.
The future lies in mastering technology, not in escaping from it
Prof. Kanev, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of VFU, commented: “Higher education is not a laboratory isolated from the world. Our task is to form leaders and professionals who handle technology competently, critically and with integrity. Remote assessment is a litmus test for the institutional maturity of the modern university – the ability to guarantee academic honesty, technological security, objectivity and human responsibility regardless of the place and form of testing. Trust in a diploma requires traceability and high standards, not just physical presence. The future belongs to universities that are not afraid of the digital age, but have the courage and skill to master it.”
VFU respects the choice of its students in the distance learning mode, who often combine their studies with career development. The distance learning mode should overcome spatial limitations, not create new obstacles for them.
Investing in the future
Varna Free University will continue to invest in digital infrastructure, proctoring systems, artificial intelligence with human supervision and clear academic standards. For VFU, digital transformation is not a temporary measure, but a strategic choice for accessible, flexible and quality education that prepares students for the real world without compromising academic integrity.
VFU will not compromise with the digital transformation. The university does not envisage a general return to in-person exams. On the contrary – we continue to develop and expand our model of electronic distance assessment, proving that modern higher education requires a high standard of control, not a retreat from it.
Distance assessment is not synonymous with a lower standard
For VFU, the distance mode and examination procedures in an electronic environment are not a “necessary evil” or a temporary measure. This is an established, accredited and technologically protected educational format that requires a high degree of organization, transparency and responsibility.
The university has the full regulatory and technical ability to conduct distance examinations not only for students in a distance learning mode, but also for disciplines in a full-time and part-time mode, when this is provided for in the educational organization. In this way, we provide greater flexibility for students, without allowing a retreat from academic standards and requirements for objective assessment.
Four Pillars of Academic Security at VFU
Our e-assessment model is based on four irrevocable pillars that ensure that technology serves quality, not replaces it:
1. Technological security and automated control (Proctoring)
Written exams with remote access are conducted through an automated electronic proctoring system, which ensures: strict student identification, real-time video surveillance, recording of behaviour and automated detection of risky situations. If necessary, secure browsers are also used to block unauthorised access to external resources.
2. Artificial Intelligence with human supervision and protection of rights
VFU is among the few higher education institutions in the country with a comprehensive “Artificial Intelligence Policy” that regulates the ethical and lawful use of AI systems. Algorithms help prevent fraud, but never issue verdicts on their own. Data from proctoring systems does not lead to an automatic sanction. In case of suspected violation, the student is notified of the collected evidence, has the right to a written explanation, and the final decision always lies in the hands of the lecturer or the examination committee. The requirements for the protection of personal data and academic ethics are fully complied with.
3. Uncompromising academic standards
Technology is only a tool; content and assessment are the true value. VFU applies a strict “Standard for conducting an examination procedure in a test form”, which regulates the structure of the test, question types, difficulty, duration and assessment scales. The results are subject to subsequent analysis, ensuring that the assessment is objective, comparable and academically reliable.
4. Prepared teachers and flexibility for students
VFU’s teaching staff has undergone specialised training to work in a digital environment. Their skills in using electronic platforms, distance learning systems and proctoring are kept up-to-date through constant internal methodological and technological support. This turns electronic exams into a sustainable and routine academic practice, rather than an extraordinary test for students, who often combine their studies with active professional development.
The future lies in mastering technology, not in escaping from it
Prof. Kanev, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of VFU, commented: “Higher education is not a laboratory isolated from the world. Our task is to form leaders and professionals who handle technology competently, critically and with integrity. Remote assessment is a litmus test for the institutional maturity of the modern university – the ability to guarantee academic honesty, technological security, objectivity and human responsibility regardless of the place and form of testing. Trust in a diploma requires traceability and high standards, not just physical presence. The future belongs to universities that are not afraid of the digital age, but have the courage and skill to master it.”
VFU respects the choice of its students in the distance learning mode, who often combine their studies with career development. The distance learning mode should overcome spatial limitations, not create new obstacles for them.
Investing in the future
Varna Free University will continue to invest in digital infrastructure, proctoring systems, artificial intelligence with human supervision and clear academic standards. For VFU, digital transformation is not a temporary measure, but a strategic choice for accessible, flexible and quality education that prepares students for the real world without compromising academic integrity.