SU Sofia 2025 Review: From Ancient Cities to Modern Sounds

The Summer University of AEGEE-Sofia 2025 took place from 10 to 19 August and unfolded as an exciting trip across Bulgaria. Titled “Bulgarian Symphony: Ancient Cities and Modern Sounds”, the event brought together history, music, and movement — from mountain landscapes and ancient cities to festivals, workshops, and shared moments on the road.

GT: What was your Summer University about?
AEGEE-Sofia: Our SU was a travelling Summer University. We started in Bansko, a famous ski resort town nestled in the mountains. From there, we went to Plovdiv, the oldest still inhabited city in Europe. Afterwards, we visited the Buzludzha lights and music festival, the main attraction of our SU. Finally, we arrived in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The SU blended culture and history workshops, a history quiz treasure hunt, a Bulgarian language workshop, traditional Bulgarian dance workshops, and the very special “Making Mosaics” workshop.

How many participants and organisers joined the SU?
In total, we were 29 participants, 3 helpers, and 8 organisers.

Which workshops and other activities best represented the spirit of your SU?
The “Making Mosaics” workshop was the most significant and emblematic activity of our SU, as it took place at the Soviet monument of Buzludzha. Everyone could create a craft mosaic medallion to keep as a treasured memory of the event. All the sweat, laughs, failed attempts at cutting gems and stones, and the sticky glue — it all left an unforgettable impression on us.

What was a funny or emotional moment that defined the event for you?
Travelling around the country by Soviet trains defined the group dynamic. Spending several hours together on trains helped the group bond better than any icebreaker. One of the trains was a famous 100-year-old narrow-gauge train that moves very slowly through picturesque mountain landscapes.

Any stories from the gossip box you can share?
One memorable piece of gossip involved a guy from the group admitting his feelings for a girl from the SU. They eventually went on to become, in our eyes, the couple of our SU.

What made your group of participants special?
Our group was very diverse, with participants from 12 different countries. This made it inclusive, unpredictable, a bit chaotic, but special all at once. There was never any division along national lines, and we would like to think that no one felt left out. Everyone participated in all activities to the fullest.

Did the group stay in touch afterwards?
We continued chatting in our WhatsApp group, of course. After the SU, several participants created memorable things: an amazing video reel compiling the best moments, a playlist for the whole group, and spontaneous meet-ups that led to reconnections — and photos sent to us, of course. Several participants will also attend our next event in January!

How would you evaluate the SU overall? And what could you improve?
We were particularly strong when it came to accommodation. At all times — except in Sofia — participants stayed in modern, newly renovated rooms for two or three people, with separate bathrooms. We were also very flexible with feedback and quick to implement changes. For future events, we would like to improve our sustainability, as we sometimes relied on plastic cups or plates for meals.

Which impact did the event have on your antenna?
We truly put AEGEE-Sofia on the map. Throughout the SU, participants repeatedly praised the organisation, accommodation, food, and overall experience. Many agreed that Bulgaria is an underrated country that deserves more attention and visits — the biggest compliment we could have wished for.

Anything else you’d like AEGEEans to know about your SU?
We want to stress that everyone is welcome at our SU and other events. We are a small but very goal-driven team, and AEGEEans at heart. Even if you just visit the city outside of an event — text us, we’re here!