The University of Telecommunications and Post and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications Embark on a Strategic Partnership in Artificial Intelligence, Space Engineering and the Training of Specialists for the Technologies of the Future.
From online training and staff mobility to a joint degree programme in space engineering and the prospect of a Bulgarian–Chinese satellite, the meetings between Prof. Miglena Temelkova, DSc, Rector of Bulgaria’s University of Telecommunications and Post, Prof. Xu Kun, President of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Prof. Mugen Peng, Vice President of the Beijing-based university, have laid the foundations for academic cooperation with the potential to extend far beyond traditional university boundaries.
The launch of a joint Bulgarian–Chinese satellite into low Earth orbit is among the long-term strategic objectives discussed between the University of Telecommunications and Post in Sofia and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, one of China’s leading universities in telecommunications and information technology.
This ambitious prospect was outlined during a special bilateral meeting held in Beijing on 28 October 2026 between Prof. Mugen Peng, Vice President of the Chinese university, and the Bulgarian delegation led by Rector Prof. Miglena Temelkova, DSc.
The meeting builds on the visit on 27 October, organised within the framework of China Education Tour 2026, an international educational initiative bringing together representatives of universities from China and Central and Eastern European countries. During that visit, Prof. Xu Kun, President of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, proposed that the partnership with the Bulgarian university be translated into a concrete timetable of activities and tasks.
From Academic Exchange to Joint Space Technologies
At the heart of the partnership between the two universities is the development of long-term cooperation integrating education, scientific research and advanced technological solutions.
Among the most significant areas discussed was the establishment of a joint degree programme in space engineering, focusing on space information and digital technologies. This initiative would enable the training of specialists combining expertise in telecommunications, data processing, artificial intelligence and space information systems.
The long-term vision of the partnership includes working towards the development and launch of a joint Bulgarian–Chinese satellite into low Earth orbit.
At this stage, the initiative remains a strategic objective whose implementation will require scientific and technical preparation, project planning and securing the necessary resources.
If realised, such an initiative would position Bulgarian–Chinese academic cooperation in a promising field where space communications, artificial intelligence and digital information processing converge. The potential project would create opportunities for Bulgarian lecturers, researchers and students to participate in practical developments involving space communications, satellite technologies and data analysis.
“For us, international partnerships are meaningful when they translate into real opportunities for students, academic staff and scientific research. Cooperation with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications allows us to think beyond traditional educational models – towards joint programmes, artificial intelligence and space technologies. Our ambition is not merely to train specialists for today’s labour market, but to educate the people who will create the technologies of tomorrow,” said Prof. Miglena Temelkova, DSc, Rector of the University of Telecommunications and Post, following the meeting.
First Joint Initiatives to Begin as Early as 2026
Alongside their long-term scientific ambitions, the two universities also agreed on concrete initial steps during their meetings in Beijing.
A joint online workshop for academic staff is planned for late November or early December 2026. The event will initiate direct professional exchanges between the academic teams and help identify specific areas for joint activities.
Academic staff mobility is also planned for early 2027, including specialised training and opportunities to become familiar with the educational and research practices of the partner institutions.
The partnership will also focus on the development of training programmes for lecturers and students, the preparation of academic staff to teach in future joint educational programmes, and the expansion of student mobility.
The Bulgarian delegation expressed particular interest in exploring and working with the Chinese university’s artificial intelligence solutions for scientific research and education.
For students of the University of Telecommunications and Post, the partnership opens up opportunities to study in an international academic environment, gain access to advanced research infrastructure and participate in joint educational and research initiatives.
For academic staff, it creates opportunities for professional development, the adoption of innovative teaching methods and the development of new curricula.
Partnership with One of China’s Leading Technology Universities
Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications was established in 1955 as the Beijing Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, the first higher education institution specialising in this field in the newly founded People’s Republic of China. It adopted its current name in 1993.
Today, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications is a prestigious research university operating under the supervision of China’s Ministry of Education. It is recognised for its achievements in information and communication technologies, computer science, electronics, network systems and artificial intelligence.
The university is included in China’s national Double First-Class initiative in the disciplines of Information and Communication Engineering and Computer Science and Technology.
Its international experience includes joint educational programmes with established foreign universities, providing a strong foundation for developing cooperation with the University of Telecommunications and Post.
A New Dimension of Bulgarian–Chinese Academic Cooperation
The new academic partnership is developing against the backdrop of longstanding relations between Bulgaria and China, which date back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1949 and were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership in 2019.
In October 2025, Bulgaria and China reaffirmed their intention to expand scientific and technological cooperation, innovation and academic exchanges.
In this context, the initiative of the Bulgarian and Chinese universities creates opportunities to move beyond traditional forms of academic partnership towards joint educational programmes, scientific developments and high-tech projects of international significance.
For the University of Telecommunications and Post, this partnership forms part of its continued efforts to expand its international presence and develop education that meets the needs of the digital economy.
