VUM Students Won Three Awards at International Festival PAGUR VARNA 2026
Students from the Culinary Arts Institute at Varna University of Management (VUM) won three awards at PAGUR VARNA 2026, an international festival celebrating young talent in tourism. The achievements included first place in the Chef category and third-place awards in both the Chef and Pastry Arts categories. VUM also supported the next generation of industry professionals by awarding scholarships to participants in the student competition categories for school pupils.
Held from 7 to 11 October at GRIFID Noa Hotel in Golden Sands, the festival brought together young chefs, pastry chefs, bartenders, waiters, educators, and representatives of the tourism and hospitality industries from Bulgaria and abroad. The event aims to nurture young talent by creating opportunities to connect with established professionals, exchange experience, and gain practical knowledge.
VUM students demonstrated a high level of preparation, creativity, and professionalism in the competition categories in which they participated:
- Sandrina Yaneva – First place in the Chef category
- Nikolay Evtimov – Third place in the Chef category and third place in the Pastry Arts category
- Valeria Milen Naydenova – Third place in the Pastry Arts category
Participation in the festival gave the young culinary professionals an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a competitive environment, showcase their individual styles, and take on professional challenges reflecting the realities of the restaurant and hospitality industries.
Alongside supporting its own students, VUM awarded scholarships to three participants in each of the school-level competition categories. This initiative reflects the University’s commitment to encouraging young people interested in tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts, while providing them with opportunities to pursue further education and professional development.
Supporting talented school pupils is an important investment in the future of the tourism industry. It encourages young people to develop their skills, professional ambitions, and creative potential from the very beginning of their careers.
As part of PAGUR VARNA 2026, VUM also presented its bachelor’s and master’s programmes in tourism, hospitality, business, and management. At the University’s stand in the HORECA Show-Off Hub, visitors learned more about VUM’s international learning environment, academic mobility opportunities, practice-oriented education, and career prospects.
Two VUM students also took on hosting roles at the festival’s official opening ceremony, further highlighting the University’s active involvement in the event.
VUM’s participation reflects the core mission of PAGUR: to strengthen the connection between education and professional practice and give young people access to the knowledge, technologies, experience, and professional networks they need to build successful careers. This approach plays an important role in preparing graduates to meet the evolving demands of the international tourism industry.
Varna University of Management congratulates the award-winning students and all festival participants on their talent, hard work, and dedication. The University also extends its special thanks to the Bulgarian Association for Culinary Culture for organising the event and providing young professionals with the opportunity to showcase their skills and take another step towards their future careers.
